WE: After school shooting in Connecticut, Piers Morgan blasts America’s ‘gun madness’

[China]

Sandy Hook Shooting Sparks Gun Sales Surge

The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn. has sparked a surge in gun sales, according to independent arms dealers across the nation.

Robert Caselnova, who owns a Connecticut gun shop located less than 10 minutes from the school, said firearms flew off his shelves over the weekend, with multiple requests for AR-15 style rifles, a weapon Adam Lanza used in the Newtown massacre. Caselnova said he knew the Lanzas and that the mother and son had visited his store in the past, separately, but never made any purchases.

After high-profile shootings, debate over gun control can cause consumer demand for guns to rise, government records have shown. Industry experts say fears that stricter laws will follow such incidents push people to stock up on firearms before regulators can clamp down. But last weekend’s spike in business was unprecedented, gun shop owners in California, Connecticut and North Carolina told HuffPost.

Larry Hyatt, owner of North Carolina-based Hyatt Gun Shop, which claims to be America’s largest independently owned gun store, said he had a line out the door on Saturday, forcing him to call in extra salespeople.

“We already have tons of customers because of Christmas, hunting season is peaking right now, and not to mention, the election,” Hyatt said. “But this tragedy is pushing sales through the roof,” he added. “It’s like putting gasoline on a fire.”

Click the link for the full article

[Duckus]

Sandy Hook Shooting Sparks Gun Sales Surge

I heard on NPR last night that the NRA doubled it membership in the weeks following Columbine.

[MattFancy]

I've been aware of the need for a long time,I think allowing staff that pass muster to be armed is the best fit,but don't oppose armed security or police.

I think the limit on magazines will be ineffective, but do not oppose them....I'm willing trade

No way should teachers be armed. That is a terrible idea. I don't see anything good coming from that. The schools don't need more guns in them.

[autoidiodyssey]

I think that's something we'll start seeing more of in schools. But did anyone honestly think we would need armed security in an elementary school?

No, and it is sad that we might. Did you ever think you would have to take your shoes off to get on an airplane? The world is changing, and not for the better.

[KingGibbs]

RE: China's article. Glad to see gun shop owners celebrating the fact that "sales are through the roof." <sarcasm>

[twa]

No way should teachers be armed. That is a terrible idea. I don't see anything good coming from that. The schools don't need more guns in them.

I wonder what the opinion of those that have faced guns in schools would be?

[DCranon21]

So how quickly we forget what was the weapon of choice in the DC Sniper killings:

Main gun in Newtown also used in D.C. sniper shootings

The primary weapon used in the Connecticut school massacre — a semiautomatic assault rifle — has a history in high-profile incidents of gun violence in the U.S.

The .223-caliber Bushmaster rifle also was the weapon of choice in the 2002 Washington-area sniper shootings, which left 10 dead and three wounded in a series of attacks that terrorized the capital region.

The gun, weapon analysts say, has a reputation for easy handling and deadly accuracy.

"There is an allure to this weapon that makes it unusually attractive," said Scott Knight, former chairman of the International Chiefs of Police Firearms Committee. "The way it looks, the way it handles — it screams assault weapon."

Knight, who also is police chief of Chaska, Minn., said the gun's practical application is little more than "a combat weapon."

"Simply put, it can get off a large number of rounds in a matter of seconds," Knight said. "That's what makes it attractive and also so dangerous."

In the school shooting, Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner H. Wayne Carver said all 26 victims were hit multiple times, suffering "devastating" wounds, all apparently traced to the rifle.

Connecticut State Police Lt. Paul Vance said Sunday that the shooter used "multiple" 30-round rifle magazines in the attack.

The weapon, Carver said, delivers bullets "designed in such a fashion (that) the energy is deposited in the tissue so the bullets stay in."

Click title to view the rest of the article.

The point is this, majority of the folks are not saying ban all weapons, but you have to think about what the 2nd Amendment really means. Even Joe Scarborough changed his mind on what he believed in gun control:

"I knew that day that the ideologies of my past career were no longer relevant to the future that I want, that I demand for my children. Friday changed everything. It must change everything. We all must begin anew and demand that Washington's old way of doing business is no longer acceptable. Entertainment moguls don't have an absolute right to glorify murder while spreading mayhem in young minds across America. And our Bill of Rights does not guarantee gun manufacturers the absolute right to sell military-style, high-caliber, semi-automatic combat assault rifles with high-capacity magazines to whoever the hell they want.
It is time for Congress to put children before deadly dogmas. It's time for politicians to start focusing more on protecting our schoolyards than putting together their next fundraiser. It's time for Washington to stop trying to win endless wars overseas when we're losing the war at home ... For the sake of my four children and yours, I choose life and I choose change."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...n_2315100.html

[KLJ]

Cerberus has already begun the process of selling Freedom Arms.

shepard will put an end to cerberus!!

[DCranon21]

No way should teachers be armed. That is a terrible idea. I don't see anything good coming from that. The schools don't need more guns in them.

That is a horrible idea. If I had a son or daughter, I would NOT want them in a class with a teacher running around carrying a pistol. That's unacceptable.

[CTskins]

The militia was formed in order to be able to respond to threads from across the ocean in relatively short notice. The newly formed country did not have an established "defense" structure in place.

Should we also put into this ban you are so in favor of all weapons from Star Wars, Halo, Aliens, and Black OPs 2 - because they may or may not be commonly owned one day?

These arguments are ridiculous. I can appreciate everyone's opinions, but find some common ground instead of this 6 year old in the playground mentality - you're dumb, no you're dumb.
You aren't going to get all the guns banned. You can't even ban anything semi-automatic. You can restrict how many rounds are in a mag (we've done that before). You can impose stricter requirements to get the guns (as Jumbo said - It's too easy). Those stalwart in their beliefs about keeping everything cuz the constytushun gave you the rights....read it again. Everything you believe is a right is actually a privilege that can be taken away. (Homeland Security Act) If we don't bend - the equally stalwart anti-gun groups will get us in the end and try to take everything. Give a little to keep a lot.

Get along people. No room for hate here considering what sparked this discussion in the first place.

We had this discussion about the Constitution yesterday,Goonie, remember? And we parted with much of the same views.
If you remember, I'm not anti-gun. I just get irritated when one side states their case, gets challenged, and then falls back on the same old 2nd Amendment rheteric that really doesn't apply.

Truth be told, I don't know what to do at this point except to call out the hypocracy. Do you know why? I don't own a gun. In general, those who do not own a gun have no idea, short of banning them all, what it takes to safely control them. Those that do may know, but don't want to share the knowledge with the other side because, as it goes, "you give an inch, they take a mile." Also the Pro-gun lobby is really, really, really good at what they do. At the end of the day, it comes down to personal responsibility and facing the consequences of ones' actions (or lack thereof if, say, a gun is left unattended).

[MattFancy]

I wonder what the opinion of those that have faced guns in schools would be?

To not have them in schools in the first place?

[GibbsFactor]

Breaking News ‏@BreakingNews
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder vetoes gun legislation allowing concealed weapons in churches, schools, daycares - @AP

[twa]

To not have them in schools in the first place?

Yeah, let's do that.....think prayer will work?

I know,let's make a law against it.

[MattFancy]

Yeah, let's do that.....think prayer will work?

I know,let's make a law against it.

Hey I've seen people saying we need prayer in schools. That will stop this!

[thebluefood]

Sandy Hook Shooting Sparks Gun Sales Surge

Just when you think humanity couldn't piss you off any more...