How could this happen? How is one lone wolf able to kill fifty people so quickly? AR-15 rifles are not hunting rifles. They’re military rifles. They put out thirty rounds in less than a minute. They’re easy to get, they’re easy to get, they’re easy to get. And easy to shoot. And easy to reload. The Orlando shooter used the same 1950s military rifle that the Newton shooter did; that the 2012 theatre shooter did; that the San Bernardino shooter did.
What about Islam? Yes, Islamic fundamentalism is a serious global problem. It’s a threat to rational, moderate people everywhere–including rational, moderate Muslims. It’s not just the kufar (outsiders, infidels) who are under threat from Islamic terrorism, but moderate Muslims who are considered by their fundamentalist and radicalized counterparts to be not Muslim at all. So there’s no doubt that Islamic fundamentalism needs to be resisted everywhere. But it’s also the lack of sensible gun control laws in the United States that makes mass shootings possible again and again. It keeps happening, in part, because there is not simply motive, but opportunity.
Motive and opportunity. The Republican-controlled Congress could begin to shut this down tomorrow with gun control legislation, and President Obama would obviously sign it, but instead they’re focused on only one side of the opportunity equation: new immigration from Muslim countries, and locking down the southern border (rationalized in part as keeping international terrorists from sneaking in). So on the opportunity side of the equation, there’s a spigot issue: Democrats want to stop the flow of armament trafficking and Republicans want to stop the flow of immigration. But what about the motive side? If a person gets radicalized by religion or politics, or wants to commit a mass hate crime, or is unhinged psychologically, there’s just not much that can be done. An individual’s motives are an individual’s motives. But, at minimum, you can make it difficult for a person with a motive to kill to get hands on military assault rifles.
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Prometheus Unbound 
The 2nd Amendment is out-of-date and should be repealed. This is now a public health issue. What? Mr. Trump, you don’t like what I just said? Do you want to shoot me? Signed: Columbine, Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, Aurora, Newtown, Sandy Hook, 9-year old girl Uzi shooter, US congresswoman Gabby Giffords, 2 year old boy shooting mother, gun shop owner killed rather than just giving the money, Chapel Hill, Charleston Church Killings, female TV reporter, Roseburg Oregon Jr College, Planned Parenthood, San Bernardino, Orlando 50.
I just heard Trump this morning, on a call-in with a reporter at NBC, say he opposes the banning of military assault rifles. He thinks that if the housewife at the grocery store has similar firepower–I guess he expects her to carry an AR-15 down the canned-goods aisle–then that’s the deterrent. Americans constantly on edge, loaded for bear. Imagine a gay night club serving liquor, everyone carrying an AR-15–you know, for protection against Islamic terrorists and homophobes. And all of your fellow citizens with an AR-15 on the seat next to them in traffic.
May the gods save us from Trump.
As for your suggestion about banning the 2nd Amendment, I would say no to that. Cars kill as well, but we don’t ban cars. What we do is regulate cars, and make them safer in design, etc. Likewise, you can limit legal gun ownership to hunting rifles, and non-military-style weapons, and have rigorous licensing requirements for gun-selling and ownership, etc. There’s a way to deal with these issues responsibly, balancing competing goods and interests.
Hi,
I don’t think I agree with the comparison of cars to guns. Almost any item can be used as a weapon to kill someone. What seems to be the most frequent item used are guns. The criminals will always find a way to obtain guns. These mass shootings are not done by the criminals or gang members. I think there is credence in those countries with very strict laws on gun ownership and their low incidence of gun violence. I stick with saying guns are now a public health issue and should be treated like a contagious virus. I’m not worried about any “1984” society if only the military or police have guns. Sorry, I still say, eliminate guns and the 2nd amendment.
These kind of lone wolf attacks by the radicalised is bound to rise with the gun culture of US. It’s time to take tough decisions, the National Rifle Association notwithstanding.
I certainly support stronger gun laws.
The 2nd Amendment is out-of-date and should be repealed. This is now a public health issue. What? You don’t like what I just said? Do you want to shoot me? Signed: Columbine, Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, Aurora, Newtown, Sandy Hook, 9-year old girl Uzi shooter, US congresswoman Gabby Giffords, 2 year old boy shooting mother, gun shop owner killed rather than just giving the money, Chapel Hill, Charleston Church Killings, female TV reporter, Roseburg Oregon Jr College, Planned Parenthood, San Bernardino, Orlando 50, Las Vegas