Another mass shooting at a college in America

Umpqua Community College was locked down Thursday morning after reports of a shooting on campus.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said the 911 center received reports of an active shooter around 10:38 a.m.

An Oregon State Police spokesman told CNN there were 10 confirmed deaths and more than 20 wounded. Hospitals as far away as Eugene were preparing to take patients.

The shooter was reportedly detained.

The FBI was sending agents from several offices around the state to Roseburg, and the ATF said it was sending additional units from Portland and a K-9 team to assist in the investigation.

Fire District No. 2 in Douglas County tweeted a warning for people to stay away from the area.

According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, students, faculty and staff were being transported to the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

More innocent lives lost.

Sad, but no surprise though.

He was English according to reports...

Hey ho. Another day, another massacre in the Land of the Gun-toting Crazies...

Seriously though, I know it's in the ****ing Constitution, but how long are they willing to let this continue????

If you haven't seen it already, watch Jim Jeffries on gun crime. I know he's a comedian, but he makes some extremely solid points. There really is no argument against gun control other than "bugger off, I like guns".

Homicides by handguns in 2014 in the USA : 19,392
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence_in_the_United_States

Coalition forced killed in Iraq :4,809
Coalition forces killed in Afghanistan : 2,807

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)

I'm not sure what else needs to be said?

More Americans have died from guns (domestically) since 1968 than in all the wars in American history.

137 SCHOOL shootings SINCE Sandy Hook.


Check out Piers Morgan's Twitter feed for just how prevelant retardation is among dumb gun-toting Yanks.

Sadly the greed of a few outweighs the lives of many. Its gotten to the point where its not a surprise to wake up and see a mass shooting in the US.

Another stat.

This is apparently the 45th school shooting in the US this year.

If you break that down, it means (roughly) 5 every month, i.e. one school shooting every six days.

That means that, on average, a little more than once a week, some person in the US walks into some school and opens fire. Crazy!!!

Some people in the US need a gun. I'm talking about places where a cougar or a grizzly bear is likely to come through your window.

You don't need a gun in a city...


The US needs to get it's gun laws sorted because the fact that 19,000 people were murdered last year because of gun crime is shocking!

GSC wrote:Sadly the greed of a few outweighs the lives of many. Its gotten to the point where its not a surprise to wake up and see a mass shooting in the US.

It's not a few though. Not just powerful corporate gun lobbyists.

Like I said, check out Piers Morgan's Twitter feed.....!!

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Some people in the US need a gun. I'm talking about places where a cougar or a grizzly bear is likely to come through your window.

You don't need a gun in a city...


The US needs to get it's gun laws sorted because the fact that 19,000 people were murdered last year because of gun crime is shocking!

They need a hunting rifle. Frankly they probably only need the kind of gun the constitution was written for.

It's hand guns, military-grade assault weapons and semi/full-automatics that require constitutional reform.

I agree with you toppy on this issue its alarming

much as I dislike Piers Morgan*, he's pretty much spot on with all he's saying about this. The fact the US still don't recognise the link between the ridiculous ease with which they can own what are basically easy-killing machines, and the sheer amount of killing that is done on American soil, completely baffles me.

* I'll quantify that by saying that at least he's unafraid to state his opinions, but too often comes off as an obnoxious, know-it-all, so-and-so, whose opinions are sometimes deliberately inflammatory IMO. Still, he has a right to them...

wheelchair1991 wrote:I agree with you toppy on this issue its alarming

What's alarming? Gun violence in the States or the fact you agree with me on something......?

TopHat24/7 wrote:

wheelchair1991 wrote:I agree with you toppy on this issue its alarming

What's alarming? Gun violence in the States or the fact you agree with me on something......?

both

Mad for Chelsea wrote:

TopHat24/7 wrote:

wheelchair1991 wrote:I agree with you toppy on this issue its alarming

What's alarming? Gun violence in the States or the fact you agree with me on something......?

both

He's right

I see nobody managed to bait the TRUSSY bear from his man cave.

He'll have to come out some time lol

Please don't tell me he's pro-guns. He's always struck me as someone who's quite liberal, politically.

Truss is anti-guns but anti-anti-gun legislation (i.e. fairly blinkered defender of American values/rights).

The whole reason they were allowed firearms as part of the constitution was to fight against a tyrannical government.

But their government has drones, jets and tanks.

Pr4wn wrote:The whole reason they were allowed firearms as part of the constitution was to fight against a tyrannical government.

But their government has drones, jets and tanks.

So the answer is obvious, allow US citizens to buy more powerful weapons!

So many die from incidents like this

Still no change.

Why?

'Murica. That's why.

Actually Truss is for gun control I think? Just that he doesn't see a way it will ever happen (gun lobby too powerful, Americans too attached to their "Rights").

TopHat24/7 wrote:More Americans have died from guns (domestically) since 1968 than in all the wars in American history.

137 SCHOOL shootings SINCE Sandy Hook.


Check out Piers Morgan's Twitter feed for just how prevelant retardation is among dumb gun-toting Yanks.

Check out Piers Morgan's Twitter feed for just how prevalent retardation is with Piers Morgan

I'm sure we will soon see Truss' feelings about this. I am intrigued to see his reaction, and hope he is emotive in his posts. Hes not been on for a couple days, not banned, but his last post was pretty good.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:I'm sure we will soon see Truss' feelings about this. I am intrigued to see his reaction, and hope he is emotive in his posts. Hes not been on for a couple days, not banned, but his last post was pretty good.

Really??

In the boxing section, supportive of Derby about dealings with depression. I'm a sucker for anyone with sense and sensitivity around that subject.

If you can get Truss away from his "USA!USA!" rhetoric he's actually pretty left-wing, very empathetic, and understands things like mental issues very well (much better than quite a few others on here I might add).

Back on topic. I guess the big question is how to change the mentality of an entire people? well, let's say half a people. It's true that most of us struggle to understand how an incident like this can not automatically lead to much stricter gun control (think Dunblane and the immediate response, which you'd have to say has worked given there hasn't been a school shooting since). However, Americans as a whole won't feel this way, many of them will feel that the best response is to allow MORE guns so that people can protect themselves better.

This may seem absurd to us, and I suspect even Truss would struggle to explain exactly why they have this mentality, but it's clearly there. Sure, part of it is the love of the constitution, the flag, etc. but... The Amendment doesn't say anything beyond a right to bear "arms" (or possibly "Arms" with a capital "A" depending on the version you read). Now you wouldn't expect all weapons to be allowed to be legally carried, and as pointed out guns are unlikely to be much good if the public does take up arms against a tyrannical government... So how could one change the American mentality about guns?

Interesting discussion on BBC's R4 PM programme this afternoon featuring various of BBC's staff currently or formerly based in USA. One of them made the point that the huge level of NRA funding of politicians means that it has a massive hold over politics - not only Republicans but many Democrats also are heavily dependent on NRA funding, and while that reliance continues there is a big blocking majority and virtually no chance of any meanginful reform of gun laws. 

Another person said that the change could happen but, if so, it would take a number of generations.  There was no chance that USA would suddenly wake up one morning after yet another massacre and suddenly recognise a need for change.

I suppose, on a different note, there are some signs of a gradual long term trend in USA away from support of the death penalty. Maybe in the long term changing population dynamics (eg balance between City and rural populations) might have an effect on support for gun law reform.

bbc bias is very blatant on this. Obvious that they love Obama and want gun control. What people don't get is that in a country as large as the USA, gun controls would be incredibly difficult to enforce.

greengoblin wrote:bbc bias is very blatant on this. Obvious that they love Obama and want gun control. What people don't get is that in a country as large as the USA, gun controls would be incredibly difficult to enforce.

Countries just as big as America have enforced gun control, there are countless excuses made on this and there is no justification for standing by in the face of tragedies like this. We're all becoming desensitised to these incidents but we shouldn't be, are we to honestly believe that the richest and most powerful country on the planet cannot enforce gun control?

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

greengoblin wrote:bbc bias is very blatant on this. Obvious that they love Obama and want gun control. What people don't get is that in a country as large as the USA, gun controls would be incredibly difficult to enforce.

Countries just as big as America have enforced gun control, there are countless excuses made on this and there is no justification for standing by in the face of tragedies like this. We're all becoming desensitised to these incidents but we shouldn't be, are we to honestly believe that the richest and most powerful country on the planet cannot enforce gun control?

I don't think gun controls are the answer anyway. Anyone hell bent on a killing spree will find a way to get weapons, whether that be a bomb, a knife, or a gun.

greengoblin wrote:bbc bias is very blatant on this. Obvious that they love Obama and want gun control. What people don't get is that in a country as large as the USA, gun controls would be incredibly difficult to enforce.

greengoblin wrote:I don't think gun controls are the answer anyway. Anyone hell bent on a killing spree will find a way to get weapons, whether that be a bomb, a knife, or a gun.

Sorry. That's a pretty sad excuse not to do anything and utterly irresponsible of their legislature. Let's assume this idiot involved in the latest shooting was back in Britain - he may well have had the same alleged behavioural issues but what's he going to do here? Maybe stab one or two people, if he gets a bit of luck? Not quite the same as accumulating 13(!) firearms, murdering 9 and injuring more.

greengoblin wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

greengoblin wrote:bbc bias is very blatant on this. Obvious that they love Obama and want gun control. What people don't get is that in a country as large as the USA, gun controls would be incredibly difficult to enforce.

Countries just as big as America have enforced gun control, there are countless excuses made on this and there is no justification for standing by in the face of tragedies like this. We're all becoming desensitised to these incidents but we shouldn't be, are we to honestly believe that the richest and most powerful country on the planet cannot enforce gun control?

I don't think gun controls are the answer anyway. Anyone hell bent on a killing spree will find a way to get weapons, whether that be a bomb, a knife, or a gun.

Short sighted view, legislature has to be in place to make it as difficult as possible just like there is the UK.

It took the Hungerford massacre to push through the Firearms Act in 1988 but the UK now has one of the lowest gun homicide rates in the developed world whilst the USA has one of the worst. I don't see how you can say gun control would have no effect when all the evidence suggest it does.

In my lifetime there has been Hungerford, Dunblane and the Cumbria shootings.

I have no idea how I'd starting getting hold of a gun here.

In America you need ID.

Can probably expect at least one more mass shooting before the year is out.

Sadly.

To all to you British folk here (and I include myself), here's what you tolerate in Britain: British soldier decapitated in the street, RAF servicemen moved away from patients so he won't 'offend different cultures'. We are the absolute pits of a country so please don't take the moral high ground on the USA. Maybe they don't want to become dumb serfs to a liberal elite.

greengoblin wrote:To all to you British folk here (and I include myself), here's what you tolerate in Britain: British soldier decapitated in the street, RAF servicemen moved away from patients so he won't 'offend different cultures'. We are the absolute pits of a country so please don't take the moral high ground on the USA. Maybe they don't want to become dumb serfs to a liberal elite.

The first of those wasn't 'tolerated'.

greengoblin wrote:To all to you British folk here (and I include myself), here's what you tolerate in Britain: British soldier decapitated in the street, RAF servicemen moved away from patients so he won't 'offend different cultures'. We are the absolute pits of a country so please don't take the moral high ground on the USA. Maybe they don't want to become dumb serfs to a liberal elite.

Firstly, tolerate?

Secondly, I'd rather overly cautious treatment of someone in the RAF compared to the amount of shootings in that country.

Yes it was tolerated in the sense of there being no honest assessment of the problem of Islam. Instead we got the usual 'nothing to do with Islam' guff. The two killers got sent to prison to join lots of their mates, instead of being hung.

'overly cautious treatment'? 60 years ago people would be wanting to shake his hand for the service he does for this country. Someone willing to lay down their life for country- absolute disgrace to be treated in that fashion. Imagine the outcry if someone in a burka was asked to hide away from other patients.

greengoblin wrote:Yes it was tolerated in the sense of there being no honest assessment of the problem of Islam. Instead we got the usual 'nothing to do with Islam' guff. The two killers got sent to prison to join lots of their mates, instead of being hung.

'overly cautious treatment'? 60 years ago people would be wanting to shake his hand for the service he does for this country. Someone willing to lay down their life for country- absolute disgrace to be treated in that fashion. Imagine the outcry if someone in a burka was asked to hide away from other patients.

Careful lad, you're not allowed to criticise Islam (or any religion) on this forum; it's like being in Ed Miliband's head.

greengoblin wrote:Yes it was tolerated in the sense of there being no honest assessment of the problem of Islam. Instead we got the usual 'nothing to do with Islam' guff. The two killers got sent to prison to join lots of their mates, instead of being hung.

'overly cautious treatment'? 60 years ago people would be wanting to shake his hand for the service he does for this country. Someone willing to lay down their life for country- absolute disgrace to be treated in that fashion. Imagine the outcry if someone in a burka was asked to hide away from other patients.

What has any of this got to do with gun control in America?

Obviously Americans want loose (read nonexistent) gun control to avoid being made little bitches by Islam. not that complicated

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

What has any of this got to do with gun control in America?

I'm objecting to British people labelling American opponents of gun control as stupid irresponsible yokels.

One thing that's missed out of this debate is how many lives guns have saved.

greengoblin wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

What has any of this got to do with gun control in America?

I'm objecting to British people labelling American opponents of gun control as stupid irresponsible yokels.

One thing that's missed out of this debate is how many lives guns have saved.

How many lives have guns saved? Any figures? Evidence (other than anecdotes?)

I'm sure guns do save lives, but I'd be willing to bet it's more often than not saving lives in danger of being killed by, you know... other guns.

Certainly If I was a white South African I'd own a gun.

52 percent of Americans are pro guns....I come from an Anti gun state in Massa but the further South you get the higher the percentage rises....Said it before most Southern Dems are more right wing than Northern Rep's. .

The republicans own the Senate and are a wholly owned subsidiary of the gun and medical companies...

Besides the constitution is like the Bible. ...

These kids are collateral damage. ..