Gun Policy in the USA

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
1615

I think the most vital part of training a hypothetical teacher isn’t their marksmanship or willingness to fight in the moment. It is making sure of safe handling practices day-in, day-out. It is making sure that your firearm is either on your person or locked and secured. It is making sure you don’t leave your firearm in a bathroom stall or an unlocked drawer. It is making sure you understand when and why you should intervene and when you should not.

For marksmanship and combatives, I think basic proficiency is adequate.

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1616

To be clear, I don’t seriously think you aren’t for the safety of children. However, some people hate police officers, and see their presence on school grounds as a negative, and I don’t see it that way.

Certainly, the problem of mass murders seems to be getting worse. But I would argue that school resource officers would have always been a good idea, just like seat belts, fire extinguishers and other safety items that used to not be as common.

When I talk about feelings being used to hijack the conversation, I’m not talking about my feelings, or yours necessarily. What I mean, it is a deliberate and blatant tactic, used by teachers unions, school boards’ associations and whoever else are trying to turn the conversation away from “let’s harden the schools” to the magical guncontrol fairy.

As Zecarlo and others have mentioned, 90% of Teachers, Principals, and other administrators should have 0 input on how to make schools safer. It’s not their personality type, they are utterly clueless, and would likely push back against the efforts and advice of security experts, because it would undermine their authority in their little fiefdoms.

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1617

Queens as well!

1618

I lived in Little Neck, then Bayside (Bell
Boulevard), then Glen Oaks. @startingagain

1619

I’m so sorry.

Lol :wink:

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1620

I couldn’t take borough life anymore. I rarely travel West on any highway in Long Island for long distances and traveling past exit 32 on the LI Expressway (NE Queens-LI border) makes me anxious.

My wife wants us to take the kids to see the Statue of Liberty this summer. Has anyone seen what Manhattan looks like now? :flushed:

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1621

Im from upstate, near Saratoga springs. I hate the city. Though we’d go to a few baseball games every year. Drive to Poughkeepsie and take MTA in. I like the Yankees, wife is a Mets fan. I gave up on attempting to drive in the city the first time I went over the George Washington bridge on the wrong level. I hit up the Belmont stakes on a solo excursion once.

I try to explain to my southern coworkers how wild NYC is. The way people treat each other is like nowhere else on the planet.

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1622

Some people do benefit from long term benzo use. Some people require them to function

Ditto with painkillers

It’s not a one size fits all approach. Hence while benzodiazepines are seemingly over prescribed in the states, it’d be dangerous for me to say “doctors need to stop prescribing these meds” as many people would needlessly suffer.

Instead i’d say (looking in from afar while being woefully underqualified) ‘Re-think who you prescribe benzos to’

A patient such as yourself who has been on a steady dose, doesn’t abuse them and incurs a sizable benefit… great… that’s what medication is meant for

But someone with mild GAD who use xanax as a crutch instead of seeing a therapist? Different story

Benzodiazepines tend to impair fine motor skills while lowering inhibition. The user may seem drunk, or on higher doses they may seem unable to stay awake (similar to how many might act on higher doses of painkillers). On benzodiazepines the user tends to have delusions of sobriety. This can result in reckless, dangerous behaviour like getting behind the wheel of a car.

Hence there is the question as to whether someone regularly using benzodiazepines should be allowed to own a gun.

On a stable dose, for a condition that has been stable (long term) provided no documented evidence of abuse is present i’d think it’s ok.

But what if the user accidentally double doses and blacks out? 2mg of clonazepam is a big jump from 1mg!

I know many firearm related homicides and suicides are commited under the influence of alcohol. I’d like to see where benzodiazepines and Z-drugs rank when it comes to firearm mishaps.

If you have anxiety (without depression) and you take a reasonable dose of clonazepam to switch off OCD type intrusive thoughts… yet everything is otherwise stable i’d argue barring that individual from being able to own a gun might be considered unjust if not potentially discriminatory

Other questions…

Should someone on antidepressants be allowed to own a firearm? Not talking antipsychotics, but run of the mill SSRI/SNRI type antidepressants that might be used to treat general anxiety, symptomatology associated with autism spectrum disorder/aspergers or OCD.

Contrary to popular belief, antidepressants aren’t only used for depression. Some SSRI’s are successfully used to treat premature ejaculation.

I think it’s fair to say someone on antipsychotics probably shouldn’t have firearms on their property.

I’d also be interested to see what % of robberies and assaults in the USA are in some way shape or form related to hard drug addiction… with the advent of tent cities I’m willing to wager quite a large percentage of these subway assaults and whatnot are commited under the influence of drugs and/or are commited by those looking for money to buy drugs.

1623

In some countries a referencing system is in place

In it’s strictest format it tends to look like this

  • 3 references are required. One from a medical professional, one from a family member and one from a friend (better standing the individual has within general community the better the reference looks). All three references generally shouldn’t be close to one another, and lying can potentially result in serious penalties.

All references are generally asked to provide testomonial of the applicants character. If major discrepancies are present, further investigations are conducted.

The addition of requiring a medical professional sign off furthermore dissaudes friends and family from lying… especially if the MD has your medical records…

1624

NY state pistol permit required references depending on the county you were in until “shall issue” got scrapped by the supreme court. 4 witnesses, write a letter to the judge, go before the judge and explain why you needs rights. All that horseshit.

1625

They were trying to turn a right into a privilege.

The End of Women’s Powerlifting?
1626

Usually the gun policy arguments center around mass shooting events, typically carried out by crazies with “assault” rifles.

“Assault” rifles legally fall under the category of rifles.

Rifles are used in 2.6% of total murders, statistically. All rifles. Including “assault” rifles, which are even a smaller percentage but not legally measured aside from being rifles.

Hands and feet are used in 4.3% of total murders.

Guns in general (shotguns, pistols, rifles) are used in roughly 48% of total murders. More than half of all murders are committed with knives, hammers, shovels, bricks et cetera.

The anti-gun movement is a knee-jerk reaction to syndicated news stories played on repeat after shootings.

Be anti-murder. Support mental illness programs, anger management et cetera. You’re statistically more likely to be murdered by something other than a gun so why ignore the root cause for an interchangeable tool?

Also, come and take it. I bet you won’t. End of conversation.

https://www.criminalattorneycolumbus.com/which-weapons-are-most-commonly-used-for-homicides/

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1627

I think they are used in all murders.

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