Safety

[liz]

There is so much terrible news on TV. So many people being killed that could have been saved if even just one person in the crowd had a concealed weapon.
The governor or Florida has asked that more people get concealed weapons permits. Being on the defence could save a lot of lives and a quick end to the "bad guys". He requested concealed to keep from scaring the Snow Birds and giving them heart attacks
With my PTSD I am not allowed to own a weapon but Rachel gave one to Aunt Betty. I have access to it if I need to but don't have the security when I am out.
I personally believe people with PTSD would be he best defence since they are always on guard in public.

Has this been "off topic" enough?

[shiraartain]

Weapons terrify me to no end, honestly. The only setting I'm comfortable with even considering holding one is a shooting range because of the controlled setting (Never been to one, though). Even in that case, I would prefer an archery range. Seems less dangerous to me, even though I know crossbows can do harm.

But yes, there have been far too many tragedies as of late. Both here in America and across the world. What saddens me the most is all of the innocent people suffering.

[Pajarita]

The thing with more people having guns is that, historically and according to world statistics, the more guns the population has, the more deaths (USA is the number one on the list - look it up in Wikipedia and you'll see). But the other problem is that, according to all safety and protection experts, unless you receive special training (like combat), people with guns don't react when attacked. One would think that they do but they don't.

[liz]

The only weapon that should terrify you is the one in the other guy's hand. These massacurs would not be happening if a brave good guy was carrying a gun when the bad guy started shooting.
Yes, some may die but a good guy with a weapon can keep the others from getting killed.
I heard a story about a bad guy going into McDonalds and start shooting. Someone in the crowed shot him and saved the others lives.

Non citizens should not be sold guns. There is no law on the books that mandates they get equality. It is just the stupid "politically right" that have been allowing it.

[Pajarita]

A lot of people should not get guns, unfortunately, gun shows, private sales and gifts are not as regulated as they should in states with lax gun laws. We have one of the toughest gun laws here in NJ but over 80% of the guns used for crime here came from Pennsylvania and other states where the tax laws are lax... They use what they call straw buyers.

[Chantilly]

In AUS you cant get a gun without a permit, and cant take any weapon(gun/knife) outside of home(where i live atleast). I think that we should be able (althoughi dont know if id want to.. id be to young to anyway) to because the 'bad guys' already have them somehow, and the innocent cant get one.

[liz]

The couple who did the last mascre actually bought their weapons here.
I fully believe in profiling. If the profiling is wrong and apology can be given. If it is right then lives have been saved. I do not believe non citizens should be given equality. They are not Americans and should have non of the rights and priveleges. The countries they come from have this attitude. Why should we be the "stupid Americans". Our government is not protecting us so each one has to really stay on his toes.
I live in a rural part of an uninteresting county. We have few tourists or Snow Birds. I hope the others in this county are country enough to be suspicious of those who are different. I am different and have no qualms about being questioned or watched. The people near me in NC had been neighbor through generations so I was questioned a lot in the 20 years I was there.

[shiraartain]

Liz, profiling takes a lot away from people. Those guilty can apologize all they want for mistakes when profiling, but they cannot bring back the innocence of young children who do not understand why they are treated differently, or the children of parents whose only crime was...living in their own country until someone acted on bias. I am also an expatriate, but am an American citizen. My younger sisters were born here and are American citizens. Just because people look different, it does not make them non-Americans. What does a "true American" look like? The only images which come to mind are those of Native American tribes. Otherwise, there is no one in this country whose ancestors are truly "from" here.

Also, the government already profiles. Except the majority of shootings on US soil are at the hands of white males. The people who are profiled when an atrocity happens are essentially only those that are not white males. If you look at articles, they tend to sympathize with Caucasians who commit crimes-- a girl who was dealing drugs was headlined as an "adorable drug kingpin"! Her father works in the EDA and coincidentally, extremely low bail was set for her...-_-. The PP shooter was a " gentle" loner with a "modest" black cross painted on the side of his house. I'm still trying to figure out why white shooters are consistently described as "mentally ill"... anyone who harms others is obviously not all mentally there!

I am Muslim Liz, and I am Pakistani, and I am an American. I don't believe I have ever made any effort to hide this on the forum. I stand for justice, and for peace, and do all I can to help make this country, which raised me, a better place because that is what my religion, my parents, and my schooling have taught me to do. In the face of any sort of atrocity, my heart aches for the victims. I do not do anything in apology for the actions of others who are strangers that have nothing to do with me, and those who profile me have been scarce, thankfully, but even the few I dealt with were hurtful and full of malice. Apologies will not dry a person's tears, won't magically let them feel safe walking in public. My friends, however, are fearing for their safety because crazies think it's okay to physically and verbally assault students who are just minding their own business.

On a more political note: organizations like Daesh want this. They want to split up races and ethnicities and religions so that they can gain more recruits. They want people who feel America belongs to only them to make others feel that they are less, so that people who are extremely emotional, or feel they have nowhere to go, can be lured in by their recruiters. Our greatest weapon against them are inclusivity, kindness, and love.


Back to the guns though, I am naturally afraid of the gun in the bad guy's hands, but also of human error. What if the good guy thinks someone is the bad guy, but they're mistaken? What if you miss? What if the bad guys take it from you and there's twice the harm done? I know life has a lot of what-ifs, but weapons just bring so many more lethal consequences into play. I'd just rather not touch them at all.

I don't know what the gun control laws are here in Michigan, so can't be much help on that front. But I do know it took one of my professors 20 minutes to obtain one which is more than a bit disconcerting.

[Pajarita]

In AUS you cant get a gun without a permit, and cant take any weapon(gun/knife) outside of home(where i live atleast). I think that we should be able (althoughi dont know if id want to.. id be to young to anyway) to because the 'bad guys' already have them somehow, and the innocent cant get one.

Actually, Australia used to have the same problem we have here and they passed a law that made it very difficult for anybody to get a gun and, guess what? Death by guns went down and continue on a downward trend.

[Pajarita]

Liz, profiling takes a lot away from people. Those guilty can apologize all they want for mistakes when profiling, but they cannot bring back the innocence of young children who do not understand why they are treated differently, or the children of parents whose only crime was...living in their own country until someone acted on bias. I am also an expatriate, but am an American citizen. My younger sisters were born here and are American citizens. Just because people look different, it does not make them non-Americans. What does a "true American" look like? The only images which come to mind are those of Native American tribes. Otherwise, there is no one in this country whose ancestors are truly "from" here.

Also, the government already profiles. Except the majority of shootings on US soil are at the hands of white males. The people who are profiled when an atrocity happens are essentially only those that are not white males. If you look at articles, they tend to sympathize with Caucasians who commit crimes-- a girl who was dealing drugs was headlined as an "adorable drug kingpin"! Her father works in the EDA and coincidentally, extremely low bail was set for her...-_-. The PP shooter was a " gentle" loner with a "modest" black cross painted on the side of his house. I'm still trying to figure out why white shooters are consistently described as "mentally ill"... anyone who harms others is obviously not all mentally there!

I am Muslim Liz, and I am Pakistani, and I am an American. I don't believe I have ever made any effort to hide this on the forum. I stand for justice, and for peace, and do all I can to help make this country, which raised me, a better place because that is what my religion, my parents, and my schooling have taught me to do. In the face of any sort of atrocity, my heart aches for the victims. I do not do anything in apology for the actions of others who are strangers that have nothing to do with me, and those who profile me have been scarce, thankfully, but even the few I dealt with were hurtful and full of malice. Apologies will not dry a person's tears, won't magically let them feel safe walking in public. My friends, however, are fearing for their safety because crazies think it's okay to physically and verbally assault students who are just minding their own business.

On a more political note: organizations like Daesh want this. They want to split up races and ethnicities and religions so that they can gain more recruits. They want people who feel America belongs to only them to make others feel that they are less, so that people who are extremely emotional, or feel they have nowhere to go, can be lured in by their recruiters. Our greatest weapon against them are inclusivity, kindness, and love.


Back to the guns though, I am naturally afraid of the gun in the bad guy's hands, but also of human error. What if the good guy thinks someone is the bad guy, but they're mistaken? What if you miss? What if the bad guys take it from you and there's twice the harm done? I know life has a lot of what-ifs, but weapons just bring so many more lethal consequences into play. I'd just rather not touch them at all.

I don't know what the gun control laws are here in Michigan, so can't be much help on that front. But I do know it took one of my professors 20 minutes to obtain one which is more than a bit disconcerting.

I agree with you, this kind of profiling has no place in USA or anywhere else. And you are 100% correct that the anti-muslim reaction and the despicable rhetoric from some politicians we are hearing nowadays is EXACTLY what Isis wants! It justifies and proves every single lie they been telling their people. We are playing into their hands! Furthermore, I would guess that Muslims are more upset and worry about this situation than any other group of people.

Now, if I may make a suggestion? I am all for open debate but I think that religion and politics are two subjects that should not touched in a forum. The written word tends to be difficult to judge as far as tone goes and, as we don't really know the other people very well, things can be taken the wrong way.