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[Trey]

Honestly, I'm becoming depressed in a real way after leaving the TV on most of the day this past few days. It seems one tragedy follows another in the United States.

On the explosion in Texas, why on earth were volunteer firemen allowed to go into a burning building where obviously explosive ammonia products were produced.  Probably more were killed who ran in than those who were trying to get out.  I don't know, but it is so damn stupid and horrible.

I think the failure to pass the tightening of background checks to purchase guns was the final blow for me.  One program I enjoy ran photos of every member of the House of Representatives and the Senate who voted against the bill, and the moderators of my program, Morning Joe, referred to these legislators as Cowards.   The National Rifle Association has so much power when it comes to re election campaigns and the legislators are scared of the NRA.

I think maybe it would help if there was a way to not somehow glorify these crazies with TV notoriety and never mention their names.

I'm just sick.

[grumpy2008]

I tend not to watch the TV news for this reason - so much bad stuff going on depending on my mood I just absorb it like a sponge. I too was appalled that the gun laws weren't tightened. Living in the UK, the gun situation in the US just amazes me!

Generally I stick to reading the news online, if I feel the need to catch up. But some mornings it wakes me up on the radio... I think I might change the time of the alarm to miss the news bulletin, otherwise it can set a horribly negative tone for the day!

We certainly need more happy news, I think!

[Meggie]

They seem to be very restrictive on the good news - don't go into as much detail in my opinion.  Unfortunately, when something bad happens, it seems to over-ride he good stuff, little though it is. 

Society is going down the pan !

Meggie

[CLKD]

There is nothing wrong with people owning firearms unless they are unstable.  I could write  a book about what has happened in the UK in recent years  ......... I do believe that there should be a blanket media ban until all facts are verified.  Today's news, tomorrow's chip papers.

[honeybun]

What does your average person need a gun for CLKD......you for example.

If you don't need it for work, farmer,game keeper for example then they should be locked in a gun club.

You did not have the man who massacred the children of Dunblane practise shooting at a facility literally next door to where you live. I DID.

Why on earth would nothing be wrong with owning a gun and who decides who is unstable.

As we all know our mental state can change.......depression...Anxiety.

Take as many guns out of circulation as possible and make our world a safer place.

Honeyb
X

[Meggie]

Hi honeybun

It's the amount of aggression nowadays

2 years ago my Son's best friend was stabbed in the heart for apparently no reason other than a heated discussion in a pub.  Needless to say, he's no longer with us.   The perpetrator went back and stabbed him a 2nd time which meant it was premeditated, so he got life ....... he doesn't deserve A LIFE in my opinion.  I know, he's someone's son/brother etc ..........I think I'd better stop now while I'm ahead !

Get off your soapbox Meggie !!!

[honeybun]

You stay on the soapbox .....Just shuffle up so I can stand beside you.

A boy who I held in my arms as a baby and who stayed in the same street as me met the same end as your sons friend. Our little town was stunned. Drink and drugs......party....lethal combination.


Guns, knives of the sort that are on our streets. No need for any of them licence or not.

Honeyb
X

[Taz2]

I reckon the point is that people ARE allowed to own firearms even though they are unstable CLKD. I have a friend who owns a shotgun and a rifle even though he is being treated for depression bad enough to be signed off from work. He has had his guns confiscated twice due to making threats but in both instances they were returned to him after six months. I find it really worrying.

Taz x

[Elena]

Hungerford Massacre - people my husband knew were killed by Michael Ryan.

A few weeks ago, the teenage son of a colleague killed himself with his father's shotgun.

All so needless.

[honeybun]

My OH owned a shot gun for years.....He bought it from a catalogue and paid it up. He went shooting rabbits and pigeons and what they did not eat was sold to the local butcher.

Even he agrees the world has changed so much and some people look at things differently.

In America they have AKA assault weapons. You can't game shoot with those....they are weapons of war.

How do you justify having one of those.


Honeyb
X

[ariadne]

What has struck me lately about television interviews after tragic events is the callous determination to drag out every last bit of information from traumatized people just to embellish the story.

I was listening to a presenter from the BBC  "interrogating" a man who had been having dinner (not sure if he was at home or in a restaurant)  near the fertilizer factory when it exploded. The presenter kept asking him to go over it again and again and I felt sick for him. "What did you hear? What did you do then? What did you see when you stepped outside? How did you feel?" ....on and on and on.

And as for interviewing people who have just lost a loved one .... disgraceful in my opinion.

ariadne xx

[Joyce]

Too many dangerous weapons on the streets nowadays! Full stop!!!

[Firewalker50]

I agree with you about the news Trey.  Bad news seems to 'sell more papers'.

My Dad had licensed guns for shooting.  They had to be stored in secure place (he had a special bolted down locked heavy metal case) and Mum was not allowed to know where the key was (no-one was).   He was professional and responsible.  He was licensed and checked every year.  All food was eaten or shared.  We may not all agree with the practice, but it seems unfair that the majority are restricted or penalised as a result of the actions of a few.

Unfortunately, most of the time it is illegal, underground or unlicensed weapons that cause the problem.  We all have knives, but it is mostly illegal weapons that are used as weapons of violence.

I really do fear knives and there was another thread about SuziQ on the Train where many of us expressed the fear that we never know what is being carried now and so less people are willing to get involved when someone is being attacked.

Like many of you I watch the news less and less.  I now only buy The Times on a Sunday and catch up on the main points of the week.

Fx