Slaughter in the street.

[Doc Com]

I was not at work yesterday.

Across the street from where I work, at 230 in the afternoon, someone started shooting.

The result was two people killed in the parking lot and two died in the ER.

Seventeen shots were fired, four people were killed, the suspect was on the loose, and all of this happened on a quite Sunday afternoon. This is the same street corner across from the hospital where hospital employees (and visitors) at times would go over to in order to smoke since smoking was banned on the hospital grounds. No hospital employees were there at the time and, as far as I know.

Early this morning, police arrested the suspect in Virginia.

The suspect was released from prison two years ago after serving more than four years on a 2002 conviction for kidnapping a minor.

How can this possibly happen? Kidnapping is a felony.



This incident happened while the State of North Carolina is preparing to release more felons due to an old law that defines a life sentence as 80 years. What this loosely law has defined is an odd way of determining that a persons age when sentenced, plus a credit per day served, and some really screwy crap:

The Supreme Court ruled two weeks ago that a state law from 1970s defined a life sentence as 80 years and that, when good-behavior credits were included, some inmates had completed their sentence. The law was changed a few years later.

Under the ruling, the inmates are set to be released next Thursday.
North Carolina prison officials have spent recent days double-checking the good behavior credits to determine whether the 20 felons are even eligible for such credits.

These are murderers and rapists set to be released. These are the worst of the worst.


If you think this is an NC issue, its not. Many states are set to release prisoners from overcrowding or for budget concerns.

[Ehsan]

No Wonder why America is f*** with the kinda laws and things they have ! sorry no offence ! but really its sad to see officials going to such lengths to facilitate the convicts who later go on and commit such horrendous crimes !

[draggar]

Originally Posted by Ehsan

No Wonder why America is f*** with the kinda laws and things they have ! sorry no offence ! but really its sad to see officials going to such lengths to facilitate the convicts who later go on and commit such horrendous crimes !

They don't need to let people out of the prisons to have this happen. Just think of the poor young criminals who will lose their victims when the more experienced ones get out of jail.

[Doc Com]

Not to mention, the illegal gun trade.

No way in hell can a convicted felon LEGALLY purchase a firearm.

[sdsinc]

Yet the US has more inmates per capita than any other nation. Clearly they must not be putting the right people behinds bars.

[randomo]

This seems like a problem caused by both liberal thinking (release criminals early) & conservative thinking (make it easy to get guns). Hmm. Hard for either side to lay complete blame on the other.

[Doc Com]

Originally Posted by randomo

This seems like a problem caused by both liberal thinking (release criminals early) & conservative thinking (make it easy to get guns). Hmm. Hard for either side to lay complete blame on the other.

Most importantly, how the laws are written and how they are in the books.

I do see both of your points. Mainly, the illegal gun trade flourishing. Yes, only law abiding citizens legally own guns.

I am still waiting to find out if he had more than one weapon or multiple clips...if this was a handgun or assault rifle (most can accompany 20-30 rounds). From what I understand, there were many witnesses. But, everyone sees, hears, recalls something different.

The early release was brought to the courts attention by a felon and his attorney. The felon is serving two life sentences.

[cleverlyslick]

those southern states need to reform the gun laws,you know how it easy to cop guns down south? that's how majority of guns get sold illegally up north because of the south and their lax gun laws.

[tetrapak]

This is why the Second Amendment is the joke of the world. Any sane country should absolutely make weapons illegal to regular people. Why on earth does the US still believe it is OK to have guns at home? It is sickening. In this sense, the USA is a third world country, and the murder / rape rates just prove me. Just check the gun laws of European countries...

[cleverlyslick]

Originally Posted by tetrapak

This is why the Second Amendment is the joke of the world. Any sane country should absolutely make weapons illegal to regular people. Why on earth does the US still believe it is OK to have guns at home? It is sickening. In this sense, the USA is a third world country, and the murder / rape rates just prove me. Just check the gun laws of European countries...

In New York the mandatory minimum sentence for an illegal posession of a firearm is 3 years. although i believe this is a little harsh it does make sense to have stiff sentences like this because it regulates the gun violence.people still have guns illegally,but don't carry it with them. In order to purchase a firearm here in the city you have to have a pistol permit,and that's not easy to get.they even do a credit check on you. down south you can walk in with your cousin's id and get a ak-47 LOL it's insane!

[tetrapak]

That is one state only, I was generalizing of course (mostly about the redneck states).

[Doc Com]

Originally Posted by tetrapak

That is one state only, I was generalizing of course (mostly about the redneck states).

Yeehaw, must be meaning the other 49 states?

[draggar]

Originally Posted by tetrapak

This is why the Second Amendment is the joke of the world. Any sane country should absolutely make weapons illegal to regular people. Why on earth does the US still believe it is OK to have guns at home? It is sickening. In this sense, the USA is a third world country, and the murder / rape rates just prove me. Just check the gun laws of European countries...

The second amendment was made to allow the citizens to take up arms against an oppressive government - close to how this nation was formed. I'm sure if the founding fathers had the slightest idea of what the US would be like now they would have done a completely different job with the constitution - perhaps even stayed under British rule.

While I do believe in the right to bear arms (my wife has a gun for self defense), I believe that there is such a thing as to much. Do you really need a fully automatic machine gun to go hunting? Sadly, with the way things are going I've seriously considered getting a rifle myself (as much of a bad shot I am). Nothing obsessive, maybe a .22 but still.

Originally Posted by tetrapak

That is one state only, I was generalizing of course (mostly about the redneck states).

I'd hate to say it but it's not the rednecks that scare me. Sure, they may have illegal guns but they mainly use them for defense (unless you're caught with their daughter .

We have shootings here all the time and most of them fit one demographic (and people wonder why there's still racism in the US?). All you need to do is look at the police reports and local newspapers.

Just an FYI - gun laws will not curb gun violence, it will just make it harder for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves / easier pickings for criminals.

[Doc Com]

Originally Posted by cleverlyslick

those southern states need to reform the gun laws,you know how it easy to cop guns down south? that's how majority of guns get sold illegally up north because of the south and their lax gun laws.

Not sure this is entirely true. Any time you have unprotected borders there will be an illegal smuggling operation going on. Sure, when we think borders and crime we automatically think Mexico. But, with nearly 95,000 miles of unprotected shoreline in the US, how easy is it to smuggle anything! Drugs, weapons, people, bombs, anything at all!

NOAA’s official value for the total length of U.S. tidal shoreline is 95,471 statute miles (The Coastline of the United States [NOAA/PA 71046], 1975).
http://shoreline.noaa.gov/faqs.html

Originally Posted by tetrapak

This is why the Second Amendment is the joke of the world. Just check the gun laws of European countries...

Well, if the brits weren't such a bunch of pussies and had fought harder or interrupted a tea break or two, we'd be under European law as well.

Originally Posted by tetrapak

This is why the Second Amendment is the joke of the world. Any sane country should absolutely make weapons illegal to regular people. Why on earth does the US still believe it is OK to have guns at home? It is sickening. In this sense, the USA is a third world country, and the murder / rape rates just prove me. Just check the gun laws of European countries...

Regular people with guns is what helped defeat the Nazis in World War II. Those were the Resistance Fighters and the Underground Militia.

I am more worried and bothered by rogue nations and militias owning guns than I am about gun ownership in the US.

As for the US getting invaded, the only ones we have to worry about are the Canadians. But, with the hockey fanatics and almost a 1:1 ratio with the USD:CD, I see little reason for that.

Perhaps we'll want to invade Mexico seeing that is where all the jobs are now.

...



I was looking at one of the local media outlets and they are reporting it was one weapon, an assault rifle, and the victims and the shooter all knew each other.

[randomo]

Originally Posted by Doc Com

Regular people with guns is what helped defeat the Nazis in World War II. Those were the Resistance Fighters and the Underground Militia.

I am more worried and bothered by rogue nations and militias owning guns than I am about gun ownership in the US.

I have no problem with "regular people" having guns. What bothers me is that groups like the NRA oppose laws intended to keep guns out of illegal hands, like limiting purchases to X guns a month per person. That's meant to deter straw purchasers from stocking up and then selling them on the streets. But no matter how large you make X, the usual suspects will oppose such laws.

[draggar]

Originally Posted by randomo

I have no problem with "regular people" having guns. What bothers me is that groups like the NRA oppose laws intended to keep guns out of illegal hands, like limiting purchases to X guns a month per person. That's meant to deter straw purchasers from stocking up and then selling them on the streets. But no matter how large you make X, the usual suspects will oppose such laws.

The issue is that you can make all the laws you want and people who own and deal in illegal guns will still do it because why? They're illegal. Most don't go to gun stores and stock up - they acquire them either though stealing them, trading them for drugs, or from kids who found a gun and would easily trade it in for $50.

All gun laws will do is restrict people who want to buy them legally for their own legal use (self defense, target shooting, hunting, etc..). It will be harder for them to get guns.

Florida has a good law - the 10-20-life law. If you use a gun to commit a crime, you're put away for 10 years. If you fire it, 20. If you shoot someone, you're away for life. I'm sure with appeals and "good behavior" most get out long before that (sadly, and most of them go right back to crime).

[Doc Com]

Originally Posted by randomo

I have no problem with "regular people" having guns. What bothers me is that groups like the NRA oppose laws intended to keep guns out of illegal hands, like limiting purchases to X guns a month per person. That's meant to deter straw purchasers from stocking up and then selling them on the streets. But no matter how large you make X, the usual suspects will oppose such laws.

I am not sure about NRA opposing laws intended to keep guns of illegal hands (depends on what side of the argument you are on).

But with that said, I am not going to renew being a member of the NRA. That has got to be one of the most beligerant and arrogant organizations...and unquestionably the largest spammer for me. Everything is a rights issue to them, every candidate is a threat, and every issue is a call to action. They make an NRA special product for everything and anything (including wine) and it is all a "limited edition" (even though there may be 15 million of them) and they call, mail, email, etc.

[Area52]

Originally Posted by tetrapak

This is why the Second Amendment is the joke of the world. Any sane country should absolutely make weapons illegal to regular people. Why on earth does the US still believe it is OK to have guns at home? It is sickening. In this sense, the USA is a third world country, and the murder / rape rates just prove me. Just check the gun laws of European countries...

The U.S. second amendment is a joke if one is a fool. Most European countries are also dependent states.
People in those countries are helpless if a bad character gets power.
Oh, that's right, America to the rescue. Dictators smile at your post.

[tetrapak]

Like you elect a dictator in a democracy...

[sdsinc]

In Europe a few countries have liberal gun laws, for example Finland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland. Gun ownership is prevalent in Switzerland.
But it seems there is something wrong with America, so many nuts that misuse their guns. Okay, America is a large country with 300m residents but well.

Originally Posted by tetrapak

Like you elect a dictator in a democracy...

There are quite a few democracies where far right parties/policies are thriving. Democracy != freedom