@Ggma....No, I'm not a cop. As for being on both sides of the street, if I'm understanding you correctly, you mean I sound like I've had experience with the 'good' and 'bad'? If that's what you mean, then yes, but probably not in the way you think. I'm certainly not book smart on these issues, but more street smart, unfortunately. I'll leave it at that for now.

Mom had a bumper sticker that said support your right to arm bears. Had a grizzly w a rifle. Peace.

Newbie r u a cop i agree with most of what u say u sound as tho u have seen both sides of the street

Pillows

Shut up all you know it f'in alls! No one knows when some stupid manic will decide the untimely fate of the few in front of him/her. Guns or no guns. What u all need to worry about is your well being and mind your own business. Maybe you could enjoy some quite. Go inside and pray for the best.

Sorry the rest if my post was cut off. What I was saying is that I'm not minimizing these crimes or their effects upon all of us. What I'm trying to say is there needs to be more of an awareness. My heart aches for anyone who has been touched by these cowardly acts. But its not just about guns. I don't know why the Newtown shooter had access. He shouldn't have. And the family had the means to see that this person should have had additional care. With all that being said ...almost anyone who knew him said something wasn't right mentally. I wish for peace in the hearts of all.

It doesn't start with more gun laws. It starts with more funding for government agencies so that we can have public mental hospitals and mental healthcare workers that evaluate these ill people on site and off site. You would not believe what we have to do in this state just to get someone admitted into a psych ward that is talking about killing themselves or others. We have to call a individual that will determine if they are really ill enough to do an involuntary admit to a hospital. From there they dtermine if they are sick enough to stay. What usually happens is they get sent home with a few antidepressants or anti- psychotics. The harsh reality is that these drugs take 4-6 weeks before they work to their full potential. Most of these individuals are so depressed 4-6 weeks might as well be 4-6 years. They need to be monitored at all times. Shat is really hopeless is that scenario is fir the people with health insurance. You don't even want to know what happens to these people who are uninsured. These people who kill like this are sociopaths/ psychopaths. They act without a conscience. They would kill if they had guns, baseball bats, knives.. you name it. They kill because their sick. I'm nit minimizing

It doesn't start with more gun laws. It starts with more funding for government agencies so that we can have public mental hospitals and mental healthcare workers that evaluate these ill people on site and off site. You would not believe what we have to do in this state just to get someone admitted into a psych ward that is talking about killing themselves or others. We have to call a individual that will determine if they are really ill enough to do an involuntary admit to a hospital. From there they dtermine if they are sick enough to stay. What usually happens is they get sent home with a few antidepressants or anti- psychotics. The harsh reality is that these drugs take 4-6 weeks before they work to their full potential. Most of these individuals are so depressed 4-6 weeks might as well be 4-6 years. They need to be monitored at all times. Shat is really hopeless is that scenario is fir the people with health insurance. You don't even want to know what happens to these people who are uninsured. These people who kill like this are sociopaths/ psychopaths. They act without a conscience. They would kill if they had guns, baseball bats, knives.. you name it. They kill because their sick. I'm nit minimizing

@Mr Sinister.....again, I agree. Although I don't own a gun, I've never shot a gun nor do I intend to ever shoot one, criminals WILL always find a way to get their hands on guns even if they're banned. There isn't one answer to this problem, it's not black and white. It's complicated and I don't think ANYONE has the answer, because frankly I don't think there IS one. That being said, I still don't believe that anyone NEEDS to have a semi automatic weapon. I understand having a gun for protection, I even understand people collecting guns and mounting them on their walls. But I don't understand why anyone outside the military (for use for war/training only) would need these kinds of guns. Like I said, I don't have the answer(s) but I'm doing my best to understand every point of view.

@loveurself......Thank you for bringing my attention to the case you were referring to. I will look into the details of that when I get a chance. But that's 'one' example, and it certainly doesn't count for every case in Britain. My uncle killed an intruder in self defense, and wasn't charged at all. He didn't kill with a gun, he got into a fight with the burglar and although he didn't intend to kill him, he did. Sadly, my uncle struggled for years with the guilt of taking someone's life. But it comes down to when faced with a life or death situation, you don't know what you'd do. He saved his own life and the life of his wife and kids. There was an official inquiry, and like I said, he was never charged and the inquiry found that it was in self defense. Maybe the case you're referring to is different, maybe due to a firearm being used. Anyway, it's peaked my interest and I will look into it. But I can assure you that using that one instance still isn't accurate for the British laws.