TRIGGER: mass shootings and depression

You have to be 21 to have a gun. A rifle is the exception. Also I think what is referred to the prefrontal cortex, the place where judgements are made, continues to develope until well into the 20s. So many are capable of impulsive and poor decisions. I think if the parents know it is conceivable that their son can use use or miseuse their firearms, I think they have both a moral and legal reason to lock them up. I am no lawyer, but this I think this may be considered reckless endangerment.

In Arizona, people can carry concieled weapons without a concieled weapons permit. Many other states require a class, and the person still has to prove a valid need for self-protection. Even then, you can only take it to work and back. Once again, in Arizona, it is a good idea to take the concield weapons class on this in order to understand the laws governing the weapons use. This is why I know the laws regarding the carry and use of firearms, at least in Arizona. For instance, you cannot brandish your weapon, and this can include pulling it part of the way out of your holster to intimidate another person. Now if you point it at a person when there is no lawful reason, it is considered assault. This in particular a felony.

The killer bought the gun. All perfectly legal.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...say/340606002/

If a licensed firearm dealer sells it in this way, they will lose their license. If it is a private sale they would be in allot of hot water regarding the law. We are talking federal law here. This is what I learned in my concield weapons class. I needed to keep in mind that this applies to only a hand guns. Now I see he purchased a rifle, not a handgun. Good article.

Of course, I have a snowball's chance in hell of ever being elected to anything, but if I did I'd be quite a boogeyman for the conservatives. I feel that the US Constitution can and should be changed in a case like this - I'd push for changing or getting rid of Amendment II.

Firearm technology has advanced a little bit since the Amendment was adopted. You no longer have to reload your musket after every round in order to get that sweet, sweet firing rate of two rounds a minute. Plus, Native American skirmishes and slave uprisings aren't as prevalent today as they were in the 1790s.

As far as citizen militias go when it comes to checking the power of the government... well, if you and your US Government Resistance Cell (tm) amass enough guns and ammunition I suppose that you all could leave a more interesting blend of broken metal and twisted flesh after the government flies their jets and drives their armored vehicles over what's left of your house when they're through with it.

He legally bought the gun in Florida according to their laws.

That article reminded me that I was talking about handguns. So you are correct.

In that class I took, it is federal law. But we are talking about a rifle here. In this case, anyone who is 18 or older can purchase a rifle. So you are correct. My mistake. My apologies. I went off a bit there. This shooting has moved me and makes me very sad and a little angry. I hope you understand.

PS I am lead to understand that there is such a thing in Michigan, where I came from, there is such a thing as a permit that allows the holder to go anywhere in the state instead of to work and back. My friend had this. However, it required a ruling by a judge. Also the concield weapons class there is three days long instead of the six hour class in Arizona. Not a firearm friendly state.

Hey Tuscon, this is an emotionally volatile issue for many people and I appreciate your graciousness to discuss it.

I was using gun to mean any hand held firearm including a long-gun or rifle. Apparently in some states you can buy a rifle at age 16 and there are currently 1.6 million high school students who are legally entitled to buy these AR 15 military assault rifles where they live. Here is a nice article about the issue:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.89d3be7f78b4

This is an eye opener. I guess what I said about the age limits may be only Arizona. Many laws were discussed. Sometimes he did not distinguish between federal law and state law. I am going to have to talk to that NRA instructor. I imagine the article is truthful, but I sent an email to that instructor. He is a friend of mine. I am very interested in what he has to say.

Update: (I just realized that after posting this update that my posts is a bit off topic. OOPS)

I am going to quote that article here. It says “He bought it about a year ago, when he was 18, at which point Florida law allowed him to buy a long gun like the AR-15. Then there is also this “He’s too young to buy a handgun or a beer, but he’s old enough to buy a rapid-fire rifle”. This supports what I think is federal law. However “In 10 states, in fact, he was older than he legally needed to be: In nine of those states, people younger than 18 can buy long guns with their parents’ permission”. Please note that they are talking about rifles, not hand guns. However, you appear to be correct in that some states made it lawful for 16 years old can purchase a rifle. This is a bit scary to me. They should not be able to purchase semi-automatic weapon for any reason. But a single action may make sense, like for hunting deer. They do not need a semi to hunt deer.

The recent shootings are VERY SAD.
I cannot watch any more of it, it's just FAR TOO SAD.
My heart goes out.

WC

OK. This is my last post on the subject. I promise. It appears federal law does not permit the sale of rifles to those who are underage. That article is mistaken. Here is an excerpt from that NRA instructor who has been doing this since 1974.

“Irregardless, federal law supersedes state law. Federal law states you cannot sell a rifle/shotgun regardless of configuration i.e semi auto or single shot to anyone under the age of 18 and 21 for handguns. Now Arizona law, (Federal allows this too), will allow you to gift a firearm to anyone under the legal purchase age with the written permission from BOTH parents or legal Guardian(s). Rifles and handguns can be possessed in the field hunting by youth and age depends on their attendance of a hunter safety course”

So someone screwed up in a big way. Those dumbass reporters should of checked their sources. I now will return to the original programming of this thread.

Er... Tucson... your excerpt contradicts your statement. Unless I'm reading it wrong. This is entirely possible because I have been known to try to get out of my car with my seatbelt still fastened.

Ah. I think I see what you're saying. No sales to under 18s, period. This guy was, sadly, just old enough to buy his very own AR 15.

I have said many things. Perhaps I goofed up. But I came to the conclusion that any person 18 years and older can purchase a rifle, but not a handgun. But I did not know of the exceptions. If I did not say this properly, I apologize. For instance, it was a legal sale. So I realize where I screwed up.

Now that I have reread my posts, I can see what you said is true. Sorry, I did goof up. I am embarrassed. Thanks for letting me know. By the way, I have at least a couple times try to to get out of the car with the seatbelt on. I have done much more stupid things too. I can be mindless at times. This is one of those times. My “mouth” was in gear before the brain was ready.

I think even if a group of teenagers shot a 1000 kids in a school with AR 15s that they legally bought, literally nothing would change in the US.

You are correct here. This is one of the many deficits in my country. It is shocking what is happening here. Still, I do not believe in the typical knee jerk response by those leaders of the US. Something intelligent needs to be done about this. Heck, even the police in England are not carrying a firearm. They have a special unit for this, kind of like the SWAT squad here in the US. I do like many of the benefits of living here, however, this is not one of them.

A lengthy and, in my opinion, far too short a thread.

Today is only a week past this senseless, horrific event and reactions are below the fold, now. And, unless kicked in the nuts by children (children, children we will forget Parkland and carry on until the next mass murderer strikes up the band.

As adults, as intelligent people, we no longer seek solutions. Mass murder is inevitable. It’s the choice that we make. Mass murder has, somehow, become the lesser of two evils.

Those who know the history of the Second Amendment, and the case law that followed, and those who know the history of the NRA 1977-present, know the rapid escalation of the U.S. ‘gun fetish.’

“It’s the guns, stupid.”

Are campaign finance laws are waaaaayyy to lax.