Armed teachers?

gloswhite wrote:The very basic problem is that all Americans think they are cowboys, and as we can see by their politics towards guns, I think that description is quite apt.

observer wrote:

gloswhite wrote:The very basic problem is that all Americans think they are cowboys, and as we can see by their politics towards guns, I think that description is quite apt.

Glos... you are so wrong on many levels.  Most Americans do not own guns.  It is not the politics of the Americans, rather the politics of the dollar.  The NRA contributes (or imo, buys) Congress... in this case conservatives.  33-36% of Americans own guns, and for what it's worth, they own more than one.  That accounts for the average of one gun per American.  The NRA only has 5 million Americans out of 325 million or so in this country.  But the NRA spent 54 million on the last election which helped the conservatives take the White House.  

Hence 2/3 of Americans don't have guns.  Only 1.5% of Americans belong to the NRA. But as you perceive it, "all Americans think they are cowboys."  I've heard that many people overseas believe that.  In truth, most Americans are not cowboys... far from it.  

It's unfortunate that our lame assed Congress has been bought and paid for by the NRA.  But most politicians are always running for office, and ergo, need money to pay for their campaigns.  The term of office of a representative is 2 years... and they are therefore always running.  The Senate term is 6 years.  It is estimated that a representative spends 1.5 million on each campaign (https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2018/2/27/17051560/money-nra-guns-contributions-donations-parkland) and the NRA funds candidates who earn A ratings from them.  This is a far cry from Americans supporting these guns.

Having used the military version of the AR-15, it is my belief that no one in this country needs that weapon of destruction.  I suppose most Americans believe that as well, but until Congress is not a paid partner of the NRA, it will be difficult to change the laws.  It is not unlike Brexit passing despite polls saying it would not be successful. In this case, we have a President who is stacking the Supreme Court moving it conservative by a vote of 5 to 4. Unlike you, we have to live with this President for 4 years... unless he has to resign from the pressure of the current investigations. It would be nice to call for a vote of no confidence in him.

Now let's get six points (maybe four?) from Preston and Reading, and start moving away from the relegation zone.

gloswhite wrote:

observer wrote:

gloswhite wrote:The very basic problem is that all Americans think they are cowboys, and as we can see by their politics towards guns, I think that description is quite apt.

Glos... you are so wrong on many levels.  Most Americans do not own guns.  It is not the politics of the Americans, rather the politics of the dollar.  The NRA contributes (or imo, buys) Congress... in this case conservatives.  33-36% of Americans own guns, and for what it's worth, they own more than one.  That accounts for the average of one gun per American.  The NRA only has 5 million Americans out of 325 million or so in this country.  But the NRA spent 54 million on the last election which helped the conservatives take the White House.  

Hence 2/3 of Americans don't have guns.  Only 1.5% of Americans belong to the NRA. But as you perceive it, "all Americans think they are cowboys."  I've heard that many people overseas believe that.  In truth, most Americans are not cowboys... far from it.  

It's unfortunate that our lame assed Congress has been bought and paid for by the NRA.  But most politicians are always running for office, and ergo, need money to pay for their campaigns.  The term of office of a representative is 2 years... and they are therefore always running.  The Senate term is 6 years.  It is estimated that a representative spends 1.5 million on each campaign (https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2018/2/27/17051560/money-nra-guns-contributions-donations-parkland) and the NRA funds candidates who earn A ratings from them.  This is a far cry from Americans supporting these guns.

Having used the military version of the AR-15, it is my belief that no one in this country needs that weapon of destruction.  I suppose most Americans believe that as well, but until Congress is not a paid partner of the NRA, it will be difficult to change the laws.  It is not unlike Brexit passing despite polls saying it would not be successful. In this case, we have a President who is stacking the Supreme Court moving it conservative by a vote of 5 to 4. Unlike you, we have to live with this President for 4 years... unless he has to resign from the pressure of the current investigations. It would be nice to call for a vote of no confidence in him.

Now let's get six points (maybe four?) from Preston and Reading, and start moving away from the relegation zone.

I found this quite interesting Obs, and accept that I got it wrong about all of them being cowboys. However one third of them owning at least one gun, is still something that makes you wonder about the system that allows it.
Regarding their politics, I still think its pathetic that the most powerful man in the world can be so openly bought by the NRA. To my mind, when 'Gunfight at the OK Corral' is becoming an accepted part of the national school system, I think the term 'cowboys' still applies, at least for the politicians.

observer wrote:

gloswhite wrote:

observer wrote:

gloswhite wrote:The very basic problem is that all Americans think they are cowboys, and as we can see by their politics towards guns, I think that description is quite apt.

Glos... you are so wrong on many levels.  Most Americans do not own guns.  It is not the politics of the Americans, rather the politics of the dollar.  The NRA contributes (or imo, buys) Congress... in this case conservatives.  33-36% of Americans own guns, and for what it's worth, they own more than one.  That accounts for the average of one gun per American.  The NRA only has 5 million Americans out of 325 million or so in this country.  But the NRA spent 54 million on the last election which helped the conservatives take the White House.  

Hence 2/3 of Americans don't have guns.  Only 1.5% of Americans belong to the NRA. But as you perceive it, "all Americans think they are cowboys."  I've heard that many people overseas believe that.  In truth, most Americans are not cowboys... far from it.  

It's unfortunate that our lame assed Congress has been bought and paid for by the NRA.  But most politicians are always running for office, and ergo, need money to pay for their campaigns.  The term of office of a representative is 2 years... and they are therefore always running.  The Senate term is 6 years.  It is estimated that a representative spends 1.5 million on each campaign (https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2018/2/27/17051560/money-nra-guns-contributions-donations-parkland) and the NRA funds candidates who earn A ratings from them.  This is a far cry from Americans supporting these guns.

Having used the military version of the AR-15, it is my belief that no one in this country needs that weapon of destruction.  I suppose most Americans believe that as well, but until Congress is not a paid partner of the NRA, it will be difficult to change the laws.  It is not unlike Brexit passing despite polls saying it would not be successful. In this case, we have a President who is stacking the Supreme Court moving it conservative by a vote of 5 to 4. Unlike you, we have to live with this President for 4 years... unless he has to resign from the pressure of the current investigations. It would be nice to call for a vote of no confidence in him.

Now let's get six points (maybe four?) from Preston and Reading, and start moving away from the relegation zone.

I found this quite interesting Obs, and accept that I got it wrong about all of them being cowboys. However one third of them owning at least one gun, is still something that makes you wonder about the system that allows it.
Regarding their politics, I still think its pathetic that the most powerful man in the world can be so openly bought by the NRA. To my mind, when 'Gunfight at the OK Corral' is becoming an accepted part of the national school system, I think the term 'cowboys' still applies, at least for the politicians.

Glos... politicians are blood suckers who have no real job.  In this country they legislate our social security and health care, but they do not participate in it.  They treat themselves like Kings and Queens... sort of like royalty.  It's nice to have a job where you can put in two years and then get a pension.  It's nice to have premium health care.  But it is certainly wrong to legislate for the masses and squeeze them by calling these "entitlements."  I know I have my pay stubs showing me how much I have paid for these "entitlements."  

I also find it disconcerting that so many Americans have weapons.  I live in a city that does not allow weapons... very tough gun laws that date back decades.  But that doesn't mean that every household does not have a cheap weapon hidden somewhere.  The numbers I quoted are the legitimate weapons that can be purchased.  The real problem is the lack of accountability of people with problems who have the right to purchase or carry.  There is a real failure to allow AR-15's with or without bump stocks on the streets.  Even hunters do not need those weapons. Congress's failure to act on weapons is now attracting the youth of America to protest.  Unfortunately the only true protest is at the ballot box... and less than 60% voted in the last election... and unfortunately the person with the most votes lost (once again).  The truly amazing statistic is that the draft dodgers are the most vocal supporters of guns.  Trump got out of serving by claiming "bone spurs."  Now he has said he would run into a school that is under siege even without a weapon.  

You are right Glos... too many weapons and my point is that we need stricter rules of who can have that weapon.  The young troubled killer in Florida had mental issues known to the police, the FBI and the school.  How in the world was he allowed to buy an attack weapon of such magnitude?  Instead of cowboys, we just have a true lot of insane people and blood sucking politicians.  BTW - for the most part, those who are NRA members, are law abiding citizens.  But the ability to buy off politicians is sickening.Absolutely agree with you Obs, good post.

Bollotom2014 wrote:The US 2nd Amendment was originally based on our own Bill of Rights in the 17th century  So you can blame the English. Trouble is when you start arming enclosed groups such as teachers,  they will all want to upscale to AK47s, Bazookas, Shoulder held missiles or similar to prove their school is more secure. The NRA are a powerful lobby and as hunting is also a given right in the US it'll be difficult for Trump to bring it under control. I believe there are about 4 million guns of all descriptions on the streets of America so perhaps an impossible task to get them under any sort of control. Still, Donald will fall over his size nines making a mockery of any such task.

wanderlust wrote:Just watched a video made by a 13 year old boy in the States wherein his mum drives him to the shops because he's too young to drive, and he tries to buy:
* a case of beer - he's too young
* a lottery scratchcard - he's too young
* an "adult magazine" - he's too young
* a pack of cigarettes - he's too young

Then he walks into a gun store and is sold a high powered assault rifle with ammo.

Reebok Trotter wrote:Anything bar tackling the real problem!

gloswhite wrote:The very basic problem is that all Americans think they are cowboys, and as we can see by their politics towards guns, I think that description is quite apt.

Natasha Whittam wrote:I don't believe a 13 year old can walk into a gun shop and buy a weapon. Surely his Mum bought it?