Umpteenth shootout in the US, this time near New York's Empire State building

[Traianvs]

Deadly shootout near New York's Empire State Building

It is not clear what prompted the morning shootout
A number of people have been wounded near the Empire State Building in New York City, officials have said.

The gunman was killed by police, US media reported, and up to eight others were wounded in the incident, which took place before 09:00 (13:00 GMT).

It is not clear what the casualties' conditions were, or what led to the shooting at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue.

The incident does not appear to be terror-related, police said.

There is currently a heavy police presence around the popular tourist attraction.

Fifth Avenue, a major traffic artery in the city, has been closed from 42nd street, local media said.

One witness, Aliyah Imam, told TV station Fox 5 News that the gunman was "shooting indiscriminately at people".

She said a young woman standing next to her fell to the ground after being shot.

One of New York's most popular tourist attractions, the Empire State Building is a 1,453-ft (442-metre) skyscraper, which attracts nearly four million visitors a year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19372533

This is like those terrorist attacks in Israel/Iraq/Afghanistan. After a while everyone thinks it's normal.
So what are US policy makers going to do about this random violence do you think?

[Imran Siddiqui]

[Lorizael]

There are shootings in the US every day. And when mass shootings occur, there's more press coverage of shootings generally. While shootings aren't good, of course, we should wait to see if this year is actually any worse than the average year.

[H Tower]

Allow me to provide a summary of what this thread will turn into:

GunLover: "There aren't enough guns on the street, someone could have shot the gunman and prevented this tragedy!"
Liberal: "There are too many guns on the Street! If No one had guns then there wouldn't be shootings!"
GunLover: "There are already guns out there, you can't get them all back, if you tried only criminals would have guns"
Brit: "It worked in England"
GunLover: "This is the ****ing United States of America! We're better!"
Chris Rock: "We need a tax on bullets, make it too expensive to go shooting up places"
GunLover: "Besides, there aren't that many gun deaths, just look at Fairfax county, Virginia"
Liberal: "What about Washington D.C. though?"
Troll: "And especially Chicago, they kill each other every day there. Where are the Chicago Poly members so I can rub this in their faces?"

"Sissy!"
"Gay!"
"Stupid Canadian!"
"*******!"
"***!"


And then we all wait for the next thread.

[Hauldren Collider]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19372533

This is like those terrorist attacks in Israel/Iraq/Afghanistan. After a while everyone thinks it's normal.
So what are US policy makers going to do about this random violence do you think?

Nothing? More folks probably died of a car accident driving into the city this morning.

[Traianvs]

[The Mad Monk]

Allow me to provide a summary of what this thread will turn into:

GunLover: "There aren't enough guns on the street, someone could have shot the gunman and prevented this tragedy!"
Liberal: "There are too many guns on the Street! If No one had guns then there wouldn't be shootings!"
GunLover: "There are already guns out there, you can't get them all back, if you tried only criminals would have guns"
Brit: "It worked in England"
GunLover: "This is the ****ing United States of America! We're better!"
Chris Rock: "We need a tax on bullets, make it too expensive to go shooting up places"
GunLover: "Besides, there aren't that many gun deaths, just look at Fairfax county, Virginia"
Liberal: "What about Washington D.C. though?"
Troll: "And especially Chicago, they kill each other every day there. Where are the Chicago Poly members so I can rub this in their faces?"

"Sissy!"
"Gay!"
"Stupid Canadian!"
"*******!"
"***!"


And then we all wait for the next thread.

I guess that's it then. Can the mods close this, please? Thanks.

[The Mad Monk]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]172439[/ATTACH]

Who toasts toast?

[MRT144]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19372533

This is like those terrorist attacks in Israel/Iraq/Afghanistan. After a while everyone thinks it's normal.
So what are US policy makers going to do about this random violence do you think?

They shouldn't do anything. We're a big country and there are bound to be more than 100 or so people that will do this kinda **** every year.

[Felch]

But I thought that New York City had all those sensible gun laws you guys supported. Bloomberg is the most virulent enemy of the 2nd Amendment now in office.

[Hauldren Collider]

Everyone look at how effective NYC's gun control is

[OneFootInTheGrave]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19372533
So what are US policy makers going to do about this random violence do you think?

Encourage it. It's good for business and voters like it too, so more is better, right?

Noone even died here, proving once again that guns are safe.

[Uncle Sparky]

I just realized how the US can balance its budget and pay off its debts in under 10 years.

Indulge me -
Whereas, Guns don't kill people, people kill people,
Whereas, Missiles, artillery, etc. are just big guns,
Be it resolved that, the US Government immediately stop procuring guns, bullets, missiles, etc.

The US government will save billions per year!

[regexcellent]

Everyone look at how effective NYC's gun control is

Came here to say this.

In the state of New York it takes months and an extensive background check to get a handgun. In NYC this is also true for rifles. High capacity magazines and "assault weapons" are banned statewide. The gun this man used was almost certainly illegal AND THAT DID NOT STOP HIM. Neighboring New Jersey's laws are similarly strict.

[Asher]

But I thought that New York City had all those sensible gun laws you guys supported. Bloomberg is the most virulent enemy of the 2nd Amendment now in office.

Any sensible person will realize a single city (or even a single state) cannot effectively enact gun control.

I'm sure you know this, but let's start to be intellectually honest here, okay?

This isn't targeted at you in particular, but at the several posters in this thread who have all made the same patently absurd argument.