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

[OneFootInTheGrave]

and while you are at it, legalize drugs...

That would be quite a turnaround.

[The Mad Monk]

Please explain why not ? If they can ban drugs, I bet that they can ban guns.

...and we all know how well THAT worked out. Guns are also more popular than drugs.

[regexcellent]

Well, if the state can ban one kind of deadly "substance", it can surely ban another such as guns - just get rid of that outdated second amendment. We are after all living in the 21 century, not the mediveal ages.

Most states also have constitutional protections on firearms ownership, many of which are more stringent than the 2nd amendment. Those would have to be repealed as well. Generally that requires a referendum, which would not pass. So, you have to get 2/3rds of both houses of Congress, majorities in 3/4ths of the state legislatures, and some large number of referenda to agree to ban guns. This is among a population that is generally against banning guns.

[BlackCat]

Most states also have constitutional protections on firearms ownership, many of which are more stringent than the 2nd amendment. Those would have to be repealed as well. Generally that requires a referendum, which would not pass. So, you have to get 2/3rds of both houses of Congress, majorities in 3/4ths of the state legislatures, and some large number of referenda to agree to ban guns. This is among a population that is generally against banning guns.

Well, then I would suggest that amercans stop complaining about mass shootings, killings of innocents by guns etc and just accept that as **** happens. It must be just so fun to be an american parent that have to teach their children that your government consider it a right that they may be killed by guns

[Lorizael]

More dead Americans!

Aren't the police supposed to protect their public...?

USA! USA! USA!

This is entirely inappropriate, MOBIUS.

[BlackCat]

This is entirely inappropriate, MOBIUS.

While I hate to agree with mobby, I have to do it here. US government actually approves what mobby says and it's supported by a great number of usasians.

[Al B. Sure!]

Did anyone die besides the shooter whom the police shot and killed? What is Mobius talking about?

[regexcellent]

The guy the shooter was trying to murder was shot and killed. Other than that, there was some wounding but it was mostly light and as far as I can tell it was due to the NYC police department's terrible marksmanship standards combined with the fact that they mod their guns to have twelve pound triggers. This appears not to have been a rampage.

[Felch]

Are you seriously claiming that if syrians had acces to handguns or even rifles they would had been in a better situation ?

That claim isn't only idiotic, it's also a proof that you have no idea about how civilians fight professional military. They simply die until they get hand on nonmiltia weapons such as AAA, arty, panzer etc.

If I wanted to fight the government, I wouldn't attack the military. That's stupid. I'd find civilians who work for the government, and I'd murder them. Guns make it easy to murder people.

This isn't an outlandish notion either. Look at how the Viet Cong challenged the RVN, or look at how the Mexican cartels are taking over the border. They'd go to isolated villages and kill anybody associated with the government. Mayors, doctors, teachers, police, whoever. Kill anybody who has a stake in the status quo. Kill the rich who don't support you. Kill isolated security forces. Then the government is ****ed. They can't persuade the locals to help them, because the locals either like you or are afraid of you. Without help from locals, they get no intelligence. Without intelligence, those tanks and jets have nothing to shoot. They'll be sidelined in a fight where firepower and mobility are irrelevant.

[Al B. Sure!]

But nah I don't like guns and I don't own one and probably never will.

[regexcellent]

While I hate to agree with mobby, I have to do it here. US government actually approves what mobby says and it's supported by a great number of usasians.

What the hell is a usasian?

[BlackCat]

If I wanted to fight the government, I wouldn't attack the military. That's stupid. I'd find civilians who work for the government, and I'd murder them. Guns make it easy to murder people.

This isn't an outlandish notion either. Look at how the Viet Cong challenged the RVN, or look at how the Mexican cartels are taking over the border. They'd go to isolated villages and kill anybody associated with the government. Mayors, doctors, teachers, police, whoever. Kill anybody who has a stake in the status quo. Kill the rich who don't support you. Kill isolated security forces. Then the government is ****ed. They can't persuade the locals to help them, because the locals either like you or are afraid of you. Without help from locals, they get no intelligence. Without intelligence, those tanks and jets have nothing to shoot. They'll be sidelined in a fight where firepower and mobility are irrelevant.

I'm a bit confused - are you claming that an USA'nian "fight for freedom using my right due to the second amendment" will include killing doctors, teatchers civilians and whatever may move ?

[regexcellent]

It wouldn't be hard for civilians to get their hands on military hardware either.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands of national guard armories. There's a New York Army National Guard armory about three miles from where I live, and it's got things like Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters there. The tank in the video was stolen from the California National Guard.

[Al B. Sure!]

What the hell is a usasian?

Asian-American

[BlackCat]

If I wanted to fight the government, I wouldn't attack the military. That's stupid. I'd find civilians who work for the government, and I'd murder them. Guns make it easy to murder people.

Tell that to the syrians - I bet that they would love your genious teories about how to fight - If they had just done what you said, they wouldn't have had to fight the army