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**regexcellent** · December 20, 2012, 10:18

I'm skeptical of even that, honestly. It's not a bad idea to stockpile magazines and maybe pick up a lower though.

**giblets** · December 20, 2012, 10:36

It would be better if they did something about the deficit by imposing a tax on the purchase of assault weapons and ammunition.

**regexcellent** · December 20, 2012, 11:15

So what's Mr. Warner's plan to remain senator of Virginia in two years? With all the military types and veterans not to mention being in the South it's got to have more guns than almost any other state.

Looking forward to the democrats learning their lesson on gun control, again.

**regexcellent** · December 20, 2012, 11:42

To Stop Shootings, Americans Focus on Police, Mental Health

http://www.gallup.com/poll/159422/stop-shootings-americans-focus-police-mental-health.aspx

Americans say an increased police presence and more spending on mental health would be the most effective ways to prevent mass shootings at schools. A ban on semi-automatic weapons is fourth on a list of six potential actions.

Following School Shooting, 86% Want More Action to Identify and Treat Mental Illness

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/december_2012/following_school_shooting_86_want_more_action_to_identify_and_treat_mental_illness

Americans want something done following the horrific news from Sandy Hook Elementary School last week, and a plurality believes a greater emphasis on mental health issues will be the most effective way to prevent such tragedies.The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Americans believe more action to treat mental health issues will do the most to prevent incidents like last Friday’s school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty-seven percent (27%) think stricter gun control laws will do the most to prevent such shootings, while 15% put the emphasis on limits on violent movies and video games. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 17-18, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Polls aren't showing good news for gun control proponents...according to Gallup, gun control is number four on a list of things people think should be done to prevent shootings. Topping the list are overhauling mental health and increased police presence in schools.

In particular, the fact that the Republican base is uninterested in gun control dooms this. The Republicans have enough problems with the fiscal cliff deal and having to possibly increase taxes that they're not going to be interested in more fodder for primary challenges.

**DinoDoc** · December 20, 2012, 11:53

Originally posted by regexcellent View Post

Looking forward to the democrats learning their lesson on gun control, again.

I'm more interested in learning the argument for this ban since the last one produced no measurable decrease in the murder rate and the Columbine attack happened while it was in effect.

**giblets** · December 20, 2012, 12:12

Originally posted by regexcellent View Post

http://www.gallup.com/poll/159422/st...al-health.aspx

Following School Shooting, 86% Want More Action to Identify and Treat Mental Illness

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/december_2012/following_school_shooting_86_want_more_action_to_identify_and_treat_mental_illness

Americans want something done following the horrific news from Sandy Hook Elementary School last week, and a plurality believes a greater emphasis on mental health issues will be the most effective way to prevent such tragedies.The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Americans believe more action to treat mental health issues will do the most to prevent incidents like last Friday’s school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty-seven percent (27%) think stricter gun control laws will do the most to prevent such shootings, while 15% put the emphasis on limits on violent movies and video games. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 17-18, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Polls aren't showing good news for gun control proponents...according to Gallup, gun control is number four on a list of things people think should be done to prevent shootings. Topping the list are overhauling mental health and increased police presence in schools.

In particular, the fact that the Republican base is uninterested in gun control dooms this. The Republicans have enough problems with the fiscal cliff deal and having to possibly increase taxes that they're not going to be interested in more fodder for primary challenges.

How is this bad news when 42% claim it would be "very effective" and 21% claim it would be "somewhat effective" and the people who claim it would be very effective outnumber those who claim it would be "not effective"? You would have to live in some kind of imaginary alternate reality to believe gun control advocates have a problem with police presence in schools and mental health screening/treatment.

**DinoDoc** · December 20, 2012, 12:15

If the reactions when I brought it up in the school shooting thread are anything to go by, at least a portion do have a problem with it.

**giblets** · December 20, 2012, 12:16

Originally posted by DinoDoc View Post

If the reactions when I brought it up in the school shooting thread are anything to go buy, at least a portion do have a problem with it.

A problem with your suggestion of locking people up who haven't committed any crimes? Go figure.

**DinoDoc** · December 20, 2012, 12:20

Originally posted by gribbler View Post

A problem with your suggestion of locking people up who haven't committed any crimes? Go figure.

There we go. Gun control advocates have a problem with the proven approach of offering more mental health services and relaxing involuntary commitment standards and would rather opt for ineffective bans on scary looking weapons.

**regexcellent** · December 20, 2012, 12:24

Originally posted by gribbler View Post

How is this bad news when 42% claim it would be "very effective" and 21% claim it would be "somewhat effective" and the people who claim it would be very effective outnumber those who claim it would be "not effective"? You would have to live in some kind of imaginary alternate reality to believe gun control advocates have a problem with police presence in schools and mental health screening/treatment.

It's bad news for them because Congress can be seen as "doing something" without even touching gun control and because the Republicans have no reason to support gun control.

**giblets** · December 20, 2012, 12:32

Originally posted by regexcellent View Post

It's bad news for them because Congress can be seen as "doing something" without even touching gun control and because the Republicans have no reason to support gun control.

The Republican-controlled House is, of course, bad news for gun control advocates, but it's not like the Democrats are going to avoid pushing something that appears to have 60% support just because they don't have to.

**regexcellent** · December 20, 2012, 12:55

These numbers for gun control aren't significantly changed from earlier this year when gun control was being called a completely dead issue. I think what we're going to see is that no new gun control or only minor new pieces of gun control will pass and the Brady Campaign et al will discover that even with 20 dead kids they can't get Americans to ban guns. Nail in the coffin.

**Lonestar** · December 20, 2012, 15:29

Originally posted by regexcellent View Post

I'm skeptical of even that, honestly. It's not a bad idea to stockpile magazines and maybe pick up a lower though.

I'm skeptical of it, right at this moment.

BUT

Let's be honest here, we all know that somewhere there was some crazy person(probably more than one) sitting in his living with his gun, watching the Bedlam in Connecticut, and nodding that Adam Lanza took control of his life and did what needed to be done.

What happens if between now and the start of the next Congress we have one crazed gunman a week? Or even one or two? Well, we know that the GOP isn't going to put up any serious "expand funding for SOCIALIST healthcare", they might go with "make schools harder targets"(and maybe they need to be), but honestly, suddenly new gun control legislation isn't so unrealistic.

**Uncle Sparky** · December 20, 2012, 15:47

I'm in agreement with Lonestar. With the type of NRA garage sales that don't require background checks, the chances of unstable individuals buying a DIY massacre/martyrdom kit are high. The California mall shooting last week could have had many fatalities. And the Colorado movie theatre shooting had many fatalities. So did Fort Hood. The Sikh temple shooter only shot 10 people, but could have killed more.
I guess the choice for Americans is post armed guards everywhere people congregate (at schools, buisinesses, factories, restaurants, sports fields, theatres and cinemas, churches, daycares, senior's centres, retail stores, swimming pools, public transport...), which would make the firearms industry cvm, or restrict who can own weapons specifically designed to kill as many people as possible in the shortest time possible.

**DinoDoc** · December 20, 2012, 15:48

Originally posted by Lonestar View Post

What happens if between now and the start of the next Congress we have one crazed gunman a week? Or even one or two?

History suggests you have a greater likelihood of winning the next Power ball than this supposition does of coming true.

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