Massacre 'argument for more guns'

ROBERT HIDE

Aug 23rd 2012, 18:37

This happened in England (Dunblane) where one man killed about 12 children. So the Government made all those who held firearms legally give them up. So of course this left all those who did not hold a liscense to keep the weapons. Which give the criminals the edge. Not only that but England lost thousand of jobs for those who used guns for recreational target shooting. So now gun crime has increased.

Elvin Muscat

Jul 21st 2012, 20:02

Go back to the bad old ways, the wild west. Well thats one way to reduce the overpopulation I suppose, try that in Malta and within a ten year period we'd have our population down to about 350,000, unbelievable.
Please, give this guy a room at the inn.

victor caruana

Jul 21st 2012, 16:47

Let them have guns. But they should pretend we feel sorry for them when they misuse them.

Go ahead....kill each other.....is this in your constitution as well??????

Luke Formosa

Jul 21st 2012, 16:01

The problem with firearm bans is that the only law-abiding people will be affected. The person intending to commit a crime will simply ignore the law and procure a firearm from an underground source regardless.

So essentially what the ban does is make the perpetrator more powerful and the victims more defenceless. Plus, if there is no law banning guns, then it deters casual thiefs and the like, because they know that their victims will be armed and the chances of a successful hold-up or theft would be slim.

David Borg

Jul 21st 2012, 15:00

Firstly, I'd like to say that guns don't kill people. Its the people that kill, the gun is just an instrument. It is not a weapon until its used as one. Actually, a newspaper rolled a certain way can kill if struck on the head. Should we ban newspapers?
The problem in America is that gun control is far too lax. It is far too easy to get a gun. This means people of dubious character can kill people if that's what they want to do. The US Bill of Rights, and the second amendment to the constitution states that they have the right to keep and bear arms.

Being an ex competition shooter, I disagreed when guns were banned in the UK. I used to enjoy competition shooting until I was forced to give up my hobby and surrender my expensive customised S&W model 19.
I competely disagree with Mr Pratt. However, I can understand his intentions, no matter how misguided they might be. What is needed is more gun control, not less. The American constitution should be amended.

I started shooting in the UK in 1976. The criteria to get a class 1 firearm certificate was extremely strict. I had to prove I had a need for it. I had to be a member of a club for 2 years, I had to get 5 references from senior club members. No criminal record (even a parking fine would have to be declared). There was even strict criteria on how the secure gun safe had to be installed. Ammunition was also controlled and was entered on the certificate at every purchase.
The incident which led to the banning of handguns in the UK was a knee jerk reaction to the Dunblane school massacre. The guy involved, Thomas Hamilton should never have had a license as he was mentally unstable. It led to a change in the law, where now there are more guns on the streets than ever before.

David Hill

Jul 21st 2012, 14:31

And no one could ask why a 24 year old man was buying 4 guns and 6000 rounds of amunition with the law as it is?

Victor Pulis

Jul 21st 2012, 13:57

Carrying guns by citizens will not deter these kind of lunatics. In fact after they commit their massacre they usually kill themselves so getting shot at will not scare them one little bit! Remember that the perpetrator has the advantage of planning his deed while the bystanders have no clue of what's happening until the massacre occurs. Furthermore who in his right mind would start shooting in a public place with innocent passers by? Women ,children get in the way. The massacre would be multiplied god knows how many times over.

Victor Pulis

Jul 21st 2012, 13:51

To think that the most civilized (?) country on Earth has not progressed beyond the Wild West stage.

Victor Pulis

Jul 21st 2012, 13:49

Guns are glorified in the States. Just watch any movie and if you don't see a cache full of weapons at some moment in the film then it's not an Amercan production! What's more, They seem to solve every problem with guns and explosions. The gun is god in the USA.

Joe Felice-Pace

Jul 21st 2012, 12:42

I remember being in the States in 1969. It was the time when the most common poster stuck to the walls read: If guns are oullawed, only outlaws will have guns. Not that I have any particular liking for guns (I have never handled on) but there is much to chew in the message!

Mr Kevin Zammit

Jul 21st 2012, 12:32

And cases like this one then Mr. R. Bartolo

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/woman-dies-after-us-church-shooting-16119571.html

Are most o these people that support gun ownership lobotomized perhaps?

If an individual goes beserk they will be unpredictable. If they know everyone can carry a gun then they will simply blow up the place. Putting in an explosive is basically simpler and more effective. The concern obviously is that these nut cases dont care whether they live or die after that. By reducing gun ownership you're never going to get rid of mental cases but you can actually reduce the damage they would do.

The maxim is simple. If you are bigger than me then I'm going to carry a knife which will prompt you to carry a baseball bat which will prompt me to carry a hand gun which would prompt you to carry an assault rifle which would prompt me to carry a machine gun which would prompt you to carry a hand grenade ...

See how stupid gun lobbyists are?

Ramon Casha

Jul 21st 2012, 12:18

Great idea. Dark theatre, everyone has a gun, someone hears a shot and next moment everyone is shooting at the shadow they THINK was the original shooter (since every shadow now has a gun and is aiming it)

Robert Callus

Jul 21st 2012, 10:58

The US has become a mini-cold war. Everyone arming himself more and more because the other guy is arming himself too. A vicious cycle.

And opportunists like this man, get more money and power by scaring people into buying more guns and use them more freely.

Mike Gatt

Jul 21st 2012, 10:53

"Mr Pratt told the programme: "It is very sad that there was a no-guns policy in that theatre and that nobody had thought to take a gun with them anyway"

They were going to watch a premier of a film for dickens sake not off to a war party. Why anyone should think that a gun is needed when going to the cinema is beyond me and very worrying.

Paul Ellul

Jul 21st 2012, 10:11

Imagine the scenario that Mr.Larry ' so aptly named' Pratt is suggesting.

All Ameican citizens should now carry a fire arm in th event that another citizen should open fire in public.

So Mr. X starts shooting in a shopping mall/ classromm/ theatre. All those around are now pulling their fire arm and start shooting at the Mr. X

Mr. X is now dodging his pursuers as bullets are flying evereywhere, more people being shot, either getting killed, or seriously wounded. More people are attracted by all the noise & commotion, drawing more arms and ammunition into the melee.

The Police will show up at some point and not know who started this and they start shooting at everyone else.



And just as the 'Wild West' once was, will be again.

Mr. Pratt, you are a prat indeed!! And a dangerous one at that.

C Cassar

Jul 21st 2012, 09:36

Wow, is this idiot for real? Quote:

""It is very sad that there was a no-guns policy in that theatre and that nobody had thought to take a gun with them anyway."

Wrong, someone did take a gun and the result is now clear.

What's wrong with the American mine? Guns kill as demonstrated in this (yet another) sad incident. The culture in the US is rotten and this is proven each year when these things invariably take place.