Tragedy in Virginia... here we go... Feelings of Columbine all over again in my mind as i saw this on CNN this morning. But as the details began to surface, a lot of thoughts ran into my head. there was a period of two hours that occured between the first shots being fired in the dorm at 7:15 am and the last ones being fired around 9:15. did the police ot think to close off at least part of the campus beyond the dorm during that time? there was an investigation sure... but if theres no suspect and no weapon, that just raises flags that THERE'S STILL A SHOOTER. i don't want people to think i am blaming the police... i just wanted to point out that part of the story... the second part is this... i love the second amendment... i think it is an essential right, but how much more of this can it take before the left really begins attacking it as an arcane amendment that has no bearing in a modern society. I don't have numbers, but i'm sure there are millions of gun owners in the U.S. right now and i'm also sure that 95-99% of them do not use their guns to go on mass-murdering sprees on campus and workplaces. so the new question becomes this: How do we disarm the 1-5% of gun owners that should not ever own a gun? another question could be, well should we punish all gun owners because of the acts of so few of them? i believe in the right to bear arms, but i think that there should be controls on who can bear them and where... more gun control? no... stricter gun control? no... revised gun control? sure... to what extent? we make our children take aptitute tests on writing, math, and a thousand more arcane things, why not this, a longer process to get your liscense... 3 day wait to see if your crazy? no... initial application, general gun test, gun control test, classes on proper uses of guns and safety. what kills more people each year? cars or guns? why do we have to go through hundreds of loopholes to get our driver's liscense, but almost none to own a gun? which is more dangerous? the right to bear arms is guaranteed in the constitution, but it doesn't say that we can't put a tough screening process in place with punishments and penalties to pay if you don't follow the rules... a kind of learner's permit-type thingy... i know kids love to go hunting with their dads in parts of the US, so say, for arguments sake children ages 0-8 can not handle guns at all when they turn 8, if they wish to apply for a learner's permit, they must fulfill 5-10 hours of gun safety training, 2 hours of actual target practice in a controlled enviroment, and take a short safety quiz before getting their learner's permit the learner's permit requires at least one liscense bearing adult with them when handling a gun, the permit must be renewed each year by taking another test and another hour long gun safety refresher course until they are 18 at 18, they can take an advanced gun training class and more practice in a controlled enviroment to get their full liscense. each year, however, they must attend a 1 hour gun safety course and take a gun safety test again. its not perfect, i can't think of a way to legally test sanity without messing with people's rights at the moment... plus... i think a 1 month wait and background check is essential to be able to purchase a firearm. we could also get rid of handguns... its a lot harder to conceal a rifle or shotgun than it is to conceal a handgun... i don't know... these are my ramblings... my thoughts and prayers along with millions more are with the victim's and their families, as well as the family of the man who committed this atrocious act... there is no sympathy great enough for the victims that can be displayed... all that we, as people can do is wish them the best for whatever they have left... | 
