# A big middle finger to the people who took advantage to politicize the school shooting **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 19, 2018, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107 "2018-02-19T09:00:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/61 "2018-02-19T17:36:57Z")
Did you watch Emma Gonzalez’s speech? [Here it is again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cK9ie9SFjk), on YouTube, if you maybe had a problem with my previous link from CNN. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/62 "2018-02-19T17:37:15Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > I mean we could look at whatever state has the least mass shootings and take them for example > Discussing gun laws is not simply easy right off the bat. > > I have no side, I try always reading various gun laws by state and comparing them how they would do in action. > > I will admit the “Guns kill people” weirdos are just as bad… At the state level? You gotta be kidding me. That is part of the problem and “state level” is a right wing NRA fairlytale. They already know doing it at the state level won’t work and will never work. That is why they keep pushing it along with a “states rights” line of recycled civil war bullshit It has to be federal It has to be consistent and uniform across all states. True, guns don’t kill people. But pyschos WITH them do. And they get the damn things far too easily. I have owned guns - handguns and rifles and shotguns. I own a rifle now. I like the 2nd Amendment. However that 2nd Amendment does not guarantee that every felon and every maniac has a right to arm up. And, Amendments CAN be written or removed. But first you have to get rid of the corrupt assclowns who resist ALL laws and ALL re-writes to existing laws. Added on edit: Discussing gun laws is not easy? I think being shot to death for no fucking reason isn’t very pleasant and trying to breathe with a shot out lung isn’t easy, etc etc etc. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/63 "2018-02-19T17:45:33Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > At the state level? You gotta be kidding me. That is part of the problem and “state level” is a right wing NRA fairlytale. They already know doing it at the state level won’t work and will never work. That is why they keep pushing it along with a “states rights” line of recycled civil war bullshit It has to be federal It has to be consistent and uniform across all states. > > True, guns don’t kill people. But pyschos WITH them do. And they get the damn things far too easily. > > I have owned guns - handguns and rifles and shotguns. I own a rifle now. I like the 2nd Amendment. > > However that 2nd Amendment does not guarantee that every felon and every maniac has a right to arm up. > > And, Amendments CAN be written or removed. But first you have to get rid of the corrupt assclowns who resist ALL laws and ALL re-writes to existing laws. > > Added on edit: Discussing gun laws is not easy? I think being shot to death for no fucking reason isn’t very pleasant and trying to breathe with a shot out lung isn’t easy, etc etc etc. Right I agree, but I was talking more like you said about state level… I suppose mass shootings have been on the rise for the last 2 decades… ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/64 "2018-02-19T17:48:12Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Yes, by far the biggest middle finger goes to all the resisters who keep telling us this won’t work, that won’t work, they won’t accept the other thing and we risk them coming out shooting if anybody tries, ad nauseam. They’re just telling us that all these murders are simply the cost the rest of us must bear of allowing them to keep their binkies and keep buying more. > > If you don’t know of any measures to take to address the problem that you would accept, then shut up. The problem is you. Yup, and “we really really don’t want to do it” is not the same thing as “it’s impossible”. All major social change is accompanied by this kind of attitude. It would be great to abolish slavery in principle, but of course it’s a political non-starter, because the economy would collapse. I don’t know why we’re even discussing such an impossible idea. How about giving them Sunday afternoons off? First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/65 "2018-02-19T17:50:17Z")
Here’s more insight from me so that you all could take me more serious Administration of testing might be the BATF, but that is just off the top of my head. The following are just “off the cuff” ideas. I have no idea if they are practical. I think people who want to own anything above a basic handgun should be required to have X-amount of hours training with common weapons. I think just as a person needs to demonstrate a fundamental ability to drive a car without plowing into a group of people in an outdoor strip mall, if you want to own weapons, you should have to learn how to shoot straight, clean a gun, dismantle it, operate is safely, turn a safety on and off, load and unload, and then have to take practical exams at a firing range. I think practical exams should include being able to hit targets with a certain percentage, being able to clean and disassemble, then re-assemble a gun in a limited time period. I think written and face-to-face psychological tests could be a viable solution, particularly for some of these real nutbars who may end up one day shooting up a crowd of innocent people. And questions shouldn’t be so obvious either. I am not a psychologist, but I am sure that there are all kinds of ways to determining if a guy may become unhinged a few months or years down the line. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/66 "2018-02-19T17:53:22Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Yes, by far the biggest middle finger goes to all the resisters who keep telling us this won’t work, that won’t work, they won’t accept the other thing and we risk them coming out shooting if anybody tries, ad nauseam. They’re just telling us that all these murders are simply the cost the rest of us must bear of allowing them to keep their binkies and keep buying more. > > If you don’t know of any measures to take to address the problem that you would accept, then shut up. The problem is you. Oh yeah, the “patriots” who threaten to overthrow the country and kill us, if they don’t get their way. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/67 "2018-02-19T17:55:07Z")
Look, everyone know that Thoughts and Prayers are better than Kevlar. So if you want to protect kids, the best and only thing we can do is send them Thoughts and Prayers. Anyone not sending Thoughts and Prayers clearly doesn’t care, right? ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/68 "2018-02-19T17:57:40Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Here’s more insight from me so that you all could take me more serious If you’re going to tickle my ass with a feather, friend, it better be some damn regal plumage and not the piddling goosedown you offer. > [@](#): > > I think written and face-to-face psychological tests could be a viable solution, particularly for some of these real nutbars who may end up one day shooting up a crowd of innocent people. And questions shouldn’t be so obvious either. I am not a psychologist, but I am sure that there are all kinds of ways to determining if a guy may become unhinged a few months or years down the line. The only thing you’ve said this week that makes any sense. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/69 "2018-02-19T17:57:44Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Right I agree, but I was talking more like you said about state level… > > I suppose mass shootings have been on the rise for the last 2 decades… Working at the state level does not work. It has not worked so far. It will continue to not work. State laws are a hodgepodge of chaotic garbage, when they even exist. There is only ONE thing that works at the state level - voting out the Representatives and Senators and replacing them with some that are more compliant to the people who want more sensible AND CONSISTENT laws. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/70 "2018-02-19T17:58:03Z")
Pity post. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/71 "2018-02-19T17:58:18Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Here’s more insight from me so that you all could take me more serious > Administration of testing might be the BATF, but that is just off the top of my head. > > The following are just “off the cuff” ideas. I have no idea if they are practical. > > I think people who want to own anything above a basic handgun should be required to have X-amount of hours training with common weapons. I think just as a person needs to demonstrate a fundamental ability to drive a car without plowing into a group of people in an outdoor strip mall, if you want to own weapons, you should have to learn how to shoot straight, clean a gun, dismantle it, operate is safely, turn a safety on and off, load and unload, and then have to take practical exams at a firing range. > > I think practical exams should include being able to hit targets with a certain percentage, being able to clean and disassemble, then re-assemble a gun in a limited time period. > I think written and face-to-face psychological tests could be a viable solution, particularly for some of these real nutbars who may end up one day shooting up a crowd of innocent people. And questions shouldn’t be so obvious either. I am not a psychologist, but I am sure that there are all kinds of ways to determining if a guy may become unhinged a few months or years down the line. Why are you throwing ideas like this out so soon after the school shooting? Trying to politicize the issue? ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/72 "2018-02-19T18:01:09Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Why are you throwing ideas like this out so soon after the school shooting? Trying to politicize the issue? Except the discussion is not being done seriously… I am willing enough to help and make whatever solutions there can be to help prevent more incoming mass shootings… But let’s actually discuss them seriously. Do petitions, protest, talk to your offices, etc Not just win a debate and offer whatever solution and say “Done, I won”. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/73 "2018-02-19T18:03:21Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Except the discussion is not being done seriously… > I am willing enough to help and make whatever solutions there can be to help prevent more incoming mass shootings… > > But let’s actually discuss them seriously. Do petitions, protest, talk to your offices, etc > Not just win a debate and offer whatever solution and say “Done, I won”. A bit in contradiction to your opening post. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/74 "2018-02-19T18:03:41Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > A bit in contradiction to your opening post. How though? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/75 "2018-02-19T18:04:06Z")
With apologies for the offensive Jewish stereotype, but the “thoughts and prayers” thing always reminds me of the old joke: There is a pious Jew who always dreamed of winning the lottery. Every Sabbath, he’d go to synagogue and pray: “God, I have been such a pious Jew all my life. Would it be so bad if I won the lottery?” But the lottery would come and he wouldn’t win. Week after week he prayed without success. Finally, one Sabbath, he loses patience, wails to the heavens and says: “God, I have been so pious for so long, why have you forsaken me? What do I have to do to win the lottery?” And the heavens part and the voice of God booms out: "Meet me halfway. Buy a lottery ticket.” ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/76 "2018-02-19T18:04:57Z")
If the discussion cannot happen in close proximity to a mass shooting then it can never happen due to the frequency of mass shootings in the USA. > **[MAP: 307 mass shootings so far in 2018](https://www.abc15.com/news/data/mass-shootings-in-the-us-when-where-they-have-occurred-in-2018)** > > The number of mass shootings around the country in 2018 has risen above 300 so far. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/77 "2018-02-19T18:08:13Z")
> [@](#): > > I am tired of freaking agendas being shoved down our asses every time a dangerous incident happens for the sake of FUCKING BROWNY POINTS. > > Send prayers to the victims, save your shit for later > [@Luciano700](#): > > Except the discussion is not being done seriously… > I am willing enough to help and make whatever solutions there can be to help prevent more incoming mass shootings… > > But let’s actually discuss them seriously. Do petitions, protest, talk to your offices, etc > Not just win a debate and offer whatever solution and say “Done, I won”. You see no contradiction between let’s do something about this seriously, and send the victims your prayers and save your shit for later? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/78 "2018-02-19T18:09:27Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Except the discussion is not being done seriously… > I am willing enough to help and make whatever solutions there can be to help prevent more incoming mass shootings… > > But let’s actually discuss them seriously. Do petitions, protest, talk to your offices, etc But they do work. They get an issue out in the open, they send the message that people have run out of patience, they get media attention, and they “inform” politicians that they will not be coming back next election if they refuse to listen. If Ted Nugent can talk smack about shooting people and Cliven Bundy can seize and occupy a federal facility (and get away with it), then by God, people can peacefully walk around with signs and tell their politicians why they won’t get re-elected. This discussion is serious. Quite literally deadly serious. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/79 "2018-02-19T18:11:09Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > If the discussion cannot happen in close proximity to a mass shooting then it can never happen due to the frequency of mass shootings in the USA. > > [https://www.abc15.com/news/data/mass-shootings-in-the-us-when-where-they-have-occurred-in-2018](https://www.abc15.com/news/data/mass-shootings-in-the-us-when-where-they-have-occurred-in-2018) That’s rather the point, isn’t it? Delay and delay and make sure people can never debate the issue, because you always have a quick way to shut it down. Do it in a way which seems calm and cool and collected and, above all, _adult_, such that anyone trying to address the underlying problem is, by comparison if not by definition, childish or ideological. Hey, if you claim that “I’m An Adult” high ground long enough, people might actually believe you have it, which means you never have to _debate_ anything ever again. Just pat them on the head and speak platitudes in a calm voice and it’s done, and cannot be gainsaid, because you’re the adult in the situation, and all must defer to you. And nothing changes. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/80 "2018-02-19T18:15:17Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > I think people who want to own anything above a basic handgun should be required to have X-amount of hours training with common weapons. I think just as a person needs to demonstrate a fundamental ability to drive a car without plowing into a group of people in an outdoor strip mall, if you want to own weapons, you should have to learn how to shoot straight, clean a gun, dismantle it, operate is safely, turn a safety on and off, load and unload, and then have to take practical exams at a firing range. > > I think practical exams should include being able to hit targets with a certain percentage, being able to clean and disassemble, then re-assemble a gun in a limited time period. Good thinking. We don’t want any incompetent school shooters. Only the best will do! :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107.md?page=5)