Thoughts On "Bowling For Columbine"

Twl, why so quick to make the gun control assumption? The filmmaker, Mike Moore, is a long time member of the NRA and an interview with Charleston Heston is one of the highlights of the film. Moore observes that in the U.S.A. on average 11,000 people a year are killed by guns which, even adjusted for population differences, is more than 10x higher that of other Western advanced economic nations. It's not a simple question and the movie doesn't treat it as such.

Sorry, that's just what it seemed like. When a question about this has a "killed by guns" attachment, and not just "killed by any means", there is an underlying agenda there. I contend that if somebody wants to kill, a baseball bat will do the job, if he has no access to a gun. However, if the victim has no access to a gun, he may not have the needed means to protect himself against a larger stronger attacker, armed with a bat, knife, or gun. This is especially true of women against a male attacker. And, as we well know, the firearm restriction laws are only followed by the law-abiding, therefore making them an easy, unarmed target for the criminal who, by definition, disregards these laws. Gun control is just providing "job safety" for criminals, by ensuring that their victims can't fight back.

I have liked other Michael Moorer movies, especially the one about the Waco massacre. I have reason to think that he would treat the subject fairly.

Does he do a breakdown of the demographics of these killings, and draw any conclusions based on population density, or gang-related activity? Or any conclusions about anything?

In general, I would be interested in the informtion regarding the motivation of these killers, and any other "reasons" or "stimulus" they may have for perpetrating these acts. This, to me, is a much more important topic than which type of implement is used to perform the act. Of course, a gun is a perfectly designed item for performing this activity, but millions of people seem to be able to control themselves, and not use them for this purpose, unless in self-defense. What makes these other people behave differently, is a key to this question, in my opinion.

Also, I would note that this has only occurred since the "Social Reform" activities that started in the 1960s, and suggest that the root of the problems rests there, and not in an inanimate object that is used for the crime.

This thread makes we wonder...how many of us are liberal and how many are conservative? Maybe it's just because I'm a politics/policy guy in DC, but the question *does* cross my mind from time to time.

I've held a concealed weapons license for many years and rarely leave the house unarmed. Never had to use it and hope I never do but I don't intend to be a victim of violent crime. Here in Florida we have plenty of it.

Thirty percent of the adults in the county where I live have a conceal carry permit. In fact, the sheriff must have a compelling reason NOT to issue such a permit by state law. Without a doubt, the criminals have guns and I'm glad that law abiding folks standing next to me are likely armed and ready to deal with the types of violence that makes world headlines. Armed robberies and such are unheard of around here. Drive-by shootings and gang killings are another story.

Aside from the drug crazed and gang turf related homicides there are a number of reasons why we kill each other so often. Our society grades the value of life on a scale with the most expendable being the very young and the very old. The unborn are devalued entirely. Check out the sentences levied upon child and elderly killers compared to those in the prime of life. Statistics prove this to be true. Mental illness is another aspect that is in this curious mix. The late 70's and early 80's saw the wholesale eviction of mental institution residents. These poor souls make up a huge percentage of the homeless with nobody monitoring their intake of necessary medications. Health insurance coverage makes mental health treatment too costly for those needing it the most. Personally I see no difference between a broken leg or a broken mind. Both need to be fixed as best they can.

Most people are a mile wide and an inch deep when it comes to thinking these issues through. Everyone seems to want the quick fix and to hell with the consequences. Consider these differences when comparing the United States with other wealthy countries: The totality of individual freedoms offered. The constant influx of immigrants. The multitude of races. The volume of different religions. The various types of political persuasions. Sexual orientations. The breakdown of the family unit. Languages....The point I'm trying to make here is that the United States is THE WORLD mixed together in this great experiment. Does it surprise anyone that really getting along is difficult and without violence?

Guns and gun owners can't be broken down by political beliefs as easily as most believe. Classic, old school Democrats and Republicans share the belief that our Constitiution gaurantees the right to keep and bear arms. As in all cases of opinion, our press provides coverage to whatever group that boosts ratings and in doing so, minor players are often given disproportionate coverage which compel the viewer to believe that their numbers are greater than they are.

I wish that critical thinking were required courses for high school graduation. It troubles me a great deal that simple solutions are offered for complex problems and gun control is a simple solution. In my day to day life I fear law enforcement more than I fear my fellow civilian. And this isn't coming from someone that is anti law enforcement. Think about it. When police exceed their authority, who investigates them? I'm uncomfortable with all the potential abuses in the Homeland Security legislation. After all, the system isn't made up of special people. They are human just like the rest of us and history has shown that police will push the enforcement envelope and trample upon the rights of the citizens. Case law is full of examples of how police have been reigned in from time to time for abusing the trust the people have placed in them. To a large extent, Homeland Security has destroyed good case law and I'm fearful that the price we are paying for perceived security is much too high.

I'm sorry to ramble on so long about this as I'm sure most have given up reading this diatribe several paragraphs earlier. To those that are fellow citizens I only ask that we consider our similarities rather than focusing on our differences. To those that are from other countries I ask that you consider some of the issues that this nation faces that no other nation on earth faces in such magnitude.