Nashville school shooting

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Who is using automatic weapons when killing kids?

They don't even know what an automatic weapon is.

[lawdog77]

Who is using automatic weapons when killing kids?

OK  SemiAutomatic weapons or assault weapons. Tomato/tomahto.

Who needs a semiautomatic weapon?
https://giffords.org/lawcenter/gun-laws/policy-areas/hardware-ammunition/assault-weapons/

[MUBurrow]

You can slice and carve the data a million ways, some which help distill useful insights and others that are just semantics.  IMO, the most useful way to break things down is probably something along the lines of 0-4 years old, 5-14 years old, 15-18 years old.  Those would be the groups I would see having the most in common in terms of autonomy, risk factors, etc.  When it comes to mortality risk, grouping "children" together as everyone under 18 is a pretty useless term. You are going to have choking and co-sleeping being among the highest risk factors for infants and toddlers, whereas that's pretty much phased out by the time a child is school aged. 

[Mucubfan]

They don't even know what an automatic weapon is.

To be clear, who is the “they” here? The people who actually care about decreasing school age children gun deaths?

[wadesworld]

BeeJay's convinced me.  Because news outlets will exclude certain ages because it makes guns #2 on the list of causes of death in children, we don't have a problem in this country!

Thank god these weapons are only semi automatic!  Everyone should have one of those!

Things that I have learned are unique to the United States and cannot be found in other developing countries: Poverty, lack of education, mental health, etc.  It's not the guns that are the difference between the USA and the rest of the developed world.  It's those issues!  Won't find them elsewhere.

For a guy who likes to pretend he's "hard" (teeing him up for his dope 6th grade joke here) and likes facts, corrects everyone else, etc. it's pretty funny to see him trying to convince people firearms aren't an issue if you just add up a bunch of different ways children die nowadays and those many different ways surpass death by firearm.

If he still hoped that people here would view him as some statistical savant, he probably should've sat this one out.  Definitely outed himself.

[Coleman]

How many kids have to die before we care?

[MU82]

Here is an article from the Fort Myers newspaper filled with information about AR-15s:

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Days after his 18th birthday a man bought two AR-15 rifles and used one to kill 21 people, including 19 children, at a Uvalde, Texas elementary school in May 2022.

Two weeks before that, an 18-year-old man used a modified AR-15 to kill 10 people and injure three more in a Buffalo, New York grocery store.

The same type of gun has also been used in at least 11 other mass shootings since 2012, according to USA Today. It's also used by thousands of Americans every day for hunting and target shooting.

What is an AR-15 rifle, and why is it so popular?

What is an AR-15 rifle?

An AR-15 is a semi-automatic or self-loading rifle that has been called "America's rifle" by the NRA with well over 15 million sold by 2019. "Semi-automatic," as opposed to "automatic," means that the weapon's operator must pull the trigger to fire each shot. The rifle then automatically reloads. An automatic weapon continues to fire as long as you hold down the trigger, and is (mostly) banned in the U.S.

"AR-15s are the most commonly used rifles in marksmanship competitions, training, and home defense," according to the NRA.

An AR-15 is not a specific model, but a style. It's the civilian variation of the ArmaLite AR-15, a variant of the AR-10 designed by Eugene Stoner in the 1950s, that was extremely lightweight, easy to care for and highly adaptable. ArmaLite sold the patent to Colt in the 1960s and they developed an automatic-fire version for the military called the M16. After Colt's patent ran out, other manufacturers began making their own versions.

What does AR-15 stand for?

AR stands for ArmaLite Rifle, named after the company that developed it. AR does not stand for "assault rifle" or "automatic rifle."

Is an AR-15 an assault rifle? What is an assault weapon?

That is a very contentious question.

According to the federal government as described in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (known as the Assault Weapons Ban), the definition of assault weapon included some specific semi-automatic models by name and listed other firearms that included some specific features. For semi-automatic rifles, that meant being able to accept detachable magazines and two or more of the following: a folding or telescopic stock, pistol grip, bayonet mount, a flash suppressor and/or a grenade launcher.

More generally since then, the federal government has usually used the term to refer to a military-style weapon, either semi-automatic or fully automatic, capable of firing multiple rounds.

But pro-gun advocates and the gun industry say that "assault rifle" should only apply to military weapons that are either fully automatic or have the capability of switching between semi-automatic and fully automatic, and that the features listed in the federal Assault Weapons Ban were simply cosmetic.

According to the NSSF, the Firearm Industry Trade Association, "AR-15-style rifles can look like military rifles, such as the M-16, but by law they function like other semiautomatic civilian sporting firearms, as they fire only one round with each pull of the trigger." Instead, they refer to the AR-15 as a "modern sporting rifle" or MSR.

Is an AR-15 a machine gun? What is a bump stock?

The AR-15 rifle is not a machine gun (which is not quite the same thing as an automatic rifle), but it can be modified to function like an automatic rifle when a "bump stock" is used.

In October 2017, a Las Vegas gunman used 23 different weapons to murder 58 people. Of the 23 guns, several AR-15 rifles were found in his hotel room with a bump stock attached. Following this shooting, President Donald Trump banned bump stocks. (The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the ban in 2023, and bump stocks are legal again: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/after-nearly-a-4-year-ban-bump-stocks-are-available-in-texas/)

Why is the AR-15 so popular?

It's lightweight. It's rugged. It's accurate and has relatively little recoil. It's easy to modify, with plenty of accessories to make it more accurate, more comfortable, and more personal. Some gun owners enjoy a weapon that can be made to look like military hardware.

The NRA said "the AR-15 has soared in popularity" because it's "customizable, adaptable, reliable and accurate." It is also versatile and can be used for "sport shooting, hunting and self-defense situations," the NRA said, adding the ability to "personalize" so many of the rifle's components "is one of the things that makes it so unique."

"Like the Swiss Army knife, the popular AR-15 rifle is a perfect combination of home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment," said U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez when he overturned California's assault weapons ban in 2021. "Good for both home and battle."

But a big reason for the AR-15's popularity is its cost.

How much does an AR-15 cost?

New AR-15 rifles can sell for $400 to $2,000 and nearly every major gun manufacturer produces one. Ammunition is inexpensive and can be bought in bulk online, and magazines are interchangeable between manufacturers.

Why is the AR-15 so dangerous?

The AR-15 was designed to inflict what one of its designers called "maximum wound effect." AR-15s have a higher muzzle velocity than some other rifles and bullets leaving them at such a fast speed — nearly three times the speed of sound — cause more damage to bones and organs. AR-15 ammunition is also more likely to break apart inside a body, causing even more damage.

How many rounds can an AR-15 fire in a minute?

Without modifications such as a bump stock, an AR-15 can fire about 60 rounds a minute. A 30-round magazine is fairly standard with MSRs but ammunition magazines ("drums") holding up to 100 rounds can be changed in just a few seconds. Some states currently cap the capacity to 10 or 15 rounds.

Large magazines, or those containing more than 10 rounds, played a role in at least 86 mass shootings since 1980, according to a report from the Violence Policy Center, a national nonprofit that advocates for gun control.

Was an AR-15 used in the Pulse nightclub mass shooting?

Close, but not quite. A 29-year-old man used a Sig Sauer MCX and a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol to kill 49 people and injure 50 at an Orlando nightclub before he was killed.

The Sig Sauer MCX is marketed as an MSR and is very similar to the AR-15.  However, as explained in a Slate analysis, it is not considered an AR-15 because it uses a gas piston system to propel bullets from within the gun instead of a direct impingement system.

Was an AR-15 used in the Parkland, Florida high school mass shooting?

Yes. Police say a 19-year-old man used a Smith and Wesson M&P15, that manufacturer's version of the AR-15, to kill 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

How many mass shootings have involved an AR-15?

Here is a list of mass shootings in the U.S. that featured AR-15-style rifles by themselves or in addition to other weapons during the last 35 years, courtesy of the Stanford Geospatial Center and Stanford Libraries and USA TODAY research:

June 1, 2022: Tulsa, Oklahoma (Dr. Preston Phillips medical center, 4 killed)
May 24, 2022: Uvalde, Texas (Robb Elementary School, 21 killed, several wounded)
May 17, 2022: Buffalo, New York (Tops Friendly Market, 10 killed, 3 wounded)
March 10, 2021: Boulder, Colorado (King Soopers grocery store, 10 people killed, 3 wounded
Aug. 31, 2019: Midland/Odessa (West Texas cities, 7 killed, 25 wounded)
Apr. 27, 2019: Poway synagogue (near San Diego, 1 killed, 3 wounded)
Oct. 27, 2018: Tree of Life Synagogue (Pittsburgh, 11 killed, 6 wounded)
April 22, 2018: Waffle House (Nashville, Tennessee, 4 killed, 3 injured)
Feb. 14, 2018: Parkland, Florida (Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, 17 killed, 17 wounded)
Nov. 5, 2017: Sutherland Springs (rural Texas church service, 26 people killed)
Oct. 1, 2017: Las Vegas (music festival, 58 killed, hundreds wounded)
June 12, 2016: Orlando, Florida (Pulse nightclub [not an AR-15 but very similar], 49 killed, 50 wounded)
Dec. 2, 2015: San Bernadino, California (holiday office party at Inland Regional Center, 14 killed, 21 wounded)
Dec. 14, 2012: Sandy Hook Elementary School (Newtown, Connecticut, 27 people killed)
June 20, 2012: Aurora, Colorado (Century 16 movie theater, 12 killed, 58 wounded)
Oct. 7, 2007: Crandon, Wisconsin (apartment, 6 killed, 1 wounded)
Feb. 24, 1984: Los Angeles (49th Street Elementary School, 2 killed, 12 wounded)

+++

To recap ... "AR" doesn't stand for assault rifle or automatic rifle. An AR-15 is a semiautomatic rifle that can fire off 60 rounds in a minute (many more with bump stocks) and is designed to cause significant damage.

Now that all of that valuable information has been presented in a concise, easy-to-read format, it's obvious that we don't need to worry about AR-15s. They're just good, clean fun, great for hunting varmints, and the framers obviously had AR-15s in mind when they penned the 2nd Amendment.

The NRA is a benevolent organization that cares only about keeping us safe; bump stocks should never be illegal because it's hard to kill a rabbit without being able to fire off 150 rounds in a minute; "What about Chicago?" is the real issue; Xmas cards that include legislators' families posing with guns are wholesome slices of Americana; we don't need no stinkin' laws to slow the AR-15 floodgates; and don't go askin' for more funding for mental-health issues, either.

Again, AR does not stand for assault rifle! Move along, folks, nothing to see here.

[Coleman]

An idea from an armchair politician (yours truly).....if we can't ban these weapons...

Why not tax both these guns and their ammunition at a rate of something like 200% (or more)? There is a societal cost to them, and that cost needs to be factored into the price people pay for them. This is how we have treated cigarette smoking, which was previously one of the major causes of death in this country, just like guns are now.

It won't solve everything, the guns already sold are already sold. But it at least will raise the barrier of acquisition. And it would only require simple majorities in each house because it would be a reconciliation (budget) bill. Could have been done in 2021-2022 Congressional Session.

[Jay Bee]

^^^ perfect. I’m sure as guns illegal exchange hands (does that ever happen in Chicago?), they’ll be sure to collect & submit the appropriate tax

[MU82]

An idea from an armchair politician (yours truly).....if we can't ban these weapons...

Why not tax both these guns and their ammunition at a rate of something like 200% (or more)? There is a societal cost to them, and that cost needs to be factored into the price people pay for them. This is how we have treated cigarette smoking, which was previously one of the major causes of death in this country, just like guns are now.

It won't solve everything, the guns already sold are already sold. But it at least will raise the barrier of acquisition. And it would only require simple majorities in each house because it would be a reconciliation (budget) bill. Could have been done in 2021-2022 Congressional Session.

I like taxing the hell out of ammunition even more, because that covers those who already own guns. If the U.S. House and Senate won't do it, states can do it, just as they do with cigarette taxes, automotive fees, etc.

Just as smokers will keep paying ever-increasing taxes, so will those addicted to guns. Them buying their bullets can help pay for all the counselors schools need to console the survivors of the next mass shooting, and the one after that, and the one after that, and the one after that.

[Coleman]

^^^ perfect. I’m sure as guns illegal exchange hands (does that ever happen in Chicago?), they’ll be sure to collect & submit the appropriate tax

I literally said it wouldn't solve everything. But the Nashville shooter legally purchased her guns. She was 25 with limited income....it might have been a barrier to entry.

The Highland Park Shooter legally purchased his guns. He was like 19. Cost would be a barrier to entry there too.

Earmark the tax money towards mental health prevention and treatment. This will address the conservative argument about mental health.

And specifically regarding your comment.... you could require the tax be paid on private sales and it offers another tool for prosecutors to put away people involved in illegal arms sales....tax evasion. It is how they got Capone....

[Coleman]

I like taxing the hell out of ammunition even more, because that covers those who already own guns. If the U.S. House and Senate won't do it, states can do it, just as they do with cigarette taxes, automotive fees, etc.

Just as smokers will keep paying ever-increasing taxes, so will those addicted to guns. Them buying their bullets can help pay for all the counselors schools need to console the survivors of the next mass shooting, and the one after that, and the one after that, and the one after that.

Theoretically I agree but ammunition is so cheap you'd have to tax an incredible percentage for it to be meaningful. Which could be done. It is easier to tax a gun out of people's price ranges on a percentage basis. But I agree. Both should be done.

[dgies9156]

Gang, I grew up in Nashville and I admit, I held my breath when the Metro Police announced the victims. Many of old my friends from high school lived in that general part of the city. It's an awful problem to have, school shoot-em-ups, and appears somewhat unique to American Society. Give the Metro Police credit -- they don't often get things right but they sure did yesterday!

It's easy to blame guns for what happened. If we didn't have assault rifles, the argument goes, this would not have happened. Maybe, but that's simplistic. As tough as it to ban assault weapons and semi-automatic weapons, that's easy compared to what needs to be done.

The biggest challenge is dealing with mental health problems in the United States. Beginning in the early 1980s, there was a bi-partisan push to treat mental health problems in the communities where the patients lived, rather than an institutions run by the state. It was bi-partisan. Republicans liked the lower cost compared to state run institutions and Democrats like the conceptual idea that people with mental problems can be mainstreamed and de-stigmatized. It hasn't worked out well.

I don't know enough to know about the shooter, but I'll betcha anything there was a serious mental health problem involved. Just like there was in Highland Park last summer. Or at the Pulse Nightclub, at Stoneman-Douglas High School here in Florida, in Colorado, Connecticut or elsewhere. Mental health problems fueled by hate and/or intolerance are a recipe for a tragedy.

It's time this country re-evaluates its approach to mental health. Yeah, evaluate what weapons should be in citizens' hands too, but take a hard look at how we handle mental issues. We need to ask as a nation, are we doing what's right?

[Coleman]

Gang, I grew up in Nashville and I admit, I held my breath when the Metro Police announced the victims. Many of old my friends from high school lived in that general part of the city. It's an awful problem to have, school shoot-em-ups, and appears somewhat unique to American Society. Give the Metro Police credit -- they don't often get things right but they sure did yesterday!

It's easy to blame guns for what happened. If we didn't have assault rifles, the argument goes, this would not have happened. Maybe, but that's simplistic. As tough as it to ban assault weapons and semi-automatic weapons, that's easy compared to what needs to be done.

The biggest challenge is dealing with mental health problems in the United States. Beginning in the early 1980s, there was a bi-partisan push to treat mental health problems in the communities where the patients lived, rather than an institutions run by the state. It was bi-partisan. Republicans liked the lower cost compared to state run institutions and Democrats like the conceptual idea that people with mental problems can be mainstreamed and de-stigmatized. It hasn't worked out well.

I don't know enough to know about the shooter, but I'll betcha anything there was a serious mental health problem involved. Just like there was in Highland Park last summer. Or at the Pulse Nightclub, at Stoneman-Douglas High School here in Florida, in Colorado, Connecticut or elsewhere. Mental health problems fueled by hate and/or intolerance are a recipe for a tragedy.

It's time this country re-evaluates its approach to mental health. Yeah, evaluate what weapons should be in citizens' hands too, but take a hard look at how we handle mental issues. We need to ask as a nation, are we doing what's right?

Every country in the world has mental health problems. Only one country has mass shootings. It seems "simplistic" to blame guns because the answer is literally staring us in the face.

[Mucubfan]

Gang, I grew up in Nashville and I admit, I held my breath when the Metro Police announced the victims. Many of old my friends from high school lived in that general part of the city. It's an awful problem to have, school shoot-em-ups, and appears somewhat unique to American Society. Give the Metro Police credit -- they don't often get things right but they sure did yesterday!

It's easy to blame guns for what happened. If we didn't have assault rifles, the argument goes, this would not have happened. Maybe, but that's simplistic. As tough as it to ban assault weapons and semi-automatic weapons, that's easy compared to what needs to be done.

The biggest challenge is dealing with mental health problems in the United States. Beginning in the early 1980s, there was a bi-partisan push to treat mental health problems in the communities where the patients lived, rather than an institutions run by the state. It was bi-partisan. Republicans liked the lower cost compared to state run institutions and Democrats like the conceptual idea that people with mental problems can be mainstreamed and de-stigmatized. It hasn't worked out well.

I don't know enough to know about the shooter, but I'll betcha anything there was a serious mental health problem involved. Just like there was in Highland Park last summer. Or at the Pulse Nightclub, at Stoneman-Douglas High School here in Florida, in Colorado, Connecticut or elsewhere. Mental health problems fueled by hate and/or intolerance are a recipe for a tragedy.

It's time this country re-evaluates its approach to mental health. Yeah, evaluate what weapons should be in citizens' hands too, but take a hard look at how we handle mental issues. We need to ask as a nation, are we doing what's right?

[dgies9156]

Every country in the world has mental health problems. Only one country has mass shootings. It seems "simplistic" to blame guns because the answer is literally staring us in the face.

Brother Coleman:

Neither my wife nor I own weapons. We never will. Never fired a weapon, either on a range or at an animal for sport. Never will.

I live in Florida and find the gun culture here deplorable. If we banned guns, I'd be delighted.

Now back to reality. Banning assault rifles might have limited the firepower available to the shooter, but I could see her with lower firepower still walking in the school and doing damage. Red Flag? Yeah, pass a law but as Illinois showed, there are so many loopholes that they never will be terribly effective. But, surely we should try.

Ban all firearms? Not going to happen. Further, even if we did, it would take several centuries to get all the illegal firepower off our streets.

My answer, which seems to run counter to today's society is to toughen punishment for gun violations. Create a gun prison for offenders of gun laws. Begin with mandatory prison sentences for anyone caught and convicted of possessing an illegal firearm and go up to forever punishment for persons who kill with a firearm.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

^^^ perfect. I’m sure as guns illegal exchange hands (does that ever happen in Chicago?), they’ll be sure to collect & submit the appropriate tax

I know what happens in Chicago is the a high percentage of the guns recovered that are used in crimes come from surrounding states with lax gun laws, such as Indiana.  Weird how that happens. 

It's anything but the guns and gun laws, right?

[shoothoops]

Gang, I grew up in Nashville and I admit, I held my breath when the Metro Police announced the victims. Many of old my friends from high school lived in that general part of the city. It's an awful problem to have, school shoot-em-ups, and appears somewhat unique to American Society. Give the Metro Police credit -- they don't often get things right but they sure did yesterday!

It's easy to blame guns for what happened. If we didn't have assault rifles, the argument goes, this would not have happened. Maybe, but that's simplistic. As tough as it to ban assault weapons and semi-automatic weapons, that's easy compared to what needs to be done.

The biggest challenge is dealing with mental health problems in the United States. Beginning in the early 1980s, there was a bi-partisan push to treat mental health problems in the communities where the patients lived, rather than an institutions run by the state. It was bi-partisan. Republicans liked the lower cost compared to state run institutions and Democrats like the conceptual idea that people with mental problems can be mainstreamed and de-stigmatized. It hasn't worked out well.

I don't know enough to know about the shooter, but I'll betcha anything there was a serious mental health problem involved. Just like there was in Highland Park last summer. Or at the Pulse Nightclub, at Stoneman-Douglas High School here in Florida, in Colorado, Connecticut or elsewhere. Mental health problems fueled by hate and/or intolerance are a recipe for a tragedy.

It's time this country re-evaluates its approach to mental health. Yeah, evaluate what weapons should be in citizens' hands too, but take a hard look at how we handle mental issues. We need to ask as a nation, are we doing what's right?

Mental Health.

Do you know anything about Mental Health? You are aware that % of violent people with mental health challenges is miniscule. Did you also know that people with mental illness are far more likely to be victims of crime and violence than being the perpetrator?


https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/04/ce-mental-illness

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525086/

And separately the people who incorrectly blame mental health, just so happen to not introduce, and/or vote for legislation to support mental health resources and services.

As has been pointed out to you, other countries have similar mental health challenges too. They don’t have the guns.

It’s the guns.

[Jockey]

How many kids have to die before we care?

How many kids have to die before JB cares?

[tower912]

Dgies,
Yes there are mental health issues.in our country.  As well as poverty, alienation, racism, the gamut.   The common thread in the vast majority of these is somebody angry and hurting decides the best solution to their pain, anger, or fear is to use a gun to inflict death and suffering on others.   

How do we stop this nuclear meltdown?

 Certainly, a large component of it is mental health.   But letting hurt, angry, scared people have nearly unfettered access to ever more powerful weapons is a large component, too.


And some snark..... guns and ammo can't be taxed because it is a religion.

[Coleman]

Brother Coleman:

Neither my wife nor I own weapons. We never will. Never fired a weapon, either on a range or at an animal for sport. Never will.

I live in Florida and find the gun culture here deplorable. If we banned guns, I'd be delighted.

Now back to reality. Banning assault rifles might have limited the firepower available to the shooter, but I could see her with lower firepower still walking in the school and doing damage. Red Flag? Yeah, pass a law but as Illinois showed, there are so many loopholes that they never will be terribly effective. But, surely we should try.

Ban all firearms? Not going to happen. Further, even if we did, it would take several centuries to get all the illegal firepower off our streets.

My answer, which seems to run counter to today's society is to toughen punishment for gun violations. Create a gun prison for offenders of gun laws. Begin with mandatory prison sentences for anyone caught and convicted of possessing an illegal firearm and go up to forever punishment for persons who kill with a firearm.

I don't disagree with anything you said. You seem like a reasonable person. I don't want to ban all guns. Just semi-automatics. I grew up in Wisconsin and know lots of responsible hunters who have never needed an AR-15. You can protect your house with a shotgun too. There are legitimate reasons to own a gun and I do think the 2nd Amendment does provide for gun ownership. But with all rights come responsibilities and limitations...generally those limitations set in when my freedoms (directly or indirectly) harm other citizens. My right to free speech has limitations...I cannot slander or libel someone without consequences. All rights, apparently except for gun ownership in this country, have these limitations.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Brother Coleman:

Neither my wife nor I own weapons. We never will. Never fired a weapon, either on a range or at an animal for sport. Never will.

I live in Florida and find the gun culture here deplorable. If we banned guns, I'd be delighted.

Now back to reality. Banning assault rifles might have limited the firepower available to the shooter, but I could see her with lower firepower still walking in the school and doing damage. Red Flag? Yeah, pass a law but as Illinois showed, there are so many loopholes that they never will be terribly effective. But, surely we should try.

Ban all firearms? Not going to happen. Further, even if we did, it would take several centuries to get all the illegal firepower off our streets.

My answer, which seems to run counter to today's society is to toughen punishment for gun violations. Create a gun prison for offenders of gun laws. Begin with mandatory prison sentences for anyone caught and convicted of possessing an illegal firearm and go up to forever punishment for persons who kill with a firearm.

I don't think any realistic, reasonable person believes banning all firearms is a realistic or reasonable outcomes.

But too often I see people say certain solutions aren't perfect so why even try.  That's unacceptable.  If any of these solutions can save any lives they're well worth it. 

The fact of the matter is this only happens at this level in America.  Mental illness is not unique to this country.  Gun culture and the proliferation of guns is. 

[ZiggysFryBoy]

And now someone is swatting schools in Pittsburgh.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Imagine the kind of person who continues to shrugs their shoulders, make excuses, deflect, minimize this continually happening over and over again. 

Looking at her face and thinking about what she did and that she's gone should make you feel sick.  If it doesn't, something is very wrong. 

And again, the damage that an AR15 does compared to a handgun is catastrophic.  But sure, people need to have those because freedom.  Pathetic. 

[dgies9156]

President John F. Kennedy -- Assassinated with a high powered, low-cost assault weapon.
Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. -- Assassinated with a high-powered, low-cost assault weapon owned by someone who never should have owned a weapon
Senator Robert F. Kennedy -- Assassinated with a handgun by someone who probably under federal law shouldn't have owned a weapon.
President Gerald R. Ford -- Twice shot at using a handgun by women who should not have owned a handgun.
President Ronald W. Reagan -- Wounded by a mental patient who should not have owned or possessed a handgun
Pope John Paul II -- Wounded by a Bulgarian terrorist with a high-powered handgun.

Gang, we tried after each of these incidents at gun control. After President Kennedy was assassinated, we probably had the most comprehensive gun control in the form of reduction of mail-order assault rifles. But, after all of these incidents, very little happened. And most of these people are the elected leaders of the United States.

I wish you luck in trying, but I think this country will have better luck punishing folks who illegally possess firearms. And dealing with mental health issues, which I suspect are much greater than Europe.

Brother Vander:

Suppose the assailant did not have access t an automatic weapon. Suppose instead she entered the building with three Glocks and began firing indiscriminately. How would Nashville been that much different?