Monday, December 10, 2007

Omaha Shootings

By now most of you know about the shootings in my home town last week. At a mall where I hung out as a young kid, worked myself through college, and shopped as an adult. 2 miles away, and on the same road, as the historic Father Flanagan's Boys Town. Funny, things like this didn't happen in Father Flanagan's time, did they?

I'm a staunch 2nd Amendment supporter, but put Bill Clinton's assault weapon ban back in place. Cap magazine capacity at 10, or even better, at 7. Small capacity magazines would have made a difference in the Omaha shooting. It might not have prevented it, but it would have cut casualties.

If my old buddy Ted Nugent were here right now he'd be kicking my ass. But it's a different world today than it was 10 or 20 years ago.

9 comments:

Jane Doe said...

I'm not going to say much on this because it angers me so. I will NEVER understand anybody or group that endorses assault weapons. Those are never used for anything other than killing humans & I have yet to hear of a rational person using one to defend their life against a gov't trying to overtake them.
But then I hate all rifles, guns, etc. & still hold on to this ridiculous hope that somehow we humans can coexist without killing each other.

Jane Doe said...

ps... I didn't mean that as a personal attack. I meant to direct it at the issue.

This shooting in Omaha just got my blood boiling & well, I hope you understand.

Jon said...

Jane,

Good friends can disagree on issues and still remain friends. We disagree on immigration and 2nd amendment issues (and probably several more), and I'm still proud to consider you a friend. I hope you feel the same way.

I will comment on assault weapons, as much for other's information as yours. The world's most popular .22 rifle, used by squirrel and rabbit hunters everywhere, and at many youth camps all around the country, is a semi-automatic rifle. With some some simple cosmetic changes this little rifle transforms into an "assault rifle". In other words, what makes an assault rifle is mostly cosmetic, and the expression is often meant to inflame. This being said, the weapon used in this shooting WAS the civilian version of an actual military rifle, common to Asia and Russia. The weapon has little sporting value. The large capacity magazines allowing the gun to hold 30 bullets were illegal during the Clinton administration, but were legalized again under Bush.

I'm still more-or-less a 2nd amendment supporter, but I get more and more liberal every day of my life. And my views on this issue get a little more liberal every day. In fact, I asked the NRA to put me on their do not call list a few months ago. That's a HUGE step to the left for me.

Thanks Jane for your input, and I do understand. If things like this continue it may not be too much longer before I'm right there with you on your gun opinions.

Jane Doe said...

I'm not sure of your immigration stance, but I'm all for closing our borders and actually enforcing every single immigration law in effect. Oh and no anchor babies!
There's a right way to do things, a legal way, nothing short of that should be accepted or tolerated.
:)

Jon said...

Oh no, I'm not getting pulled into this one again... ;-)

Jane Doe said...

I wasn't trying to pull you into anything. If we have discussed this before, I don't remember. I'm sorry.

Jon said...

Just funnin' with ya Jane. :-)

Jane Doe said...

Oh, LOL, you stinker!
*whew*

Maybelline Jones said...

Simply put - I'm with you.