Us Boy, 11, Held For Shooting Dead Eight-Year-Old Neighbour

mikey4444 | 08:08 Tue 06th Oct 2015 | News

34 Answers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34450841

How on earth did this young boy get hold of his fathers shotgun ?

Surely there has to be some kind of regulation in America, about guns being stored somewhere safe and out of the hands of children ?

Chilling figures from the Land of the Free ::::: "The Gun Violence Archive, a not-for-profit organisation that compiles data on gun violence in the US, says 559 children aged 11 or under have been killed or injured in the United States in gun violence so far this year"

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andy-hughes

mikey - //When will America wake up to the fact that they have a serious problem with guns ? //

Because far too many powerful and influential people, together with a population with its 'frontier' mentality, have a vested interest in ignoring the issue of gun use, they will never see the need for a change, and these incidents will simply keep on happening.

With the help of apologists who refer to 'responsible' gun owners being the victims of legislation, and so on, and so forth.

zebo

This is going to make me sound really insensitive, and I'm not, but if America was so in thrall to the NRA that the Sandy Hook murders made no difference, then I can feel no sorrow for these never ending incidents. They are reaping what they sow.

andy-hughes

zebo - I don't think it is insensitive - there is no other way of seeing the situation as it is.

America's love affair with guns shows no sign of abating as society in other areas becomes more civilised, and generally kinder.

It's just a horrible situation, with no real will to change it.

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Prudie

"Have Americans become so desensitised to gun violence". No I don't think they've 'become' anything, guns have always been part of US culture right back to cowboy and Indian days. This is why a change in their attitude to gun possession is probably impossible IMO.

RATTER15

I agree prudie. I always had guns, including shot guns and rifles, but always locked away in a gun safe and ammunition locked away in another compartment. Only twice did I come close to using a gun for self defence, and one of those was against a guard dog and once for two very large thugs at my front door looking for my step-Son.

gness

Not wishing to disagree with Retrochic but it is possible to live in the wilds of Alberta and keep the family, livestock and vegetables safe without a gun under the bed, or anywhere in the house......

... to address the OP though, there is no need for Americans to have guns at home - but try telling that to the NRA (who seem to have a frighteningly effective hold over the American Legislature).

andy-hughes

Prudie - //"Have Americans become so desensitised to gun violence". No I don't think they've 'become' anything, guns have always been part of US culture right back to cowboy and Indian days. This is why a change in their attitude to gun possession is probably impossible IMO. //

I have to disagree.

As society moves on in so many other areas - they have a mixed-race president, a lot of states have abandoned capital punishment and embraced gay marriage, you cannot see American culture in terms of the Wild West.

America may live there in terms of its gun approach - as far as white middle America is concerned, but the huge issue of black crime aided by gun availability has nothing to do with the frontier approach.

The fact ism gun ownership, and therefore gun crime is on the rise, and always has been and that has to point to a level of willingness not to see what is going on - and why.

Old_Geezer

The difficult issue of an attitude change to guns is the period between them being freely available and them no longer there to threaten fellow citizens.

Should legislation come in then law abiding citizens are more likely to give up their guns than the criminals, so there is a long period awaiting the reduction of supply where the bad guys have the upper hand and the gun supports continually pushing the argument that this is causing problems for decent members of society and should be reversed.

It would be a tough barrier to get past and on to the other side: unless authorities found a way to track all firearms and seize them; and I'm not holding my breath for that anytime soon.

Retrochic

Gness I am sure there are people (don't know anyone but hey ho) that survive 'in the wilds' of certain provinces of Canada without a gun. My point was that a gun can be kept safe without the need for locking it up in a cabinet and the onus is on the adults in the family to make sure the guns can never be used by children unattended. You toss 'Americans' into one pot and then say there is no need for them to have a gun -how ridiculous. You may not need a gun living in a town but if you live in a rural location with wildlife that will kill you or your animals then chasing them with a feather duster just won't do much good.

gness

Well you now know me, Retrochic......and who mentioned feather duster....two stout saucepans will do the job.....unless of course..... ;-)

RATTER15

Some states in the USA will allow "open carry" meaning you can walk down the high street with a pistol in its holster and an automatic rifle over your shoulder for everybody to see!

What is the point!!?