How to Combat Gun Violence

Let's get the sadly Ridiculous out of the way first. Having to train school children to rush a rampaging gunman shows how deeply and thoroughly Guns have broken our Society. But. If you find yourself near a Mass Shooting you have two basic options: Fight or Flee.

Unfortunately, what many do is the third F; Freeze.

Understand that you are at a severe disadvantage. The Gunman has already decided on a course of action and you are reacting. Action trumps Reaction. Nonetheless, a general rule to apply is your distance to the Gunman.

If you find yourself within 21 feet of the Gunman attacking might be your best option. It's called the Tueller Drill. Your attack should be brutal, swift, and encompass everything at your disposal; pens, teeth, knee strikes, whatever. Close, Dominate, Finish.

If you're further away locate cover and move to it. From that position of cover locate new cover and move. Continue until you're far enough away.

Now, I am sickened that having to explain, teach and practice your response to a Mass Shooting Incident is necessary but, because of the evil efforts of the NRA, ALEC and the bad faith of Right-Wingers it is necessary.

Yes, I know name calling isn't going to help. But, we need constant rhetorical cracks to the mouth to maintain the focus on this issue. 30,000 Americans die each year because of Guns from Homicide, Suicide, and Accidents.

So, while we'll create an entire New Cabinet and Federal Department (Homeland Security), pass sweeping invasive Federal Laws (Warrantless Wiretaps approved for another 5 years) and blow 10 Trillion Dollars on Wars of Choice we won't or can't do anything about the Self-Inflicted Gun Violence which plagues Our Society.

This isn't an Emotional Appeal it's an Appeal to Reason and Humanity.

The NRA has quietly with ALEC backing spent the last 10 years rolling back Gun Legislation. Not through referendums but going to Courthouses to ensure that any and all Gun Laws are struck down. 

The NRA and Gun Owners of America are not Lobbying for the rights of regular Americans to own Guns but for Corporations to continue flooding our Nation in Weapons and for the profits to keep finding the Rich executives Cayman Islands and Swiss Bank Accounts.

In 2005 George W(orst President Ever) Bush backed by the Republican Controlled House and Senate passed Legislation making Gun Manufacturers immune to Lawsuits for their Negligence.

Zardoz LaPierre stated the Republican and Bush 2005 law was the "No. 1 legislative priority of the National Rifle Association". Of course, the NRA "lobbied lawmakers intensely for it". Sickeningly 59 Democrats joined in the House to pass it a vote of 283 to 144.

George W(orst President Ever) at the behest of his Moneyed Masters hailed the law, "further our efforts to stem frivolous lawsuits, which cause a logjam in America's courts, harm America's small businesses, and benefit a handful of lawyers at the expense of victims and consumers." 

Republicans care more about Guns and the Holy Second Amendment than they do about Children. It's been so plainly obvious that the sheer horror of their evil actions should cause a complete rejection and utter revulsion of Republican Policies, if Americans weren't finding ways to rationalize their behavior.

Gun Bans work, when they are enforced. Enforcement and a Culture Change are the keys.

In the aftermath of Jovan Belcher's murder of Cassandra Perkins and suicide, 7 NFL players turned in Guns.

In the aftermath of the Newton CT Mass Murder, sales of AR-15 skyrocketed with weapons selling for 3 to 5 times their normal price. One business sold the equivalent of 3 years worth of Banana Clips and Hi-Capacity Mags in the course of 2 weeks.

A company which designed and markets bullet-proof backpacks for children (Princess Pink for girls and GI Green for boys) saw a massive spike in sales.

This is not the way. This response is the Culture we Must Change.

We are awash in Guns. And there is no evidence an Armed Populace is a Polite Populace.

As for the Firearms' Lobby; No other industry enjoys blanket protection for the murderous results of their products intended use. 

In Illinois Law, laws exist which can be a model to make Guns Manufacturers and Arms Dealers responsible if they don't do due diligence to ensure Guns aren't ending up in the hands of Mass Murderers.

Every person who is injured within this State, in person or property, by any intoxicated person has a right of action in his or her own name, severally or jointly, against any person, licensed under the laws of this State or of any other state to sell alcoholic liquor, who, by selling or giving alcoholic liquor, within or without the territorial limits of this State, causes the intoxication of such person. (235 ILCS 5/6-21)

Eliminating that despicable Bush-backed, NRA-crafted 2005 Legislation should be the first step. Next, re institute the Assault Weapons Ban. Additionally, if you own a Firearm it should be incumbent upon you to prove you have positive and safe control of said weapons at least yearly. 

We as a Society need proof that your guns won't go missing and end up in the hands of some Southside gangbanger.

Then making the Manufacturer, Dealer, and Owner potentially liable should be next. Of course, further Legislation might be needed to curtail the production of certain weapons, ownership duties, and so forth. 

But, by putting the Onus onto the Firearms Industry to police themselves and ensure their weapons of Mass Murder don't end up in the wrong hands we can make a good effort at stopping the Hemorrhaging.