[Magdalen] Florida school shootings

[Grace Cangialosi]

I saw the picture of the president with his “talking points” on a paper in front of him. At first I thought—hoped—that maybe the picture had been photoshopped, but I guess not. I was able to read the three points, the last one being “I hear you.” Unbelievable! (Well, maybe not...) I wonder who wrote them.
Also wonder what points were on the other side. Maybe the lunch order for McDonald’s?

> On Feb 22, 2018, at 10:32 AM, ME Michaud <michaudme at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I was pleased to hear one of the survivors use the
> “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” argument,
> which certainly trumps the second amendment argument
> AFAICT.
> 
> Nevertheless, I know better than to hope that logic works with
> people who fondle hot steel.
> 
> Please do not miss the president’s talking points at the White House
> meeting. There it is, clutched in his tiny hands.
> 
> 
>> On Thursday, February 22, 2018, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Actually, surveys show that about 3% of Americans have about 90% of the
>> guns, so I don't quite understand the paranoia about sensible firearms
>> regulation. Maybe it's just that they are the loudest screamers.
>> 
>> I am greatly encouraged by this bunch of young people who survived the
>> latest massacre. They are educated, tough, and media-savvy. And other young
>> people in this generation are the same. I include my grandchildren in this.
>> They might be the ones to break the political stranglehold the NRA and
>> Trump's detestable "base" currently have on the country. Four of my
>> grandchildren will be old enough to vote in November. I know which way
>> they'll vote. They're only four of millions.
>> 
>> On Thu, Feb 22, 2018 at 8:54 AM, Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> I agree. There's a sort of national insanity about guns, going far beyond
>>> getting one for hunting or even personal protection in situations that
>> are
>>> actually dangerous to life and limb. For many, being able to have a gun
>> is
>>> an integral part of being an American, and the Second Amendment to our
>>> Constitution is regarded with far more reverence than it could ever have
>>> been intended to receive.
>>> 
>>> And there are a great many of us who are appalled at what this national
>>> obsession has turned into. Yes, it's the people who use the guns as tools
>>> of murder, but it's also the very easy availability of the guns in the
>>> first place. I recently saw a video of a young man going into a gun store
>>> and being able to get an assault rifle in five minutes.
>>> 
>>> Why can't we do a mandatory buyback like Australia did, or achieve low
>>> shooting rates like Canada or any number of other countries? For many,
>> the
>>> answer is this is America, and we've got this blessed, holy thing called
>>> the Second Amendment, so being able to get a gun is an almost God-given
>>> right.
>>> 
>>> I hasten to add that we're not all walking around brandishing firearms.
>>> Maybe soon we will if the dystopia takes over fully. But the results of
>> the
>>> proliferation of guns are far too clear when they do appear, as we've
>>> recently seen again and again. At the very least, gun sales need to be
>> far
>>> more regulated and monitored, with strict licensing and background
>> checks,
>>> not to mention bans on assault weapons. We do need to join the world on
>>> this.
>>> 
>>> On Thu, Feb 22, 2018 at 7:27 AM, Michael Bishop <rev at michaelbishop.name>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I heard with horror of the latest school shooting. That is awful - and
>>>> prayers go out to all those who this has touched.
>>>> 
>>>> What I find more horrifying is the reaction of President Trump when he
>>>> said at a meeting with people affected by such shootings that teachers
>>>> should be trained to have and be able to use concealed guns in school.
>>>> 
>>>> Of course as I am British, I fail to understand the US government and
>> NRA
>>>> insistence on the right to bear arms. I have never handled a firearm of
>>> any
>>>> sort and have never had a desire to do so. Yes, I have countersigned
>>>> applications from my former parishioners to be licensed to hold
>> firearms
>>> -
>>>> almost entirely in connection with their farming activities.
>>> (Incidentally,
>>>> I am mystified that British law allows me as a minister of religion to
>>>> countersign applications for a firearms certificate, but does not allow
>>> me
>>>> to countersign a passport application  because I have n o passport and
>>> the
>>>> countersignatory for a passport has to give her/her passport number.
>>>> 
>>>> I hope and pray that somehow the US finds a way of controlling
>> possession
>>>> of firearms more sensibly.
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> God bless
>>>> 
>>>> .....
>>>> .....
>>>> Michael Bishop
>>>> rev at michaelbishop.name
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Scott R. Knitter
>>> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
>>> 
>>