Why are people in this country such idiots about gun control?

First let me say, a former coworker of mine was murdered needlessly during a breakfast meeting at an IHOP last year. This is an issue where it is difficult for me to be objective.

"They can only be used to kill innocent animals or to hurt people" -- someone has misled you. I have a shotgun that is a bit over a century old. I can't speak to how it was used before I bought it, but now all it does is break clay targets. I have my father's pistol that is a little newer and it is really good at making holes in paper. In fact, none of the guns I own have been used to hurt anything that is alive since they came into my possession; that isn't why I have them. I have them because shooting is a fun, challenging activity where no matter how good you are there is always room for improvement.

"There are other ways to resolve issues besides taking things into our own hands and shooting on instinct or impulse." -- Absolutely.

"When will there be enough shootings that people decide enough is enough and set some restrictions on guns???" -- there actually are already restrictions. Part of the problem is they aren't being enforced. Making new laws might potentially help, but perhaps we should enforce the laws we have already. Many of the shootings that you mention are in fact worse than they might have been otherwise because they happen in "gun free" zones; meaning that the only people able to use lethal force are the bad guys. I'm not totally certain that is working well.

"If someone breaks into your house (which I doubt they will) call 911 rather than taking matters into your own hands" -- as the saying goes, "when seconds count, police are just minutes away."

It would be inappropriate to shoot someone for making a threat. Yes, you can respond to a lethal threat with lethal force, but it doesn't sound like that threat existed. No rational person is going to overreact like that.

"the Supreme Court never ruled on gun control" -- sorry, they did. Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago.

"the shooter in Aurora managed to order hundreds of weapons online" -- he didn't. He bought all his weapons in stores. The ammo was bought online.

"I just wish people would think, rather than shooting first" -- always. That is the primary criteria for a responsible gun owner.

Why is the violent crime rate lower in the gun toting US versus the UK?

Why are violent crime rates so much lower in states with high civilian gun ownership then in the gun ban states.

You should read More Guns Less Crime by John Lott and give yourself an education on the facts. It might help you in your career, nobody like an irrational health care professional.

Guns are only used yo kill innocent animals and hurt people? Sounds like the counselor could use a little counseling. Using your "logic" every gun in the US; millions upon millions, are murder weapons.

If that is the case all of mine are broken. I have never killed a soul and although enjoy hunting I have not been able to do so in over 15 years due to work schedule.

There is an idiot in this debate but it is not the general American population.

For every media circus case like this one there are plenty where guns are used for self defense, but don't get reported on the news because it lacks sensationalism.

I know a rather small woman who was approached by a rather large man wielding a knife. She simply drew her legally carried firearm from her holster and the man ran off. She didn't even have to aim it at him. She then called the police, who filed a report and that's it. Any news coverage? None - because there is no sensational story.

Guns are used for protection more than they are used for illegal purposes / murders. There is a saying that states "If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns." This has truth to it. Enact strict gun control, and the only people who will have them are those who, by definition, disobey the law anyway. Why take guns out of the hands of the law-abiding people because of a relatively small number of bad people?

You really need to look up the statistics and anecdotes of successful self-defense with firearms in this country. The lives saved far outweigh gun violence; violence which would not end with gun control, as it hasn't in Mexico, Russia, or England. If you've got intellectual integrity, you need to look at lives saved through gun ownership.

That shooting at the Town Center happened about two miles down my street. I've been going there since I was a kid, and I've got friends that work there. (They're all safe) When the first reports hit that there may have been more than one shooter and residents were told to lock their doors and stay inside, I loaded up my shotgun and was glad to have it. A reasonable man, armed, saves lives.

Also, it's only two fatalities. Please don't include the shooter.

There are already quite a few restrictions on guns. Background checks are required, a waiting period is required, the types of guns you can own is restricted. There are more restrictions on gun ownership than I can think of right now. Only people who obey the law follow them. A criminal intent on shooting someone isn't going to be deterred by laws.

He was in love with the AR-15 he stole? That SOB wasn't in love with guns he just wanted to kill innocent people. Don't get the two confused and don't you dare have the audacity to compare any sane person who enjoys the sport of shooting with an evil psycho that just knows point and shoot to hurt people.

The number of deaths per year due to the use of licensed guns required for people to start believing in gun control is: 150,000

Any number less than that and it is a statistical insignificance.

It's not the guns, it's the morality, lack of mental health care and a society that dissociates people.

Look at Switzerland and Israel. Huge gun ownership and yet very low crime.

You'll discover this information by reading Prescott's THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO:

After the Aztecs built a new temple to the Sun god to sanctify this temple

they sacrificed 20,000 captured Native Americans.(although they weren't called as such)

The process went this way:

At the top of the temple each sacrificial victim was laid on a large stone.

Every arm and leg was held down by an Aztec warrior.

Then the temple priest using an obsidian knife would slice the chest open

and pull out the still beating heart from the still living victim.

All this was done without firing a single shot!!!!......;-)

A lot of it has to do with showing off projectile weapons to friends. Lots of perfectly decent people like to go hunting. I did as a teen, although most of my prey was aluminum cans. Unfortunately, the handgun has replaced the switchblade knife in urban high schools, the industry cranks out these things like Bic lighters, and folks entertain a lot of myths about gun control. Places like Britain have strict controls, but are hardly despotic regimes. Americans love their guns, and display an extraordinary willingness to use them on each other.