Gun control discussion

[RICHARD]

Someone has to do something about those Syrians.

[Edwina's Secretary]

MISSION VIEJO – Detectives are investigating a home burglary that resulted in 17 firearms being stolen from a Mission Viejo residence.

Investigators believe that sometime between 9:15 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. Wednesday the suspects forced their way into a home in the 24000 block of Delphi Street, said Jim Amormino, an Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman.

The burglar or burglars apparently broke in through a back window and ransacked the home, stealing more than $200,000 worth of jewelry, cash and firearms.

The firearms, which were in a large gun safe that was pried open, included what Amormino described as "two AR-15 assault rifles and 15 handguns." Authorities described them as "restored" firearms, most of which are gold-plated.

"Our concern, obviously, is that these guns are on the street," Amormino said.

The residents of the home didn't believe that they had been specifically targeted, Amormino said. Authorities did not have a description of the burglary or burglars.

What home is complete without 17 firearms?

Score for the bad guys!

[Edwina's Secretary]

NEWTOWN, Conn. — At least one person, believed to be the gunman, is dead and another wounded in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., according to a local ABC affiliate.

Police report that the school is now cleared of shooters, but they are still treating it as an active shooter situation and all schools in the district remain locked down.

Police are reporting a number of injured parties, the nature of which are not yet clear, The Hartford Courant reported. There are unconfirmed reports of two shooters, one dead, one still at large, according to the paper.

One child was carried from the school by a police officer, according to The Newtown Bee, apparently seriously wounded.

The school superintendent's office says the district has locked down schools as a preventive measure to ensure the safety of students and staff. The superintendent's secretary, Kathy June, says reports of a shooting are not confirmed.

State police spokesman Lt. Paul Vance says they have a number of personnel on the scene to assist.

The Courant reported that police said a shooter was in the main office of the school shortly after 9:40 a.m.

Groups of students — some crying, some holding hands — were being escorted away from the school by their teachers, the Courant reported.

A staging area has been set up for students and their parents near the school.

According to the local ABC affiliate, June released the following statement: "Due to reports of a shooting as yet unconfirmed, the district is taking preventive measures by putting all schools in lockdown until we ensure the safety of all students and staff. All public and private schools in the town are in a lockdown situation."

The district is made up of four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.

Newtown is in northern Fairfield County, about 45 miles southwest of Hartford and 80 miles northeast of New York City.

[lizbud]

This is monsterous. Current count is 26 dead, 18 children and 8 adults. What kind of society have we become?

[cassiesmom]

This is monsterous. Current count is 26 dead, 18 children and 8 adults. What kind of society have we become?

Who would kill young children right before Christmas? This is tragic.

[Edwina's Secretary]

This is monsterous. Current count is 26 dead, 18 children and 8 adults. What kind of society have we become?

A barbaric, gun-loving society. Where 18th century language is used as an excuse. Where guns are loved more than children.

I am angry and I am crying. This is just too too much.

And please. please - let no one say..."if the teachers were armed this would not have happened." But sadly - someone will...

[pomtzu]

This is monsterous. Current count is 26 dead, 18 children and 8 adults. What kind of society have we become?

I've been watching the coverage and in tears. I am actually sick to my stomach and feel nauseous! What kind of sorry ba$tard could do this to anyone - especially to little kids??? May the Lord have NO mercy on this sorry soul.....

[caseysmom]

Me too pom i feel sick

[Randi]

How terrible and tragic. So many people lost their lives today, most of them children, because of a lunatic with two guns. When will things change? How can so many Americans be in favor of gun ownership! I just don't get it - it has happened several times before.

My sympathy goes to the many families and friends of all these dead people. What a Christmas they will have.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

great, another nutcase making gun owners look bad. You do realize that for every wacko out there that shoots people there are literally thousands of perfectly responible gun owners? From what I understand the guy had the gun illegally anyway, so he already broke the gun laws before he even pulled the trigger.

Two police officers were shot and one of them was killed by a 15 year old in Memphis today. No way in hell was it legal for a minor to have. Granted, if he was a responsible law-abiding model citizen, they probably wouldn't have raided his house to begin with.

And, I'm not a gun nut, believe me! There are several in the house and my boyfriend has a carry permit. I don't like them at all but I know that if they were harder to own, then people would just become more desperate to get them. Think about it... many drugs are illegal to make, distribute, or abuse too and yet there are tons of desperate people out there who would do even more desperate and despicable things to get them.

gun laws are a tricky issue for sure. But every time there are rumors of tightening the reigns on gun owners, they just go out and buy more while they still can, trust me.

[Alysser]

For the record, NJ has some of the strictest gun laws out there. He is from Hoboken, NJ.

NO ONE wanted anything like this to happen. This is sick, twisted and disgusting. I've cried over it today twice. I am assuming he had something against his family, and he apparently killed most of them too. Unfortunately he had to kill 27 others with them...repulsive. I am disgusted that he comes from the same state as me and that I could have walked right past him at any time.

[Karen]

Please keep all the victims in your prayers, and all the families affected. My church organist for the past two years, who recenty stepped down, is from that town, her cousin and godson attend that school. They are both safe, as is her mother, who works in another school there, which was on lockdown all day, of course.

Please do not try to find sense in all this, although endless talking heads will speculate. It was the shooter's mother, and her classroom and students that were the target, but beyond that, we do not know, and there may be no "why" involved.

[RICHARD]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/14/world/...ack/index.html

China was hit by a spate of knife and cleaver attacks that targeted school children in 2010.

A number of measures were introduced at the time, including increased security at schools across the country and a regulation requiring people to register with their national ID cards when buying large knives.

[sasvermont]

Not all the information is in quite yet. I can't imagine mowing down kindergarten children and first graders. What a sick person he must have been. Mental health can be a fragile thing. I understand the killer had his brother's ID on him. Gosh, such damage to hundreds of people. Their lives will be a mess for years to come.

I hate guns. I would never own one. I see no reason why anyone needs an automatic "anything" gun-wise. Let's get the Glocks (?) off the street. I understand the killer went through hundreds of bullets ... many, many rounds.

This story makes me sick and angry.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Ah yes. Here we go again. Excuses, excuses, excuses. If guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns! The Second Amendment! I need my gun to protect my family! They got the guns illegally so laws would do no good.

And..."in China they had a spat of knife killings." Oh please - I have no idea what that has to do with anything but I would take my chances with a knife nut over a gun nut any day.

This is two of these public shootings in a week. In what is supposedly the season of peace and goodwill!!

In a week or two, when all the children are buried we will forget about it...until the next one. And there will be a next one.

Then once again we will hear... If guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns! The Second Amendment! I need my gun to protect my family! They got the guns illegally so laws would do no good.

I guess we will continue to curse the darkness instead of lighting a candle.