Gun Ownership

[Jishin]

Hi,

When in doubt follow the money trail.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_ , LAH

[Rich]

Hi,

When in doubt follow the money trail.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_ , LAH

Thanks
SAT

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[Shinshi]

With all due respect it feels certain facts are very clear. As Jundo says, you don't need an AK-47 to kill a hog and unless you're in fear that a whole posse
of individuals with evil intent to murder are about to descend on your property/person you don't need that kind of ammunition to protect your self/family.
There are no doubt a multitude of problems that need addressing but how many wake up calls are required before some carefully structured/thought out gun
legislation is introduced.

Surely what we learn from Buddhism is that mind habits can be altered. Feeling the necessity to own a gun for protection is a mind habit - culturally produced - and can be changed. There is no intrinsic/essential necessity to own a weapon of mass destruction. I totally understand the whole food/animal predator argument - not commenting on that. But there must be better ways of protection one's person if in danger - maybe stun guns as often used by the police?

Just my thoughts,

Gassho

Jinyo

ST

Thank you for stating that so well, this too is what I hope for. The sooner the better.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT

[Doshin]

Just in case I wasn't clear I am not advocating just leaving things as they are. I would have banned bump stocks years ago as an example. I am just trying to say that this is complicated and what might seem like a simple solution might not be. I think that some real changes need to be made but I worry that just changing gun laws won't address other real problems (not that I am sure what they are). And that the fight over gun legislation might well distract us from looking at other issues that need to be addressed.

One of the reasons I didn't want to get into this is that it all a bit too close to home. We had a high school shooting just down the road from me in Aztec NM in Dec. It didn't get the same level of press, maybe because only two students died, maybe because we are out here in the boonies. The local police did a fantastic job and were at the school in two minutes. I don't know the families but I have friends who do. The impact on a community is very traumatic.

I want to see things change, I don't want any parent to experience this. I am just worried that some meaningless gun legislation will be passed - everyone will think the problem is solved - and move on. While real problems still exist and haven't been addressed. And the legislation will have served no purpose because it was driven by emotion and not by facts.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

I understand your perspective and share it. I too followed the Aztec shootings since I am in NM.

Gassho
Doshin
St

[Shinshi]

Hi,

When in doubt follow the money trail.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_ , LAH

Too true.

Gassho, Shinshi

[Geika]

In all controversial issues such as this, I am usually thinking this: what countries or communities in the world have handled this problem in an effective way, and what can we do to mirror that? For me it is never about personal beliefs or worries over whether or not legislation helps or if poor access to mental healthcare is the cause. I just want to know where this problem has been solved, helped, or is non-existent. What do they do? The answers are out there. We don't need to invent our own solution and play around with it in the political arena for decades. The solution already exists. This leads me to realize that the problem is our culture. If the solution exists and we don't want to use it, our perceived culture is to blame. Frankly, I don't know what the solution to that is.

Gassho, sat today, lah

[Getchi]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-19/generation-z-nra-gun-control-florida-high-school-massacre/9460720

American history suggests Centennials could turn the tide on the NRA

American history suggests Centennials could turn the tide on the NRA

They've seen their older counterparts across the US experience school shootings. They can see the impact those incidents have had on their younger siblings and friends, who are terrified that something will happen to them.

They feel that the responsibility falls to them to act. Make no mistake, they know they are up against a formidable political force.

Im very proud of this SAngha for talking about this issue and having a respectful tone, we are one big human family



Gassho

GEoff.


SatToday / LaH

and an extra round of Metta chanting.

[Entai]

I have some strong political views on this subject, but I'm trying to set them aside (or at least let them settle). It won't help to add my own anger into the mix.

So I offer Metta to the victims of violence, including all of those who are indirectly affected.
To the victims of their own deluded mental state.
To those who are afraid and seek comfort in a weapon.
To those who suffer from anger and act upon it.
To those who are ignorant of how their actions do harm to others.
To those whose greed leads them to profit from all of the above.
May we all find some peace in this world.

I think there are many aspects to this problem. Some can be remedied by sensible gun legislation and mental healthcare. But as long as there is a cultural attachment to guns, it will be an uphill climb. Those of us who want to see change need to organize, raise our collective voice and say that this is no longer acceptable. Sensible people can lobby too.

My 2 cents.
Gassho
Entai
#SatToday

[Jakuden]

Rode in this morning behind a pickup truck with a picture of an assault rifle in the back window with the words “try to take it.” Sadly it seems to many of us as if the opportunity for rational discussion has passed, on more than just this topic.
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH


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[Mp]

Rode in this morning behind a pickup truck with a picture of an assault rifle in the back window with the words “try to take it.” Sadly it seems to many of us as if the opportunity for rational discussion has passed, on more than just this topic.
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH


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Yes that is sad to see ... it seems such culture is embedded into the culture. I feel this kind of idiology is very hard to break.

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Kyonin]

Hi guys.

Just a little comment from an insignificant Mexican that has no idea what is happening in the US.

The more guns are available in any country, the less compassionate the population will be. Why? Because guns make people feel powerful and superior. When this happens, it's very easy to suspend compassion and divide the planet in gangs. So hate begins.

I see it every day here in my country. Violence is rampant. In the 80's there were hardly guns available to people. The government did an okay job controlling borders and stopping gun smuggling. Sure, there was violence but it was not even close to what we have today.

What happened? Corruption grew. Demand for hard drugs in other countries increased. Guns became super easy to buy in other countries, so Mexican gangs started to smuggle them into the country. They armed themselves. They got empowered. And now the problem is bigger than ever. No wonder why other nations think so low of all Mexicans.

In my humble opinion, yes the planet really needs gun control and work towards making compassion part of our basic education in schools.

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

[Jishin]

Gun Ownership

The more guns are available in any country, the less compassionate the population will be. Why? Because guns make people feel powerful and superior. When this happens, it's very easy to suspend compassion and divide the planet in gangs. So hate begins.

This makes a lot of sense Kyonin.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_ , LAH

[Oheso]

I think Kyonin’s equation of the number of guns in a society with compassion and the lack thereof is spot on.
Certainly the writers of the second amendment (adopted 1791) could never have dreamt of what their firearms would evolve into.


gassho from O, who sat today

[Christofer]

Rode in this morning behind a pickup truck with a picture of an assault rifle in the back window with the words “try to take it.” Sadly it seems to many of us as if the opportunity for rational discussion has passed, on more than just this topic.
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH


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This is so common where I live. It bums me out every time I see it. In my area, the big trucks have assault rifle stickers to represent each member of their family instead of the stick figure versions. I live deep in Mormon country. They cherish their firearms here.

Gassho
Chris
Sat/LAH

[Risho]

Hi guys.

Just a little comment from an insignificant Mexican that has no idea what is happening in the US.

The more guns are available in any country, the less compassionate the population will be. Why? Because guns make people feel powerful and superior. When this happens, it's very easy to suspend compassion and divide the planet in gangs. So hate begins.

I see it every day here in my country. Violence is rampant. In the 80's there were hardly guns available to people. The government did an okay job controlling borders and stopping gun smuggling. Sure, there was violence but it was not even close to what we have today.

What happened? Corruption grew. Demand for hard drugs in other countries increased. Guns became super easy to buy in other countries, so Mexican gangs started to smuggle them into the country. They armed themselves. They got empowered. And now the problem is bigger than ever. No wonder why other nations think so low of all Mexicans.

In my humble opinion, yes the planet really needs gun control and work towards making compassion part of our basic education in schools.

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

I find this statement completely unfounded, exceptionally divisive and not helpful at all personally. I don't own guns, but to equate gun ownership with a lack of compassion and increase in violence - even if you could show that metric (which I find questionable) would be correlative not causal.

Do the citizenry need to own military grade assault weapons? absolutely not. But why is this violence becoming more and more a pattern? Mental illness certainly, but I think the underlying causes are complex.

Murder isn't legal - yet people find ways to kill each other. That being said, and again I emphasize, I don't think we need assault weaponry at all.

I just want to make sure that we can communicate different points without appealing to emotion, pseudo-metrics and/or divisive finger pointing.

Gassho,

Rish