GEESEYTOWN, BLAIR COUNTY - In part one of a series of special reports at the gun control debate we look at the national local tragedies that the brought the debate back to the forefront.
In Blair County, less than a week before Christmas, Jeffrey Michael killed three people outside of Geeseytown. He also shot at state police troopers, wounding a couple of them. State police returned fire and killed Jeffrey Michael. Most people in the community are still not ready to talk about what happened.
This local tragedy came less than a week after the Newtown, Connecticut shooting that left 20 first graders and six school employees dead.
Since then the national gun control debate has only grown. The President called on Congress to make major changes to gun control laws. President Obama wants to strengthen background checks, ban large capacity magazines, and help schools prepare for emergencies.
But Second Amendment rights advocates say keeping guns out of the hands out of honest citizens isn't the answer. They say they need to strengthen the mental health system and keep guns away from unstable people.
In the next part of the series we take a look at how to go through the process the right and legal way to buy a gun.
In Blair County, less than a week before Christmas, Jeffrey Michael killed three people outside of Geeseytown. He also shot at state police troopers, wounding a couple of them. State police returned fire and killed Jeffrey Michael. Most people in the community are still not ready to talk about what happened.
This local tragedy came less than a week after the Newtown, Connecticut shooting that left 20 first graders and six school employees dead.
Since then the national gun control debate has only grown. The President called on Congress to make major changes to gun control laws. President Obama wants to strengthen background checks, ban large capacity magazines, and help schools prepare for emergencies.
But Second Amendment rights advocates say keeping guns out of the hands out of honest citizens isn't the answer. They say they need to strengthen the mental health system and keep guns away from unstable people.
In the next part of the series we take a look at how to go through the process the right and legal way to buy a gun.
Comments
Many of the ideas are knee jerk reactions to our need to do something, anything, in the wake of such horrendous tragedies. Most parents of a shooting fight for gun restrictions, just as the parent of a DUI wants stricter drinking laws, or the mugging victim wants tougher jail times for repeat offenders, etc. But let's be honest. Someone intent on hurting another finds their way. I have no problem with stricter gun background checks nor with losing the option of certain ammo. But this in turn triggers more angst of a loss of rights down the road. Very few gun owners would cling to those rights if anyone could prove that it would stop future tragedies. Unfortunately those guarantees aren't there. And it still holds true that most criminals aren't too worried about the laws when they select a weapon of choice.
These people didn't stumble across some weapon and decide to become a murderer. They had other issues that brought them to this point in their life and then decided how to carry it out.
I don't have an answer. And so far I hear the frustration from a need to do something to protect our children, our loved ones, ourselves. But the actuality of removing all things harmful is better spent helping or removing all harmful people from general society.
ps. my 'I am' option is not there..for I am frustrated
Cathy E.
February 7, 2013 at 1:15 am
Many of the ideas are knee jerk reactions to our need to do something, anything, in the wake of such horrendous tragedies. Most parents of a shooting fight for gun restrictions, just as the parent of a DUI wants stricter drinking laws, or the mugging victim wants tougher jail times for repeat offenders, etc. But let's be honest. Someone intent on hurting another finds their way. I have no problem with stricter gun background checks nor with losing the option of certain ammo. But this in turn triggers more angst of a loss of rights down the road. Very few gun owners would cling to those rights if anyone could prove that it would stop future tragedies. Unfortunately those guarantees aren't there. And it still holds true that most criminals aren't too worried about the laws when they select a weapon of choice.
These people didn't stumble across some weapon and decide to become a murderer. They had other issues that brought them to this point in their life and then decided how to carry it out.
I don't have an answer. And so far I hear the frustration from a need to do something to protect our children, our loved ones, ourselves. But the actuality of removing all things harmful is better spent helping or removing all harmful people from general society.
ps. my 'I am' option is not there..for I am frustrated
Cathy E.
February 7, 2013 at 1:14 am
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.