Senseless violence

[carnivalnights]

*sigh*

"...What we have to do is put the young men - almost exclusively young men - who have the guns in jail, because the only way that we're going to get ahold of this problem is to send a very clear message: If you use a gun or have a gun on the streets of Toronto you're going to be caught and put in jail."

You're goddamn right.

Comments

[lobsterbelle.livejournal.com]

Isn't it scary living in a country where people are allowed to own guns?

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

Most guns here are illegal (handguns and the like, but I believe rifles are still legal). I mean, christ, this isn't America. People shouldn't be walking around with guns everywhere and shooting in the middle of a busy street. And the worst part is, the place these people are getting their guns is the US. They're not getting them here in Canada. We definitely need stricter gun laws. The laws are already more strict than in the US when it comes to guns, but that's obviously not helping. Every person who fires a gun should be thrown in jail. I'm so bloody tired of the senseless gun violence that has taken place here this year. Completely sick of it.

[lobsterbelle.livejournal.com]

It's really disgusting that people would ever want to hurt someone like that. Aren't there laws stopping people bringing in guns over the border?

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

Most of the people are getting them over the Internet, believe it or not. There isn't enough protection over preventing guns from coming over the border. In fact, that's a huge factor for the parties in the upcoming election here. They've all mentioned cracking down on gun laws and preventing guns from coming over the border.

[poppytongue.livejournal.com]

That's horrid.

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

It's amazing people think they can pull out a gun, during the busiest day of the year in a completely public place with hundreds of shoppers, and just fire off a few rounds and not get caught. And I agree. It's horrid. And it just seems to be getting worse. I have no idea what these assholes are trying to prove. It's amazing that guns make people feel powerful. Guns just prove you're a coward.

[poppytongue.livejournal.com]

It makes me sick. That there is such an impersonal weapon, that people can fire a gun and never even feel it. I can't believe how easy they are to obtain in the U.S. It is ridiculous.

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

I'd like to believe it's only our laws that need fixing, but it's not. Unfortunately, we're dependent on the US to help out in this matter because they are the ones providing the guns to these young offenders in Canada. And I think it's safe to say the US isn't really interested in changing their gun laws (in terms of authority, not individuals). I feel completely and utterly helpless.

[ghostmeat.livejournal.com]

stricter gun laws need to be implemented, i agree.
we are not america, and the last thing we need is to steadily become americanized, especially in regards to violence and violence committed with guns.

though, i also think that more serious consequences should be handed out to those who are committing violent crimes of any nature. the mass portion of violent crimes committed where i live are via gangs - giving beatings and bludgeoning with knives, baseball bats and so; and then domestic abuse. violence is violence, regardless of your weapon of choice or the environment. attempting to leave someone for dead is all the same whether or not the victim dies.

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree. Our Young Offenders Act is a bloody joke. The reason we have gun problems is because we keep allowing the same people to go back out and use their guns again. The majority of criminals who are being caught with these guns are young boys/men, and it's mostly gang-related. They get a slap on the wrist and they're back at it again in a few months. It's ridiculous.

I agree that consequences should be far more severe. For everyone, obviously, not just young offenders. If you want to pretend you're a badass and whip out your big gun every time you get into an argument, that's great--have fun in jail. And if you're let out and do it again, you should be thrown in jail for life. There just isn't room to keep giving people chances who obviously don't deserve them.

If people saw more severe consequences, they'd probably think twice about gun violence. I suppose that in itself is wishful thinking but I do believe it would cause a lot of people, at least, to think twice. Right now, laws are just an embarrassment and people are getting away with far, far too much nonsense. Especially when it comes to guns/shootings.

[zahrimsthoughts.livejournal.com]

I hate guns. Evil sensless viloent things. I wish they would all disapear.

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

Ditto. :\

[zahrimsthoughts.livejournal.com]

*huggles* x

I hope you have a Happy New Year sweetheart x

[perfecthorror.livejournal.com]

I wish weapons didn't exist. I mean... I guess everything can be a weapon. But weapons meant for harm and killing. Guns shouldn't even be made.
I think it's really stupid that there's some cities and towns in America that make it law that you must own a gun, for supposed protection. However, I think that if they had strict gun laws in the first place, no one would own guns and you wouldn't need a gun to protect yourself. I don't even understand why America feels that they have the right to have as many guns as they want. Because, to me, that's pretty much saying they can go kill as many people as they want.

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. Making things illegal, obviously, doesn't work. That just creates black markets and more crime. But I believe guns just shouldn't exist or be produced. It's too late now for that, I know, but I wish it were the case.

Having a law that you must own a gun is absolutely disgusting. And I mean, the US is exactly where these Canadians are getting their guns so I can't help but have a lot of resentment toward the US (for this specifically, not overall). I think the reason more and more people are getting guns is because they feel other people have them and therefore they need to 'protect' themselves. The unseen consequence of this, howveer, is that these people are so psychotic that they start pulling out these weapons they once bought merely for protection, and they start using them inappropriately. Don't get me wrong--I don't believe it's okay to own a gun if it's "only for protection." But I think a lot of these gun owners go in with that mentality and come out abusing, severely, their "protection" weapons. They allow power to get to their heads and forget all about the ONLY situations where you would need to use a gun.

Like you, I don't believe people should be able to own as many guns as they want. America is promoting this mentality that owning a gun is normal and even good. I think that's somehow seeping into the Canadian mentality, somehow. Maybe it's the movies. Who knows. But it's gotten to us and we'll never be the same again (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1135723814074&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home).

It's heartbreaking.

[anythingtaboo.livejournal.com]

holy shit. i couldn't believe this when i saw the news. i live in winnipeg and i've been to toronto twice and i would feel safe wandering around that area at 3 am. this is just fucking RIDICULOUS that some fucking assholes can make such a beautiful city into a place to be scared.

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

I know. People are being disheartened (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1135723814074&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home) to the point where they think this city has nothing left to offer. It has a lot to offer and these fucking gun-toting idiots are blinding people with their senseless violence and supposed exertions of 'power' (it's really cowardice).

I will never understand why people think it's okay to pull out a gun on a busy street, a bus, a playground, a day care center, in a mall... these people are psychotic. They need mental help. Anyone who thinks it's okay to solve an argument with a gun needs to be behind bars. And I sure hope that's where they'll be thrown from now on. Our Young Offenders Act is a fucking joke and I hope that's also something that is fixed after this incident.

[offermeescape.livejournal.com]

It's absolutely shocking. I was extremely upset (as you know) when I heard about this happening. Two weeks ago, there was another gunfight across from my work. I can't even believe that people would do this.

I don't believe in providing excuses for these fucking cowards. I don't care if you've grown up poor - there's no excuse to be shooting off guns in public places. I knew a lot of poor people on welfare in the neighborhood I lived in. I also knew a lot of kids who grew up in very broken homes. Did they have problems? Yes. Did they have social issues? Yes. Did they sometimes get into fights? Yes. But I never once saw a gun being carried by any of them. If you've grown up poor, I can understand the problems that can perpetuate from growing up that way. But there's a line that needs to be drawn. You still know the difference between right and wrong and you damn well know that shooting off a gun on a busy street like Yonge will likely prove disasterous for people who have NOTHING to do with your bullshit.

I think people in Toronto also need to acknowledge that disproportionately there is a black-on-black violence problem and that it needs to be addressed first. I was very glad to see a myriad of black leaders holding a news conference the day after the shooting, however.. where the hell were they when all the other shootings happened this year?

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

The more time I have to think about it--not just this shooting but all of the ones that have happened this year--the angrier I get. People are ruining this city and there's nothing I can do about it.

I don't think that is everyone's excuse for using a gun. Not that their own excuses are justifiable in any way, but I don't think most of the people who are involved in random shootings say, "It's because I grew up poor!" Most of them would say they carry a gun for protection. And christ, we might need guns for protection now considering how many people are carrying them these days. And that's sad because that's not the kind of city I want to live in.

There's black-on-black violence everywhere. There's white-on-white violence everywhere. The problem is violence, period. Where I agree the black-on-black violence is disproportionate or not, I don't think making this into a race issue will get us anywhere, and you know what? It will just piss more people off and encourage people to buy more guns, thinking they're in danger. The last thing we need is segregation. That's what got us here in the first place.

U of T is organizing an anti-violence summit that I'd like to go to. I haven't been able to find more information on it though.

[offermeescape.livejournal.com]

Let me know when you hear more about the U of T anti-violence thingy. I'd like to go too.

Wear a shirt with a large YORK UNIVERSITY emblem on it. :P

[yourghosts.livejournal.com]

xxx