Guns; An American Conversation - ongoing article series

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Bruenor
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Guns; An American Conversation - ongoing article series

Post by Bruenor »

This series is ongoing and several articles have been posted.

March 7th
'Guns, an American Conversation' project seeks Ohio voices
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ss ... ation.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A coalition of American newsrooms is launching a new kind of public service journalism project, bringing together 150 people in a closed, month-long moderated Facebook group to discuss guns, and other related political and social issues. To do this, we're working with the journalism organization Spaceship Media, using their method of Dialogue Journalism for convening people on opposite sides of difficult social and political issues into sustained, moderated, journalism-supported conversations.
April 18
Civil talk about guns? See Americans make it happen
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ss ... _amer.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This is a meet the participants article
April 19
Should the AR-15 and other semi-automatic weapons be regulated? 'Guns: An American Conversation'
http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.s ... sem_1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
So-called assault rifles, and the AR-15 in particular, get heavy debate because the AR-15 has been used in mass shootings in Newtown, Connecticut (27 dead); San Bernardino, California (14 dead); Las Vegas (58 dead); Sutherland Springs, Texas (26 dead), and Parkland, Florida (17 dead).

As bad as those numbers are -- and no one in the group disputes that -- AR-15 fans point out that the use of rifles of all kinds account for just a sliver of all firearms deaths in which the kind of weapon was known: 317 murders involving all rifles nationwide in 2016, compared with 7,015 handguns, according to FBI statistics.
April 20th
Should America try a buy-back program to reduce gun violence? 'Guns: An American Conversation'
http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.s ... -back.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
According to the 2014 book "The Gun Debate: What Everyone Needs to Know," by Philip J. Cook and Kristin A. Goss, buy-backs are not effective in combating gun violence. Cook and Goss say that without any significant ban outlawing certain types of firearms - which are protected by the Second Amendment -- many of the guns brought to these types of events are in shabby shape.

"Unsurprisingly people are inclined to turn in guns that are no longer useful - they have become redundant, given all the other guns owned by the individual," they write.
April 24th
Should gun safety training be taught in schools? 'Guns, an American Conversation'
http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.s ... ng_be.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
But what if students were taught, too, about gun handling and safety? What if that were part of the school curriculum?

The goal wouldn't be "to create Rambo," said Jon Godfrey, of Parish, New York. Rather, it would be "to create safe life knowledge."
April 26th
3 ideas to reduce gun violence emerged from my conversations with 150 Americans | Opinion
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index. ... lence.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
In 2012, NOLA.com reported that approximately 70 percent of all of the illegal guns on the street of New Orleans came from unlocked vehicles. Mobile Police Chief Lawrence Batiste said recently the No. 1 item stolen out of vehicles in Mobile is guns.

Thieves aren't doing some stealthy maneuver to gain access to these vehicles, either, officials say. All they are doing is going to your parked vehicle in your driveway or your carport and pulling on the door handle.
April 27th
What women who carry or don't carry guns say about personal safety: 'Guns: An American Conversation'
http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.s ... ont_c.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Women own guns as a way to protect themselves at a much higher rate than men, a recent study shows.

The 2017 Pew Research Center report revealed 27 percent of women gun owners cite protection as the only reason they own a gun, compared to eight percent for men.
I did not see any comments from women who carry, so not much of a conversation in this one..
Μολὼν λαβέ

"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. . . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."

- Thomas Paine

"Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem."

- Thomas Jefferson
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Re: Guns; An American Conversation - ongoing article series

Post by TSiWRX »

Interesting reads. Thank you.
Allen - Shaker Heights, Ohio
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Bruenor
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Re: Guns; An American Conversation - ongoing article series

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Went to update this and couldn't find it.. Figured out I posted it in the wrong forum.. Oh well.

Gun owners are frustrated by conflicting concealed carry laws: 'Guns: An American Conversation'
http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.s ... _by_c.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The International Association of Chiefs of Police, which represents 18,000 police departments in the United States, sent a letter on the topic to Congress on April 19.

The letter said that to allow people to freely cross state boundaries with their weapons, even if licensed in a different state, would be "a dangerous encroachment on individual state efforts to protect public safety, and it would effectively nullify duly enacted state laws and hamper law enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence."

"Mandated reciprocity would effectively override the permitting requirements of individual states, such as requiring safety training or prohibiting permits for people with multiple convictions for violent misdemeanors or drug or alcohol abuse problems," the letter said.
Interesting how everyone is buying that reciprocity negates the state laws.
Μολὼν λαβέ

"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. . . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."

- Thomas Paine

"Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem."

- Thomas Jefferson
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Bruenor
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Re: Guns; An American Conversation - ongoing article series

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http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.s ... _from.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The real gun-violence crisis related to mental illness is suicide, which accounts for about two-thirds of all firearm deaths, according to Swanson.

The extraordinary nature of mass shootings leads to more media attention than daily gun violence, however.


Law enforcement officers stand outside a Waffle House in Nashville, Tenn., where four people were killed and two were wounded after a gunman opened fire on April 22.
"It's a such a frightening and disturbing, irrational event, people want an explanation for it. They want a sort of master, simple explanation," said Swanson, "And they get one. We hear these voices in the public square, whether it's lawmakers or the NRA (National Rifle Association) come out and say this is about mental illness, so let's fix the mental-health problem so we can solve gun violence."

Is the gun lobby right to say mental illness is the problem and not access to firearms?
Μολὼν λαβέ

"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. . . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."

- Thomas Paine

"Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem."

- Thomas Jefferson
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Bruenor
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Re: Guns; An American Conversation - ongoing article series

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http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.s ... _chil.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How do you talk with your children about gun violence? 'Guns: An American Conversation'
"I explain that schools are still the safest institution in America, and that their school is doing everything it can to keep them safe. At the same time, I am realistic that bad people will always exist to do bad things, and so we should be aware of our surroundings and know how to react."

"I spoke with my children about the Parkland shooting," said Kimberly Gobla Krupka, of Bath, Pennsylvania, the mother of a 13-year-old and a 15-year-old. She said she "stressed they are very safe. We discussed there are 50.1 million children in the U.S. who attend school daily. The risk of being shot is less than .0001%.
Μολὼν λαβέ

"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. . . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."

- Thomas Paine

"Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem."

- Thomas Jefferson
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Bruenor
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Re: Guns; An American Conversation - ongoing article series

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http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.s ... could.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What would be 1 thing we could do to reduce gun violence? An interactive discussion
Concentrating on income inequality and poverty. Improving mental health. Creating universal background checks. Mandating liability insurance for gun owners. Stomping out racism.

These were among the themes in answers given to us by average Americans who sought to have an honest discussion on gun violence in a monthlong closed Facebook group as part of our special project, "Guns, an American Conversation."
Μολὼν λαβέ

"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. . . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."

- Thomas Paine

"Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem."

- Thomas Jefferson
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Re: Guns; An American Conversation - ongoing article series

Post by M-Quigley »

Bruenor wrote:Went to update this and couldn't find it.. Figured out I posted it in the wrong forum.. Oh well.

Gun owners are frustrated by conflicting concealed carry laws: 'Guns: An American Conversation'
http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.s ... _by_c.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The International Association of Chiefs of Police, which represents 18,000 police departments in the United States, sent a letter on the topic to Congress on April 19.

The letter said that to allow people to freely cross state boundaries with their weapons, even if licensed in a different state, would be "a dangerous encroachment on individual state efforts to protect public safety, and it would effectively nullify duly enacted state laws and hamper law enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence."

"Mandated reciprocity would effectively override the permitting requirements of individual states, such as requiring safety training or prohibiting permits for people with multiple convictions for violent misdemeanors or drug or alcohol abuse problems," the letter said.


Interesting how everyone is buying that reciprocity negates the state laws.
For some people in a political discussion, it doesn't have to be true, it just has to sound true to the uninformed. :(
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Bruenor
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Re: Guns; An American Conversation - ongoing article series

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This looks like the final wrap up of the series.
https://www.cleveland.com/nation/index. ... sides.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
When the dialogue was over last week, we picked six people in the group -- three each from opposite ends of the gun-control spectrum -- and worked with them to see how they'd recommend dealing with excessive gun violence.

There was no right or wrong -- but there was a realization that for change to happen, the two sides might have to find agreement somewhere. Both sides seemed to acknowledge, for example, that as much as some gun-control advocates want to ban certain semi-automatic weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines, the political will currently falls on the side of gun rights, not gun bans.

But there are other recommendations that emerged. These proposed solutions illustrate not only the policy differences between the two sides in the nation's gun debate but also their separate worldviews.

They also show where common ground exists.
Μολὼν λαβέ

"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. . . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."

- Thomas Paine

"Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem."

- Thomas Jefferson
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Re: Guns; An American Conversation - ongoing article series

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Interesting follow up with suggestions on how to have a conversation rather than an argument..

https://www.cleveland.com/nation/index. ... ion_1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Discussion do's and don'ts
There are classic pitfalls to good conversation, as well as proven alternatives that will help the conversation be constructive and rewarding to you and your partner. Keep the following suggestions in mind, especially in moments where you feel yourself becoming triggered or reactive.

Don't: Tell your conversation partner they are "wrong."
Do: Ask them what value led them to their claim.
Don't: Ask how they "could ever believe that."
Do: Ask when/how that belief first started for them.
Don't: Interrupt your conversation partner while they are speaking.
Do: Give them a moment to make sure they've said what they meant to say.
Don't: Counter them with "yeah, but what about..."
Do: Try: "Huh, interesting. Can you tell me more?"
Don't: Assume you know their motives.
Do: Ask about their goals and their hopes.
Don't: Blame them for your anger or frustration.
Do: Explain your frustration, and own it.

Things to avoid
* Belittling other people's hopes or fears. It only invites the same in response.
* Relying too much on statistics to "win the argument." Statistics and facts are important to explain why you have come to a conclusion, but there is a good chance that someone who believes something differently has their own set of statistics to back it up.
* Generalizing about "people like you..." Each one of us is an individual, and it only pushes people further away when we clump people together.

Remember to appreciate your partner
At the end of your conversation together, always take time to name what you have learned from one another, and thank your partner for the experience of a new kind of conversation.
http://media.oregonlive.com/today/other ... guns_B.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

they are then acting as an intermediary to join people together in the conversation..
http://www.heart2heartstory.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.cleveland.com/nation/index. ... ersat.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Μολὼν λαβέ

"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. . . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."

- Thomas Paine

"Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem."

- Thomas Jefferson
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