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How about making sure maniacs like that guy don't have easy access to guns in the first place. And no, he couldn't have pulled that off with a knife or whatever
He could have used a car to run into the crowd,or made a bomb like at OKC....
Many do have their own security at public functions. Whether its on duty or off duty police, private security, even union thugs( remember the town hall meetings only a short time ago). I can't believe there wasn't an officer or two present there if nothing for just crowd anf traffic control. I salute the guys who stepped up and brought this guy down. Ultimately thats what should happen and usually does, people do the right thing and act in the self interest of others. Its called being an american. There's no way we can have enough police to protect our politicians full time or anybody else for that matter. Maybe in a dictatorship there's a need. Luckily we're not there yet.
The police do their jobs but they can't be everywhere and do everything. Remember it was a security officer and not a policeman who prevented the Atlanta Olympics bomber. It was a citizen who was tipped off by the media who helped bring about the capture of the DC sniper.
Focus on what can be done to stop crimes of this kind. How did the obviously insane young man get hold of a firearm? How come nobody alerted authorities as to his instability and ownership of a weapon?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Ironically, that was what Giffords read when they read the Constitution out loud the other day.
Many do have their own security at public functions.
Now lets see what is going to happen when they all get security where ever they go. Who is going to pay for it? And as per the R's something will need to be cut in order to pay for it. There goes that 5% cut they just initiated.
Currently only the higher House and Senate officials (ie: Speaker of the House, the Senate and House Majority and Minority leaders, etc) get security details from the US Capitol Police and even then it's normally only 2 or 3 detectives or plainclothes officers - it's nothing like what the US Secret Service does for the President in terms of security.
The US Capitol Police only has 1,800 sworn officers and if they assigned a security detail to every senator (100) and every representative (435 + the 6 delegates for DC and the US territories) then they wouldent have any officers left to actually guard the Capitol building and the various Senate and House office buildings.
I never knew until yesterday that they don't have security either - someone on the news said that only leaders get it automatically. So I guess it's their own judgment call - it's pretty scary. If I were a member of Congress today, even in my solidly blue district with a solidly blue representative, I'd get it. At least for a while.
(I mention solidly blue because I don't see a lot of conflict in my area about issues the way they have in AZ with differing views)
Chances are if the crazy guy didn't see the large group of people, he may not have even recognized the congresswoman or the judge.
The congressman here where I live is fairly often seen at high school football games - sitting the bleachers along with every one else, and I've seen him at church and at Walmart. Some people know who he is, many do not.
But with mentally ill and the deranged types it doesn't really matter - they can be plotting to blow up their whole school, or kill a group of Amish kids, or diners in a restaurant, shoppers at a mall...
I think it comes down to these perverted minds when they are picking off their targets, a sense of power for once in their pathetic lives. For once they are in control, people are at their mercy. Like the Columbine killers - they feel they are getting revenge for everything ever done to them - even if they already bought tickets to the prom and made plans to go.
And there's no real way to predict who is going off the edge.
In light of todays massacre, I would like to focus on how we can better protect our public officials (and civilians). After the shooting in Arizona, I cannot understand why the shooter was able to get off so many shots before he was stopped. Furthermore he had to be apprehended by 2 CIVILIANS...scary.
Where were the local, state and federal law enforcement officials? I think I heard earlier on CNN that there was not any security present for this outdoor and exposed event. If there was protection I think we can agree that the protection was poor at best.
Lets focus on preventing another tragedy like this. Any ideas or facts relating to the protection of our public could help prevent another disaster. I cant stop thinking about the families of all of those involved.
Please save the left/right political garbage for another thread. This is not the time or place.
to be completely honest, even the president in air force one, with four F15s as escort, is not as safe as people like to think. the reality is that if one is determined to give up their life to take another life, there is practically no way to stop that person.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lifelongMOgal
I'm not certain why the OP thinks it is scary that two individuals tackled the shooter and restrained him for police. If I had been in the crowd and not shot I'd have been right there with them, as I hope others would, rather than default to the fetal position.
nice sentiment. i dont know if i would go after the shooter, or try to protect the target from further harm. it would depend if i was armed or not i think.
Quote:
Originally Posted by malamute
Chances are if the crazy guy didn't see the large group of people, he may not have even recognized the congresswoman or the judge.
actually it is very likely that he would have been able to pick giffords out of a crowd, even if she was just another shopper at safeway. i think this guy had targeted her, and since the event was announced publicly, he knew where she would be, and when she would be there.
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