What can be done to stop this?

[Adam]

Guys first let me point out, I am not trying to start the argument for or against guns in the US. We know everyone's views on that, let's agree to disagree.

But as Oregon mourns more dead, what can be done to stop these events from happening. It seems to be happening on a regular basis and all seem to be remarkably similar. Loner with a stash of high powered weapons, how can this be brought under control?

[dundeemk6]

When I worked for an american company my ceo's motto was : keep it simple, make it happen.
Take the guns away so they cannot shoot each other ... or is this too simple ?

[BillH52]

Perhaps it is too simple.  The only place these tragedies are taking place are in designated "gun free zones"; the places where the only ones with a gun is the bad guy.  Not happening where concealed weapons are ok. 

Here's a recent Australian Gun Law Update;
"Here's a thought to warm some of your hearts....
From: Ed Chenel, A police officer in Australia
Hi Yanks, I thought you all would like to see the real
figures from Down Under. It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by a new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by our own
government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars.
The first year results are now in:
Australia-wide, homicides are up 6.2 percent,
Australia-wide, assaults are up 9.6 percent;
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!
In the state of Victoria.....alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent.(Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not and criminals still possess their guns!)
While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady
decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months, since the criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the elderly, while the resident is at home.
Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in 'successfully ridding Australian society of guns....'
You won't see this on the American evening news or hear your governor or members of the State Assembly disseminating this information.
The Australian experience speaks for itself. Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws affect only the law-abiding citizens.
Take note Americans, before it's too late!"

[BillH52]

Another part of this issue is often overlooked.  Several years ago, governmental assistance along with insurance coverage in the area of mental health was drastically cut back or dropped altogether, in the U.S.  State mental hospitals closed, state after state.  If any one thing would make a difference other than doing away with "safe zones", it would be to greatly improve and expand mental health care, services and providers.

[davureborn]

I'm not an Obama fan but the measures that he tried to introduce regarding gun control were reasonable and rational.
One item from his proposals was: Bans military-style assault weapons and limits magazines to a capacity of 10 rounds.
 from http://www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/summary-president-obama-gun-proposals.aspx

This subject has been discussed many times on this forum and it often descends into an exchange of insults.
I am not against guns, just against letting mentally unstable and criminal elements get hold of them.

[Adam]

I'm not trying to start that argument again, just wondering what you guys think could put an end to this. We know already who is for and against them. The big problem does seem to be these assault weapons getting into the hands of idiots like this last one (British born).

[gotlost]

Feds: All of Oregon Shooter’s Guns Were Purchased Legally.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/10/02/feds-all-of-oregon-shooters-guns-were-purchased-legally/

[BillH52]

I am not against guns, just against letting mentally unstable and criminal elements get hold of them.

This, in my opinion, is exactly the primary issue.  Not enough is done to keep guns out of the hands of mentally incompetent.  And that shifted into an all new gear when funding for mental health treatment centers was eliminated, several years ago. 

[Voodoo]

When I worked for an american company my ceo's motto was : keep it simple, make it happen.
Take the guns away so they cannot shoot each other ... or is this too simple ?

Not that simple Dundee.. As long as the borders of America remain totally open, where anyone can simply walk across them you will never get rid of the guns.. You would have to totally disarm North, Central and South America.. Those guns will be there no matter what you try to do.. So it's not that simple and never will be.. The first thing that needs to be done is stop advertising where the gun free zones are.. All that means to the bad guys is that they have a soft target with no resistance.. Like it or not you're going to have to beef up security and it needs to be armed security.. The third things is to repeal the second amendment of the constitution and I can guarantee you that will never, ever, happen...

[gotlost]

Sydney shooting: Gunman, 15, kills Parramatta police HQ employee.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/sydney-shooting-gunman-15-kills-parramatta-police-hq-employee/story-fnhocwho-1227555135798

[toffo]

Gotlost that's a Baseless Argument.. It happens everyday in the U.S..  Probably happens once every few months in OZ

[gotlost]

Gotlost that's a Baseless Argument.. It happens everyday in the U.S..  Probably happens once every few months in OZ

It just to show that it happens in a country that has some serious anti gun laws and it did not help. Baseless..not even close. These kind of incidents  will go on until the culture and the society changes.

[urleft]

Usually when reporting gun deaths suicides are included, which really skews the data. 

[gotlost]

Oregon Shooting Survivor Rejects Gun Control
Shelby Wambolt, who managed to flee the murder scene, says new measures will not stop mass killings, as nine victims are named
http://news.sky.com/story/1563130/oregon-shooting-survivor-rejects-gun-control

[Starman]

A couple of quotes from Mr President's speech on the Oregon shootings:

“We are not the only country on earth that has people with mental illnesses or want to do harm to other people,”

“We are the only advanced country on earth that sees these kinds of mass shootings every few months.”

"I praise the UK and Australia – “countries like ours” – in having come up with “ways to prevent” mass shootings.

"“When Americans are killed in mine disasters, we work to make mines safer. When Americans are killed in floods and hurricanes, we make communities safer. When roads are unsafe, we fix them to reduce auto fatalities; we have seat belt laws because we know it saves lives."