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ernie · 10-10-2017, 09:19 AM

Gun control is one of the issues where you see the huge disconnect between representatives and the general public they are supposed to represent. It illustrates just how corrupt and useless the US system of electing officials can be. Appeal to a narrow base to get a nomination and then get elected because you are the "correct" party....and then only serve those that nominated you because the only thing that matters is getting re-elected. Nothing illustrates that better than the John Oliver piece on the Daily Show a few years back on gun control.

He talked to a Australian politician that spearheaded the gun control legislation and contrasted it with the US politician. The most important thing for the Aussie was doing the right and moral thing even if it cost him his support from the base. The US politician was not concerned about doing the right thing or even anything...he just wanted to be re-elected. Nothing more. Appeals to your narrow base will get you elected in the US system.

The majority of Americans want the following:

-prevent the mentally ill from purchasing guns
-bar gun sales to people on no fly and watch lists
-background checks for private and gun show sales
-ban assault style weapons (this is wishy washy language..I imagine it can be summed up by guns and mods that shoot a lot of bullets in a short amount of time)
-creating a database to track gun sales

Every single one of those has majority support in both parties and are at over 70% support overall.

Yet nothing gets done. Create a database and the authorities all of a sudden know Paddock is purchasing a lot of guns and ammo for some reason. It at least raises some suspicions and maybe puts him on the radar.

New timeline...does change things quite a bit. Had he left that security guard alone who knows how much more time he gets. Given he had cameras set up you have to think he also knew he didn't kill the guard and you wonder if that is why he never tried for his escape. Put him on a quick "mission" to cause as much carnage in the 10 or so minutes he felt he then had and then take the easy way out.

10-10-2017, 09:19 AM	#632
ernie Franchise Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Exp:	Gun control is one of the issues where you see the huge disconnect between representatives and the general public they are supposed to represent. It illustrates just how corrupt and useless the US system of electing officials can be. Appeal to a narrow base to get a nomination and then get elected because you are the "correct" party....and then only serve those that nominated you because the only thing that matters is getting re-elected. Nothing illustrates that better than the John Oliver piece on the Daily Show a few years back on gun control. He talked to a Australian politician that spearheaded the gun control legislation and contrasted it with the US politician. The most important thing for the Aussie was doing the right and moral thing even if it cost him his support from the base. The US politician was not concerned about doing the right thing or even anything...he just wanted to be re-elected. Nothing more. Appeals to your narrow base will get you elected in the US system. The majority of Americans want the following: -prevent the mentally ill from purchasing guns -bar gun sales to people on no fly and watch lists -background checks for private and gun show sales -ban assault style weapons (this is wishy washy language..I imagine it can be summed up by guns and mods that shoot a lot of bullets in a short amount of time) -creating a database to track gun sales Every single one of those has majority support in both parties and are at over 70% support overall. Yet nothing gets done. Create a database and the authorities all of a sudden know Paddock is purchasing a lot of guns and ammo for some reason. It at least raises some suspicions and maybe puts him on the radar. New timeline...does change things quite a bit. Had he left that security guard alone who knows how much more time he gets. Given he had cameras set up you have to think he also knew he didn't kill the guard and you wonder if that is why he never tried for his escape. Put him on a quick "mission" to cause as much carnage in the 10 or so minutes he felt he then had and then take the easy way out. Last edited by ernie; 10-10-2017 at 09:23 AM.