Obama's offensive comment

[Rjohnson]

Obama said something during his second debate that offended me. He said that guns should be kept out of the hands of the mentally ill. That comment suggested that every mentally ill person is capable of violence and that isn't true.

I'm mentally ill and I'm not violent. I've never committed a crime. I've never even gotten a jay walking ticket. My mom is also mentally ill and she's not violent either. She's one of the sweetest people alive. The majority of the mentally ill are harmless.

Yes, it's true that some mentally ill people are violent and those who show any signs of violent behavior shouldn't be allowed to own guns. But Obama didn't say that guns should be kept out of the hands of certain mentally ill people. He said that they should be kept out of the hands of all mentally ill people.

Obama obviously thinks that mentally ill people are dangerous and that's prejudice. Let me give you an example. Some women kill people with guns. Would it be fair if I said that because some women are violent that guns should be kept out of the hands of all women? Of course it wouldn't be fair. That would be prejudice. And saying that guns should be kept out of the hands of the mentally ill is just as prejudice.

Obama was trying to gain more votes with his second debate but he lost one. And if he offended other mentally ill people, he may lose more.

 

[tecoyah]

As a citizen of the United States, I would prefer those considered unstable (mentally Ill), not be given the means to shoot me. This is not meant to offend anyone, but is absolutely true.

I would not give a razor blade to a toddler either...minimize risk.

 

[clax]

As a citizen of the United States, I would prefer those considered unstable (mentally Ill), not be given the means to shoot me. This is not meant to offend anyone, but is absolutely true.

I would not give a razor blade to a toddler either...minimize risk.

Unstable mentally and mentally ill are two very different things.

 

[tecoyah]

which in no way changes my opinion....how about Unstable OR Mentally Ill?

 

[a777pilot]

which in no way changes my opinion....how about Unstable OR Mentally Ill?

Who gets to decide the definition of those terms, unstable and mentally ill, and then who gets to decide who meets those definitions?

 

[tecoyah]

Uh...the same doctors and mental health professionals that do so now? The Brady Act requires background checks for gun purchases and forbids sales to — among others — felons, fugitives and anyone “adjudicated as a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution.”

A good study can be found here:
http://serp.mc.duke.edu/Swanson NSF..., Mental Disorder, and Violence (summary).pdf

 

[Cerise]

Obama said something during his second debate that offended me. He said that guns should be kept out of the hands of the mentally ill. That comment suggested that every mentally ill person is capable of violence and that isn't true.

I'm mentally ill and I'm not violent. I've never committed a crime. I've never even gotten a jay walking ticket. My mom is also mentally ill and she's not violent either. She's one of the sweetest people alive. The majority of the mentally ill are harmless.

Yes, it's true that some mentally ill people are violent and those who show any signs of violent behavior shouldn't be allowed to own guns. But Obama didn't say that guns should be kept out of the hands of certain mentally ill people. He said that they should be kept out of the hands of all mentally ill people.

Obama obviously thinks that mentally ill people are dangerous and that's prejudice. Let me give you an example. Some women kill people with guns. Would it be fair if I said that because some women are violent that guns should be kept out of the hands of all women? Of course it wouldn't be fair. That would be prejudice. And saying that guns should be kept out of the hands of the mentally ill is just as prejudice.

Obama was trying to gain more votes with his second debate but he lost one. And if he offended other mentally ill people, he may lose more.

I don't see it as prejudice and was going to suggest that it could be that mentally challenged people are more likely to use a weapon. That though falls flat on its face because gun crimes are committed by anyone it seems.
The solution is ofcourse to dramatically curb the availability of guns but US isnt likely to do that is it?

 

[tecoyah]

I don't see it as prejudice and was going to suggest that it could be that mentally challenged people are more likely to use a weapon. That though falls flat on its face because gun crimes are committed by anyone it seems.
The solution is ofcourse to dramatically curb the availability of guns but US isnt likely to do that is it?

Nope...that makes sense and takes backbone, two attributes sorely missing in our Government.

 

[a777pilot]

Are those that have been diagnosed with PTSD able to get weapons? Should they be able to get weapons? What about military combat vets? Should they be able to get weapons?

 

[Cerise]

Are those that have been diagnosed with PTSD able to get weapons? Should they be able to get weapons? What about military combat vets? Should they be able to get weapons?

Why do civilians NEED guns?

 

[tecoyah]

Are those that have been diagnosed with PTSD able to get weapons? Should they be able to get weapons? What about military combat vets? Should they be able to get weapons?

Not my call, as I am not a Mental Health Professional, or a Doctor.

 

[tecoyah]

Why do civilians NEED guns?

It seems civilians need an AR15 to make it easier to kill 15 deer at once.

 

[Cerise]

It seems civilians need an AR15 to make it easier to kill 15 deer at once.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiight

 

[a777pilot]

Why do civilians NEED guns?

Why not?

If you don't want a weapon then don't get one, but don't infringe on my right to have one.

 

[a777pilot]

Not my call, as I am not a Mental Health Professional, or a Doctor.

But you would keep me from having a weapon, wouldn't you?

 

[a777pilot]

It seems civilians need an AR15 to make it easier to kill 15 deer at once.

That I would love to see that. Your ignorance of weapons is showing.

 

[tecoyah]

That I would love to see that. Your ignorance of weapons is showing.

You do understand the sarcastic nature of my reply...Do You Not?

Though, admittedly I have never fired an AR15 I am well aware of the inaccuracy, let alone caliber issues involved when using an assault rifle to hunt. My "Ignorance" is perhaps not as extensive as you seem to think.

Somehow...I don't think using a 270 in that joke would have had the same impact.

 

[tecoyah]

But you would keep me from having a weapon, wouldn't you?

If you were unstable and had violent tendencies I would prefer you were not armed.

 

[Cerise]

Why not?

If you don't want a weapon then don't get one, but don't infringe on my right to have one.

but why do you need one? Does it make you feel safer and if so from whom? Does it make you more dominant and if so of whom?

 

[a777pilot]

If you were unstable and had violent tendencies I would prefer you were not armed.

"Unstable and had violent tendencies" is what made me a good Marine.

Oh, yes, the M-16 I fired in the Corps was one of the most accurate weapons I ever had the pleasure of firing.