Ending the Slaughter of School Children in America

[zephcom]

It's not a lack of will. First, the change, whatever that might be, would have to be one that works, not one that looks like Congress did something but it doesn't prevent future massacres. Second, it would have to be Constitutional. You cannot fault Congressmen for abiding by the law.

You seem to confuse the Constitution with laws. Congress MAKES laws. Congress also ends laws. Congress has no obligation to 'abide by the law' since they are empowered to make the laws say whatever they want them to say.

The Constitution, while still a powerful tool in America, is not, itself, a law. It is the guiding principal that the laws are required to abide by.

The Supreme Court has already decided that where one aspect of the Constitution conflicts with another aspect of the Constitution, compromises are not only allowed but required.

The right of humans to not be murdered and the right of citizens to own weapons are equal rights and where they conflict compromise is required. Restricting or even banning weapons which make mass killings possible is not an undue burden on the right to own weapons when measured against the right to not be murdered.

Congress has the authority to make laws which will protect both rights more equally. The Supreme Court has the authority decide whether Congress accomplished that.

 

[Albion]

You seem to confuse the Constitution with laws. Congress MAKES laws. Congress also ends laws.

But Congress cannot override the Constitution by passing legislation.

The Constitution, while still a powerful tool in America, is not, itself, a law. It is the guiding principal that the laws are required to abide by.

Even if that were correct to say, it doesn't alter the fact that if our Representatives and Senators choose not to pass a law that they know to be unconstitutional, that this means that they are somehow gutless or uncaring.

 

[zephcom]

Core issues of human motivation should always be the priority. The other stuff is window dressing, but worth a try.

As with any disease, sometimes one has to treat the symptoms while at the same time treating the disease itself.

I'm all for working to solve the core issues of human motivation to murder. It is one of the reasons come here to implore Christians to reject the false teachings of Christianity and turn, instead, to the true teachings of Jesus Himself.

But that does not mean we should just walk away from finding ways to reduce or stop the slaughter of American children while they are attending mandatory education. Our children are the future of a better world if we can just keep them alive long enough make that world.

 

[Steve Petersen]

The Constitution can be changed by Amendment, not by fiat.

 

[bhsmte]

But Congress cannot override the Constitution by passing legislation.

Even if that were correct to say, it doesn't alter the fact that if our Representatives and Senators choose not to pass a law that they know to be unconstitutional, that this means that they are somehow gutless or uncaring.

Congress can pass any law they have enough votes for.

Whether any law would survive a constitutional challenge, is another matter.

 

[zephcom]

But Congress cannot override the Constitution by passing legislation.

Even if that were correct to say, it doesn't alter the fact that if our Representatives and Senators choose not to pass a law that they know to be unconstitutional, that this means that they are somehow gutless or uncaring.

It is the responsibility of the Supreme Court to determine what is Constitutional or not. It is not the responsibility of Congress to 'know' that. The reality is that Congress really does not 'know' for sure what is or is not Constitutional because being a Constitutional expert is not a requirement to be elected to Congress.

IOW, Congress can write a law banning military style weapons from open commerce. Someone can sue to have the law overturned. If the Supreme Court overturns it, the Court will explain why they overturned it.

THEN the Congress can try writing a new law which attempts to do the same thing but addresses the reasons why the first law was overturned.

It is the fact that Congress does not do this is why they are 'somehow gutless or uncaring'. Our Congress HIDES behind the Constitution rather than tries to work within the Constitution.

 

[Albion]

Congress can pass any law they have enough votes for.

Whether any law would survive a constitutional challenge, is another matter.

None the less, it is an unfair charge to insist that Congress is disinterested in the safety of school children simply because the members do not enact a law that they believe--for good reason--to be unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, though, the advocates of new legislation are opposed to every reasonable proposal that these same legislators have said they are willing to pass, which indicates what the gun confiscation activists are really interested in.

 

[zephcom]

None the less, it is an unfair charge to insist that Congress is disinterested in the safety of school children simply because the members do not enact a law that they believe--for good reason--to be unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, though, the advocates of new legislation are opposed to every reasonable proposal that these same legislators have said they are willing to pass, which indicates what the gun confiscation activists are really interested in.

Poppycock. It is a fair charge to insist that Congress is disinterested in the safety of school children when they only offer us 'prayers and thoughts' instead of solutions.

We already know that preventing military weapons like nuclear bombs, surface to air missiles, hand grenades and fully automatic guns from being in the hands of civilians IS Constitutional. The discussion is not about whether the Constitution allows civilians to own any weapon they desire. The discussion is only about whether certain types of weapons are categorized incorrectly.

Congress is hiding behind poor understandings of the Constitution. And while they are hiding back there, they have their palms out eagerly grabbing as much blood money as they can get from the manufacturers of these weapons.

 

[bhsmte]

Poppycock. It is a fair charge to insist that Congress is disinterested in the safety of school children when they only offer us 'prayers and thoughts' instead of solutions.

We already know that preventing military weapons like nuclear bombs, surface to air missiles, hand grenades and fully automatic guns from being in the hands of civilians IS Constitutional. The discussion is not about whether the Constitution allows civilians to own any weapon they desire. The discussion is only about whether certain types of weapons are categorized incorrectly.

Congress is hiding behind poor understandings of the Constitution. And while they are hiding back there, they have their palms out eagerly grabbing as much blood money as they can get from the manufacturers of these weapons.

I think most in congress understand the constitution fairly well. They also understand, who has the lobbying power.

 

[zephcom]

I think most in congress understand the constitution fairly well. They also understand, who has the lobbying power.

-I- think they have very little understanding of the Constitution. As I said, they are not required to have any understanding whatsoever to get elected.

However, you greatly understate their understanding of lobbying power. Our children are being slaughtered in their schools like chickens in a hen house because our Congress not only understands lobbying power, but happily ignores human suffering while they bask in the benefits of 'lobbying power'.

America has the best government money can buy. It is just too bad 'we, the people' no longer have enough money to buy it back.

 

[bhsmte]

-I- think they have very little understanding of the Constitution. As I said, they are not required to have any understanding whatsoever to get elected.

However, you greatly understate their understanding of lobbying power. Our children are being slaughtered in their schools like chickens in a hen house because our Congress not only understands lobbying power, but happily ignores human suffering while they bask in the benefits of 'lobbying power'.

America has the best government money can buy. It is just too bad 'we, the people' no longer have enough money to buy it back.

I don't think you understand what I wrote. I stated congress understands lobbying power well, which means I am not understating it.

Many in congress are lawyers and they understand the constitution fairly well. The problem is when political ideology, gets in the way, from the left and right.

 

[zephcom]

I don't think you understand what I wrote. I stated congress understands lobbying power well, which means I am not understating it.

Many in congress are lawyers and they understand the constitution fairly well. The problem is when political ideology, gets in the way, from the left and right.

Suit yourself. But if you really were stating it accurately, you would be angry. 'Lobbying' in American government just a nice word for graft and corruption.'

And you truly do not understand that simply being a 'lawyer' does not make one a Constitutional authority. There is a complete subset of attorneys who have specialized in Constitutional law and only they are allow to present to the Supreme Court. Few, if any, members of Congress belong to that subset.

American government is in FAR worse condition than anyone even suspects.

 

[bhsmte]

Suit yourself. But if you really were stating it accurately, you would be angry. 'Lobbying' in American government just a nice word for graft and corruption.'

And you truly do not understand that simply being a 'lawyer' does not make one a Constitutional authority. There is a complete subset of attorneys who have specialized in Constitutional law and only they are allow to present to the Supreme Court. Few, if any, members of Congress belong to that subset.

American government is in FAR worse condition than anyone even suspects.

I have been in healthcare for over 20 years. If anyone understands how those with strong lobbying powers impact congress, it is me. Insurance, pharma and medical device companies are 3 really good examples.

 

[Halbhh]

Any Followers of Jesus or Christians have any thoughts on how to put an end to the slaughter of school children in America?

The Congress and the President don't appear to have a clue what to do about it so maybe some answers could come from somewhere else.

When 89% of Americans want background checks and want to limit magazine size -- an obvious law that even most gun owners agree with -- don't forget how your representative or your senator voted in when you go to the next election yourself in your own district.

Or your president either:
FACT CHECK: Did President Trump Revoke Gun Background Checks for Mentally Ill People?

 

[Halbhh]

Any Followers of Jesus or Christians have any thoughts on how to put an end to the slaughter of school children in America?

The Congress and the President don't appear to have a clue what to do about it so maybe some answers could come from somewhere else.

Try what works:

Analyses by the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence show that, with few exceptions, states with the strictest gun-control measures, including California, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, have the lowest rates of gun deaths, while those with the most lax laws like Alabama, Alaska and Louisiana, have the highest.

Ending the Slaughter of School Children in America

 

[Albion]

Or your president either:
FACT CHECK: Did President Trump Revoke Gun Background Checks for Mentally Ill People?

If you want every American to be subject to the determination that he's mentally ill for holding a political belief that is not popular with the federal government....that policy that Obama imposed would open the door for it.

 

[Halbhh]

If you want every American to be subject to the determination that he's mentally ill for holding a political belief that is not popular with the federal government....that policy that Obama imposed would open the door for it.

Yes, I heard that NRA talking point already, and already saw through it. You can too. Gun owner since early childhood here.

 

[Albion]

Yes, I heard that NRA talking point already, and already saw through it.

Well, I haven't heard it. It is IMO what any perceptive citizen should immediately realize, and it's no conspiracy theory since the precedents are well known.

 

[Halbhh]

Well, I haven't heard it. It is IMO what any perceptive citizen should immediately realize, and it's no conspiracy theory since the precedents are well known.

Well..... while we have a very strong constitutional system in the US where misapplication of laws as you fear is hard to do in the US without a supreme court overturning in time, I could understand such a fear in some other nation.

Here, guns are easy to get in every state, and outnumber our population.

 

[Allandavid]

I will say again, i am all for stricter gun controls. With that said, the core problem is; pure human motivation to kill others. This will exist regardless of gun laws.

The US has a huge growing problem with obesity, yet, we have more fitness centers than any other country, by far. The convenience of the fitness centers is meaningless, because people are not motivated to use them.

Are you suggesting that the mental instability of Americans is appreciably different from any other Western nation...?