After TV Slaying, Reporter's Dad Finds Voice on Gun Control

originally posted by: Shamrock6
a reply to: beezzer

But...but...

Think of the CHILDREN!

Your knife could stab my child.

Talk to me when you remove all sharp objects from your home.

originally posted by: Shamrock6
a reply to: whyamIhere

Because "the cause" John Walsh turned it into is something...what, bad? Hardly. And kindly remember that Walsh was involved in luxury real estate and management before his son was ever murdered.

@ OP - the father is lashing out. Can't lash out at the shooter, he's dead. Next best thing? Guns. He's gotta hit back at somebody. I don't see an agenda. Not yet anyway.

I just don't think Walsh should of made a Television career on the back of his dead son.

Not saying he couldn't hit back. I could be wrong. I just wouldn't do it.

a reply to: Xcathdra

This is true. I don't think anyone could have seen this guy going postal on his ex-coworkers.

If people have enough intent and will to carry out homicide, it will happen.

I'm pretty sure the guys that do gang murders around here buy stolen guns out of the trunk of a car. No checks or waits. Just cash and metal.

a reply to: harvestdog

Is being pissed off that your child died really being mentally ill?

I agree he may not be in a stable state, but hey that is why we have waiting periods. So he has time to cool off and get level headed.

a reply to: harvestdog

I have taught gun safety/intro to firearm ownership classes the past 5 years, and many new students that signed up were women, and those that were recent victims of crimes. Many of these 2 groups never contemplated owning a gun, and quite a few expressed an innate but real fear of guns. The key is education, leading to the knowledge that an AR15 is not a "machine gun".

Some of the most fervent supporters of gun ownership and concealed carry are these recent converts, from all sides of the political spectrum. These new firearm owners realize that their safety cannot be counted on by others, and embrace the lethality and seriousness of what possessing a gun entails. This group exemplifies the moniker of law-biding gun owner IMO, by practicing safe gun storage, handling procedures, and knowing and following the laws applicable.

a reply to: blacktie

We may no longer hunt for food in the wild like back in the day, but there are some wild animals that would like to hunt you for sport. Mr. Gun may be your only chance of making it back to your hut.

a reply to: harvestdog

I believe a better solution like others said is give more funding to the mental health facilities to take care of those with mental health issues and more extensive background searches for those who have a history of mental health problems.

a reply to: Subaeruginosa

Are you sure we live in a civilized world? I see a lot of wild animals intent on hunting people like game. Perhaps if rhinos and elephants had an AR-15 they wouldn't be poached.

a reply to: Shamrock6

I hope there is no agenda at play. I find it a little ironic that he wants a gun now but wants to rail against them. At least he shouldn't allow himself to be used in a driven agenda when he doesn't seem to know the basics.

a reply to: whyamIhere

I get that. And had he immediately jumped on TV I would agree with you. But the show didn't happen until several years later.

In the meantime he worked his ass off to get the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children off the ground and running. Losing his son was a huge catalyst for his involvement in that, and other similar works. The TV show came about because of his work after his son was murdered. Walsh wasn't the only one considered to host AMW, so it's not as if he was simply riding on Adam's death to stardom or something.

a reply to: Shamrock6

He's lashing out. Nothing more, nothing less.

I'm not going to vilify him for that. Losing a child is a pain I can't even begin to contemplate, regardless of why.

But to lose one in such an insane manner? Not sure I'd be able to maintain my own sanity.

I have no use for gun control, and this isn't going to change my mind. All sympathy to him, but no.

Using Russian treatment of dissidents under the Soviet system where the State could and did abjudicate people mentally ill on its whim, I do not see much of a way to "pre-crime" someone by mental criteria.

Sure there are those who have had prior commitments which should show up on a background check but far as I can determine the shooter in this incident did not have an institutional history.

To do more would require violating Second Amendment rights on a wholesale basis and very subjective depending on whom and what criteria was popular at any given time.

I am not convinced there really is a way to prevent the insane from committing murder ahead of their breakdown.

I do know that gun crime in general could easily be reduced though.

Each year across the country thousands of felons facing mandatory federal sentences for use of guns are allowed to plea bargain guilty to lessor crimes and getting out of prison in the revolving door only to commit further cirime or murder with guns.

That has to stop and criminals should serve the mandatory 5-10 sentences.

I'm guessing that'd drop gun crime by a huge percentage all with no new law needed.

a reply to: beezzer

Alas, the mystery of why he is in the market for one yet wants to make it harder for others is what gets me. I think that may be a "talking point" handed to him by the anti-2nd movement. You know, guns aren't bad, see I need one. But you other's don't "need" one.

I have the utmost sympathy for this man who has lost his daughter in this tragedy but he’s wasting his time.


If the GOP congress, gun freaks, WON'T DO ANYHTING AFTER KIDS ARE SLAUGHTERED, they won’t do anything over his daughter

a reply to: harvestdog

"We don't have a gun in our family. I'm probably going to have to get one,"

Interesting statement and it says something to the current state of the anti-gun groups. That is, that as things have gotten ever worse, even those who might have once called for tighter gun restrictions are now so concerned about the high level of violence and senseless killing that they don't want to take behavior that might mean THEY can't buy firearms to protect themselves.

I can understand how they feel. With the cop killing in Harris County overnight, (execution style), its pretty obvious that things are slowly,but surely, spiraling out of control.

a reply to: beezzer

Then WE SHOULD BAN KNIVES TOO

We should only allow butter knives

a reply to: Sremmos80

Yeah, I would consider it to be mental illness per se, just not mentally stable. I doubt he would get a gun and turnaround and shoot someone. I have trust in gun owners probably more than those who don't own guns.

I wonder if he when he comes back together fully if he still wants one. He made it seem as though he needs one so that sounds like he wants one with the intention of using it for self-defense. Curious though that his child was murdered with a handgun yet he's speaking platitudes on machine guns in the hands of citizens.

originally posted by: Willtell
a reply to: beezzer

Then WE SHOULD BAN KNIVES TOO

We should only allow butter knives

But butter is bad for you, I cannot allow you to have butter if you end up harming yourself with it.


. . . . And this is how the argument can go.

It's a tragedy for the families. But we cannot outlaw guns, we cannot outlaw mix-raced gay men.

Bad things happen.

It's a fact of life.

We can console and comfort, we can rage at the loss, but making inane laws that punish only the law-abiding is an act of insanity.

a reply to: Boscowashisnamo

Good man you are teaching firearm safety. The people you describe are the people I suspect most gun owners of being. Those responsible and smart enough to know you have a deadly tool and is to be used in defense of your well-being. People like you help the public at large learn about a topic that has been intentionally muddied-up.

a reply to: starwarsisreal

It is scary for me to want to leave in the hands of doctors, our God-given rights. Who is to say which mental illness disqualifies one for gun ownership. And who is to say which doctors make the determination and on what grounds. I believe I have recently read a thread by a member her who was railroaded by the mental illness hospital police. Should such individual lose his right to gun ownership?