Gun Control & RKBA

Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts) Thu Jul 10, 2014, 09:30 AM Jul 2014

How many gun deaths are spontaneous and without harbinger?

I recently read that, depending on the study, 60 to 70 percent of homicides -- including those committed by gun -- are committed by someone already known to law enforcement. The killers have an established criminal history; usually a felony.

We also know that suicides make up around half of all gun deaths but suicide is seldom a out-of-the-blue event. There are warning signs.

The statistic that a gun in the house makes a woman many times more likely to be killed by an abusing domestic partner is often bandied about. Yet, DV is an ongoing hell that evolves over years.

Even rampage killers like Loughner, Cho, Lanza, Holmes, Hassan, Alexis and others had a history with mental health care professions and law enforcement. They did not emerge spontaneously.

What tools / motivation do the authorities need to get a handle on those who send up the red flags so they can be interdicted?

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

How many gun deaths are spontaneous and without harbinger? (Original Post) Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2014 OP

Very good questions, I think there is a lot of common ground for discussion of these ideas. NYC_SKP Jul 2014 #1

Waiting for the usual suspects blueridge3210 Jul 2014 #2

I'm not posing my questions just to goad them. If these events are things that give us warnings then Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2014 #3

I agree fully; it bears looking into. blueridge3210 Jul 2014 #4

I have noticed that many demands for gun control never really center of those are actually dangerous Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2014 #5

The chaos of bureaucracies and conflicting interests, jurisdictions, rights, and concerns. NYC_SKP Jul 2014 #6

I cannot understand how in this day, records of disqualifying convictions and Eleanors38 Jul 2014 #7

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

1. Very good questions, I think there is a lot of common ground for discussion of these ideas.

Reply to Nuclear Unicorn (Original post)

Thu Jul 10, 2014, 09:55 AM

Jul 2014

Only the most extreme on either side of the issue wouldn't think that there's lots of low-hanging fruit here.

The devil's in the details, solutions wouldn't be perfect, but if we could mobilize the medical profession, law enforcement, and educators to work together using honest data to pilot programs to address these individuals who fit the profile, and in ways that don't compromise privacy principles, etc.

Conviction of DV charges should result in confiscation of weapons, return of which should require a lengthy process that favors permanent removal, but with fair hearings. Not all convictions are good convictions, so loss of rights should be tempered with caution and reason.

Mental health and other HC providers should be trained to ask the right questions and make recommendations to patients that include surrender of dangerous items in their possession, but maintain privacy.

I gotta run, just thinking out loud here.

Thanks for the post.

blueridge3210

(1,401 posts)

2. Waiting for the usual suspects

Reply to Nuclear Unicorn (Original post)

Thu Jul 10, 2014, 10:09 AM

Jul 2014

to show up and imply that the above proposal is to only screen for mental health issues and not for criminal history.

Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts)

3. I'm not posing my questions just to goad them. If these events are things that give us warnings then

Reply to blueridge3210 (Reply #2)

Thu Jul 10, 2014, 10:27 AM

Jul 2014

why are we ignoring so many warnings to where innocent and hurting people are losing their lives?

blueridge3210

(1,401 posts)

4. I agree fully; it bears looking into.

Reply to Nuclear Unicorn (Reply #3)

Thu Jul 10, 2014, 10:51 AM

Jul 2014

It was interesting how, in the earlier thread about adding those adjudicated mentally unfit to the NICS database, a couple showed up and attempted to imply that the proposal was to only screen for mental illness and not criminal history. That kind of behavior is what slows or prevents any real progress regarding this issue.

Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts)

5. I have noticed that many demands for gun control never really center of those are actually dangerous

Reply to blueridge3210 (Reply #4)

Thu Jul 10, 2014, 10:55 AM

Jul 2014

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

6. The chaos of bureaucracies and conflicting interests, jurisdictions, rights, and concerns.

Reply to Nuclear Unicorn (Reply #3)

Thu Jul 10, 2014, 10:56 AM

Jul 2014

Various entities work at odds, and the larger the number of them the greater the inertia to "remain at rest"; not advance.

BTW, the thread where good ideas was met with scorn is here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/12626916

It was also posted in this group, here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1172148173

And you'll find similar distractions in both threads.

Again, thanks for the productive discussion.

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)

7. I cannot understand how in this day, records of disqualifying convictions and

Reply to Nuclear Unicorn (Original post)

Thu Jul 10, 2014, 11:11 PM

Jul 2014

Court findings cannot be forwarded to NICS immediately, as should have been done with the Virginia Tech murderer. It's not teletype and triplicates anymore.

Reply to this discussion