Earlier this month, I received an email from a researcher (Michelle Cox) at OnlineMBA.com asking if I’d review a video that they recently published:The Business of Guns.
It’s a well done and thought-provoking video but there’s not much to review. Meaning, the proof is in the pudding/has been debated ad nauseam. Some may be “shocked” by my stance regarding gun control — I’ve been planning to post something since Aurora — but, the bottom line is we need to take our country back (to sound like a Tea Bagger) from the gun industry.
The full posting including a transcript can be found here: http://www.onlinemba.com/blog/business-of-guns
Bcc:List.com 
“we need to take our country back … from the gun industry.”
Actually, if you want to know, we need to take it back from the legal drug industry:
Guns And Drugs
http://free2beinamerica2.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/guns-and-drugs/
lwk
People choose to take drugs, people don’t choose to get shot in the head while at work by a mentally ill person hearing voices.
Aaron Alexis had multiple arrests for violent crimes prior to working at the Navy Yard and was never prosecuted.
And, he was still able to get his hands on guns?
Multiple arrests that never resulted in convictions because the prosecutor didn’t bother to pursue the charges.
Given the shooter’s track record — criminal or otherwise — he should have never had the opportunity to purchase/own guns.
He never should’ve been given a security clearance either.
Because the system failed and did not prosecute him. He shot up a neighbors car with a gun which should have led to a felony conviction. If it had then his name would have been in the NICS database and his shotgun purchase would have been denied when he filled out the form 4473 and the dealer ran it past the FBI NICS system.
The VA was treating him for mental illness but also didn’t report that to NICS. Being treated by the VA almost certainly meant he was being prescribed an SSRI type anti-depressnt which can lead to violent ideation.
Psychiatrists prescribe psychoactive drugs like SSRIs which can lead to violence and they prescribe them by the trainload every year.
Then those patients that choose to take the drugs shouldn’t have access to guns, right?
Maybe we ought to look at WHY we are prescribing so many of these drugs, don’t you think? If you read my post here:
Guns And Drugs
http://free2beinamerica2.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/guns-and-drugs/
You will see that the legal drug industry is 100x larger than the personal firearms industry. Talk about an ability to buy Congress Critters.
But no, in the case of Alexis there were plenty of opportunities by law enforcement and psychiatrists to deny him the ability to buy a firearm. A basic principle is that you don’t deny a right to a person unless they DO demonstrate a problem. There were AMPLE opportunities in the case of Alexis and the system failed to do it.
Many people will take these drugs, in fact the vast majority, and they will work for them without turning them into an Adam Lanza. But some few people apparently will be turned into killers by these drugs.
That is what needs to be investigated. Why do these few people turn into remorseless killers on these drugs. But like I said, the gun industry is a lightweight in terms of its ability to spend in Congress compared to the drug industry.
lwk
I clicked through to your link but there was a lot of text and since I was driving, I skimmed it. Sounds like you’re seeking a comprehensive mental illness plan/program without the influence of big pharma. Me too! In the interim, would it make sense that those on psychoactive drugs can’t buy/own guns?
“…would it make sense that those on psychoactive drugs can’t buy/own guns?”
I think that in this country we have a principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” The right be armed and defend one’s self and others is basic. It is the mark of free men. We should only take that away for real reasons, for example criminal behavior or clear psychological symptoms that would have in the past gotten one committed. In the 1950s the guy in Washington would have been committed before he murdered, more than likely.
We shouldn’t take away basic rights on suspicion. Many people use these drugs without these side effects of violence. We need to know why some few really go over the line. However drug companies might face horrendous liabilities if the connection was drawn between the drugs and this sort of violence. And they can afford to influence Congress.
So no, I don’t think we should do that. However we should advise physicians and psychiatrists – whomever works with people on these drugs – to be vigilant and set up means for them to report symptoms of delusions and violent ideation.
I understand that this guy in Washington actually called the police to his hotel room to complain about being watched through microwaves or something. That should have set off a red light.
regards,
lwk
The solution needs to be more objective than subjective.
And, a lot of people drive drunk. Some of these people get in accidents, others don’t. But, they “ruin it” for everybody else…nobody is allowed to legally drink and drive.
A lot of people that are mentally ill are prescribed psychotropic drugs. Some of these people commit mass shootings, others don’t. But, they “ruin it” for everybody else…maybe nobody that is prescribed psychotropic drugs should be able to own/buy a gun?
My jaw is still on the floor. There are almost 10 times more gun dealers than McDonalds?
” There are almost 10 times more gun dealers than McDonalds?”
The fast food industry spends something like 10 billion dollars a year just on advertising. That is 10 times more than the entire personal firearms industry as a whole makes a profit in a year.
lwk
The gun lobby is the largest by far of any other lobby. Everything they request is passed….that is why they had to look for new laws, SYG which all law enforcement was dead set against. And now blind people can purchase guns, sorry I forget the state.
The problem, which does have a possibility of addressing, is our hesitancy to use a violent criminal charge whether it is pled down( which is merciful and right) but still is admitting guilt to deny guns to someone with a PTI, Nola contende, or any violent charge which is pled down in one form or another but the person is admitting to being guilty of a crime involving violence.
In Florida you cannot have a day care if you have a Domestic Violence record. Why can you be allowed to own an arsenal but not a day care? It is simply the gun lobby.
In Florida, George Zimmerman is still allowed to own as many guns as he desires but he can’t operate a day care ( DV charge on his record). He pled down to a PTI a very violent charge of attacking an undercover cop. It is our reluctance to take these acts seriously as the FBI said ” these acts are never just one instance”.
“The gun lobby is the largest by far of any other lobby.”
That is not even remotely true, unless you consider millions of people who are gun owners and vote a “lobby.” The pharma industry makes 100x the profits of the personal firearms industry. There are many phrama companies that individually make more in a year than the entire personal firearms industry.
The drug companies have a lot to protect, especially since some of their drugs cause violence, and you know they are 100x better financed to buy Congress Critters. Here is link again where I document that:
Guns And Drugs
http://free2beinamerica2.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/guns-and-drugs/
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” SYG which all law enforcement was dead set against. ”
Also not true, at least not true if you talk to line officers who actually deal with criminals every day. Often the real police on the line have one view, and the police chiefs who are politicians express just the opposite. I am sure you are hearing politician-police-chiefs point of view.
” these acts are never just one instance”
It is a fact that most violent criminals are well known to police before they finally kill someone. That says something about our justice system though, not about guns.
lwk
From my cold, dead hands….Ryan The Conservative. “God, it’s great to be in Oklahoma.”