Almost every illegal shooting is the culmination of a series of mistakes over a lifetime. The fact that the shooter obtained a gun, perhaps illegally, at the very end of that chain does not make it the most important failure.
The problem is the person who wants to kill. We are producing people who want to kill in huge numbers. This is the problem we need to address.
“The problem is the person who wants to kill. We are producing people who want to kill in huge numbers. This is the problem we need to address.”
The issues that need to be addressed are the decline of morality, religion, and loss generally held standards for personal behavior. Add to that drug use, gang membership, and celebration of violence in the mass media (television, movies, video games, books). Throw in fatherless households and the absence of inspiring and moral male role models.
Liberals are responsible for most of the above and have no interest in reinstating standards or demanding personal responsibility.
From Bureau of Justice Statistics:
https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/ascii/vfluc.txt
By Brian A. Reaves, Ph.D.
BJS Statistician
* From 1990 to 2002, 18% of felony convictions in
the 75 largest counties were for violent offenses,
including 7% for assault and 6% for robbery.
* Six percent of those convicted of violent felonies
were under age 18, and 25% were under age 21. Ten
percent of murderers were under 18, and 30% were
under 21.
* Thirty-six percent of violent felons had an active
criminal justice status at the time of their arrest.
This included 18% on probation, 12% on release
pending disposition of a prior case, and 7% on
parole.
* Seventy percent of violent felons had a prior arrest
record, and 57% had at least one prior arrest for a
felony. Sixty-seven percent of murderers and 73% of
those convicted of robbery or assault had an arrest
record.
* A majority (56%) of violent felons had a prior
conviction record. Thirty-eight percent had a prior
felony conviction and 15% had a previous conviction
for a violent felony.
* Forty-one percent of murder convictions occurred
at a trial rather than through a guilty plea. Trial
convictions accounted for 12% of rape and robbery
convictions and 11% of assault convictions.
* Eighty-one percent of violent felons were sentenced
to incarceration with 50% going to prison and 31%
to jail. Nineteen percent received a probation term
without incarceration.
* Median prison sentences received included a maximum
of 240 months for murder, 120 months for rape, 60
months for robbery, and 48 months for other violent
felonies.
Convicted violent felons are among the most serious
offenders in the criminal justice system. They are
convicted of violent offenses, such as murder, rape,
robbery, and assault, and given the most severe
sanctions. A BJS analysis of felony convictions in
the 75 most populous counties found that a majority
of those committing violent felonies had–-
* multiple prior arrests
* at least 1 prior felony arrest
* at least 1 prior conviction.
Additionally, the analyses found that most convicted
violent felons were —
* detained from arrest through conviction
* sentenced to incarceration upon conviction
* sentenced to a prison term of 10 years or more if
convicted of murder or rape.
These findings are based on data from the BJS State
Court Processing Statistics (SCPS) program. The multi-
year SCPS dataset includes a sample of felony cases
filed during selected months in the 75 largest counties
from 1990 through 2002. About half of all reported
violent crimes nationwide occur in these counties.
In 2002 these counties accounted for —
* 61% of robberies
* 51% of murders and non-negligent manslaughters
* 47% of aggravated assaults
* 36% of forcible rapes.
This report presents data on approximately 9,000
persons convicted of committing violent felonies.
When weighted, these cases represent about 33,000
violent felons including —
* 12,950 (39.5%) convicted of aggravated assault
* 10,120 (30.9%) convicted of robbery
* 1,987 (6.1%) convicted of rape
* 1,077 (3.3%) convicted of murder or non-negligent
manslaughter
* 6,650 (20.3%) convicted of other violent felonies.
(snip)
Race and ethnicity
Forty-one percent of violent felons were black, non-
Hispanic , 30% were Hispanic, and 26% were white,
non-Hispanic. Blacks (46%) comprised a higher
percentage of murderers than Hispanics (27%) or
whites (23%).
Whites(37%)and blacks(35%)accounted for higher
percentages of rapists than Hispanics (23%). Blacks
accounted for 54% of robbers, twice the percentage
of Hispanics(27%)and about 3 times that of whites
(17%).
Blacks (39%) accounted for about two-fifths of those
convicted of felony assault, compared to about a third
who were Hispanic (32%), and a fourth who were white
(26%).
Blacks (55%) comprised a majority of the violent
felons who were under age 18. Blacks accounted for
about two-fifths of the total in each age category
from 21 through 34.
Whites accounted for 13% of the violent felons under
age 18. The percentage of whites rose in each successive
age category, and was about the same as for blacks in
the 35 to 39 age category, and slightly higher in the
40 or older category.
(read the rest at the link)
That is the absolute truth that we as a country need to face. The available weapons to kill with is infinite, we have to deal with people who want to kill.