What's your opinion? Is the easy rental of handguns contributing to this problem? Should there be better screening before allowing someone to use a rental gun?Kenneth Matthew Wells, a 32-year-old Laguna Hills resident, went to Evans Gunsmithing Shooters World, located at 1637 N. Brian Street, on Saturday afternoon, Orange police Sgt. Dan Adams told the Orange County Register.A little before 1:30 p.m., other shooters at the firing range saw Wells fall to the ground. He was discovered dead from a single gunshot to the head. Police called to the scene said a suicide note was found in Wells’ pocket. The case is being ruled a suicide, Adams said.
Do you think this was one of those "determined" suicides? He wrote a note, went to the range, rented a gun and then blew his brains out. It would be hard to deter a guy like that, wouldn't it?
But most suicides aren't committed by such determined individuals. Evan at gun ranges, when someone goes there depressed and angry in order to do the deed, they aren't entirely committed.
They could be swayed. Easy gun rentals do matter in cases like that.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
That's at least the 15th shooting at a range this year, that I know of. Hadn't heard of suicide by gun range before.
ReplyDeleteWe in America make it so easy to kill, don't we?
People can just as easily jump in front of car or jump off a bridge... are you kidding.
DeleteHere's a link to a full listing:
ReplyDeletehttp://newtrajectory.blogspot.com/2012/05/where-is-safest-place-to-avoid-gun.html
What bullshit. How is a background check that would catch this supposed to be run before renting the gun? Are you expecting gun ranges to have a staff psychologist now? Apparently, the Oregonian hasn't spent much time at a range, but I can tell him that lots of people go to them every day around this country. This kind of thing is rare.
ReplyDeleteI suppose that some suicidal types want to get in a few last practice rounds before offing themselves. Hell, I've had bad days at the range when my hand just wouldn't cooperate with my eye, but that never made me depressed enough to do anything silly.
Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of men? The Shadow knows. . .
There are countless ways that people can use almost any object to harm themselves or others. Anyone can readily rent a chainsaw and easily mutilate or kill themselves or someone else with it. Should we require background checks and psychological screenings before allowing people to rent chainsaws?
ReplyDeleteA person who is determined to harm themselves or someone else will do it with whatever tools they have available. MikeB knows this so he tries to redefine the word "determined".
Sure they COULD. But it's gun ranges we keep reading about.
DeleteI know what "determined" means. And I say many people attempt suicide with a gun that happens to be available who are not of sound enough mind to be determined about anything. They're confused.
I agree that there is no way to back ground a person for psychiatric problems. My husband works there and apparently the guy was there the week before and paid the instructor for a class and was very happy and no signs that anything was wrong. If someone is determine to end their life they are probably going to suceed.
ReplyDeleteIf this loser had jumped in front of a bus instead, you wouldn't pretend to give two shits about him.
ReplyDeleteHey, we've only got so many candles to go around. I'd be lighting f'in candles all day long if I really cared about suicides in general.
DeleteListen, if you want to spoof my name, fine, but if you keep up with these silly one-liners that add nothing to the discussion, you gotta go. This'll be the only warning.
DeleteI personally knew him! All I can say about the negative comments people are posting is you have no idea what he was going through to take his own life! Or for any other person that commits suicide.... I would never wish any family to have to go through what his family is going through right now!!!!
DeletePeople who are suffering that much should not have access to guns. Identifying them is the problem, but in many cases the family or loved ones need to intervene.
Deletefirst off our friend was not a loser, nor should this be a focus on gun rental restrictions. He was an amazing guy whose depression got the best of him and for those who do not know him to make him into a running diatribe should check themselves. Have some respect. Depression is a silent battle that many face and tell no one and lead people to do things that seem like the better option. RIP Kenny
ReplyDeleteEM
Guns and depression don't mix any better than guns and alcohol do.
DeleteBut blood alcohol levels can be determined by an objective test, whereas depression depends on the murky definitions that get debated endlessly. Who's going to make the decision about whether I'm depressed or not? What level of depression will be the cutoff for rights? There's too much room for the government to abuse the system for me to accept what you're suggesting.
DeleteYou're definitely right about that. But that's no reason to not even try. We could identify those worst afflicted, the worst of the worst. Your way, we're not even trying.
Delete15th this year? Big whoop. out of a nation of 300 million? Sorry, I used to live in DC (guns outlawed) and there was a suicide at least EACH WEEK by someone jumping in front of the Metro train. You don't see D.C. canceling the Metro service because of 60 or so idiots.
ReplyDeleteProblem? People found a way out of their private hells. The real problem is that we don't provide a humane means of escape. You can't expect everyone to be well adapted to a sick and depraved society.
ReplyDeletethank you
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