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I write this from Britain so my opinion is based on a different perspective then many who have written here. I base observations coming form a country where guns aren't everywhere and shootings are very, very rare. I personally see the proliferation of guns as the problem in pretty much all the shooting cases you hear about in America, although the psychological makeup of the shooter has to be considered to. Saying all that, whatever the person's makeup they have to have an easily available gun to start shooting people, a gun they are clearly unsuitable to have legally. Therefore if they don't have the guns legally it seems to indicate they have been acquired illegally, either by the shooter stealing them or by getting them after already been stolen.

When I have said this to some people before they blame the shooters and think the gun owners have no responsibility. You can't shoot someone unless you have a gun so I don't understand this particular stance. I realise the majority of guns are legally held at some stage in the process but this is only relevant when the guns stay with responsible holders who use them for firing ranges only. When almost anyone can hold multiple weapons, can buy armour piercing bullets commercially and the use is glamorised on TV its no wonder so many deaths occur. Why a person or family needs more weapons then there are adults in the family makes no sense. A common excuse for gun ownership is for animal hunting, so why not have suitable guns and bullets available for hire or rent? The hunting argument doesn't clear the need for armour piercing bullets though, unless the deer have started wearing armour plating.

With all this in mind the announcement of the Virginia shooting as with all the others wasn't much of a surprise. After the kids at Columbine then little is surprising any more when it comes to guns and shootings. The person involved in the Virginia shooting was known as having mental health problems and had posted threats in a number of mediums yet wasn't picked out. There were numerous people after the incident who weren't totally surprised it happened or who the shooter was. Obviously the question is why wasn't he picked out before, he gave enough warnings.

The mind set of many in countries that are awash with guns is that if you have a problem with a person or a group is to shoot them. No guns then no thoughts of shooting. If the guns have to stay then they need to be restricted in number per household, there needs to be mandatory locked storage and the guns must be traceable to the legal owner . If the gun is lost, stolen or illegally sold then the legal owner must take a degree of responsibility. Until there are no guns or until the ones allowed are better controlled Virginia will not be unusual or a surprise.

Learn more about this author, Ashley Smith.
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