The suggested "solution" is very typical of conservatives, despite Avlon's claim of being a centrist: lower the boom and spend tens of thousands of dollars per year per perpetrator AFTER they have committed a gun-related crime, but spend not one dime on prevention BEFORE such crimes can be committed.

When are people going to figure out that nothing will change until we change our gun laws to require greater monitoring and regulation of deadly weapons? We seem to be going backwards, since we no longer have an assault weapons ban. How can we possibly be safer when such weapons are freely available?

The real solution is to have public financing of elections so that no special interest group, including the NRA, can bribe politicians into supporting their agendas to the detriment of the country at large.

Guns don't kill people. People kill people - with guns.

I exaggerate to clarify but one rarely hears of a "mass stabbing" or an "axe rampage." Most of these mass killings are accomplished with guns because those guns are so easy to get. It seems to me a sensible idea to severely restrict weapons of war - i.e., guns designed to kill a lot of people at once - as well as including harsh penalties for anyone who makes the possession of such weapons possible.

Of course, the NRA says this is a clear violation of the 2nd amendment. So, should we all be allowed to have bazookas and rocket launchers, if we choose? Most people agree a line should be drawn somewhere, so the argument that the 2nd amendment is clear falls flat. It is and has always been, interpreted differently by different people. Now, it's up to us to interpret it sensibly.

Yes, let's restrict free speech in elections even more than we already do with McCain-Feingold. penny, I am sure your hero George Soros will want to have a chat with you on that one.

Let's also keep track of the inevitable "crazy man drives car into crowd" stories and the "crazy man burns down home while family sleeps" stories. Since our state enacted a concealed carry law, I have yet to read one story about anyone with a permit committing a crime with the gun. Guns are already regulated...heavily and aggressively regulated. Until you learn to regulate humans, you can keep all the scorecards you want, but nothing is going to change.

While the recent rash of mass shootings is a tragedy, comparing the numbers with war deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan commits the mathematical sin of looking at totals vs. percentages. The 54 deaths in mass shootings are out of the entire US population, which is now over 300,000,000. They represent roughly 0.00002% of the total population that could conceivably fall victim to mass shootings. The 45 deaths in Iraq are out of a total deployment of about 138,000 military personnel and represent about 0.03%. While it's great that our war deaths are fairly low compared to past conflicts, it seems disingenuous to call the damage from mass killings "worse than war." As a US soldier in Iraq your chances of being killed are several magnitudes greater than someone in the US losing his or her life in a mass shooting. Another problem is that despite the drama attached to mass shootings, people die in other types of less dramatic, but no less tragic, accidents and crimes in much greater numbers. Why not track deaths caused by drunk drivers? The fatalities per year dwarf those of mass killings and are completely preventable, just by keeping drunk people out of the drivers seat. Oh, right...because those don't make headlines beyond the local papers.

Where are ll the comments on this article.Excellent, all the talk 24 hours a day, on tv, all the forms of internet communications, and this should be on 24 hours a day.We have a right to bear arms, as the constitution said,a gun a shotgun, a pistol,a riffle, something for self protection, safety and hunting. There is no excuse for the weapons of mass destruction being sold, and available out there.it has to stop.

This is not right, left, republican,democrat, this is everyones safety at stake. These are weapons of mass destruction,!!!! in peoples hands.They might be ill, they might be crazy, they might be suffering, they might be frustrated,kids,people on drugs, people depressed, gangs, a killer, no excuse.!!!

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These weapons out there are not guns.They are weapons of mass destruction.!!There are always going to be killers, we cant eradicate it all,!!!there are always going to be tragedys, things we cant comprehend, but when the constitution was written they did not see these machine, guns in people hands.Everything is so political,nd we get raped and fleeced daily,by all kinds of politicians, and lobbyist, and leaders, and people from all parties.(the bad ones,only) This is not a party issue.This is the safety of our society. There is a middle ground .....what are we waiting for for 10 more masacres.Other childrens, to be killed.Does it matter if they are Republicans or Democrats,......

What hole have you had your head in since birth? "Typical conservative solution"?? Spending taxpayers money addressing symptoms is a liberal solution, addressing causality is a conservative notion, by definition. Of course the notion of automatic weapons in every house is absurd but don't think just a "little bit of gun control" is the answer. The only "agenda" the NRA has is to protect our constitutional right to bear arms, not to ensure automatic weapons stay legal. By conceding a foothold to the far left on such an issue the slope only becomes more slippery. Look at D.C. as your example of why control backfires, murders skyrocketed out of control.

Don't be naive and blame the weapon for a mental meltdown, would a bomb going off in a school make you feel better about gun control? Just how many maniacal criminals have undergone a background check and have a concealed handgun permit?? Law abiding citizens should never give up their right to protect themselves from intruders, terrorists, thieves, murderers or others intent on causing harm. Give the ability to protect life and property to everyone and watch the cowardly harbingers of fear run for their own lives. Take it away and give everything to the criminals

A giant step toward ebbing the flow of gun crimes would be to muzzle the Hannitys, Becks, Bachmans and Limbaugh's of the world who perpetuate the lies that Obama is personally coming to knock on your door to take away your rights.

They have BLOOD all over their hands and MSM is too timid to hold their hypocritical, crazy bigoted feet to the fire.

I feel that the recent wave of violence does have something to do with the way the economy is and people's desperation. It's a proven fact that deprivation of money (which is the way one takes care of his needs) is known to cause deviant behavior. Sometimes people go crazy when they get too stressed out. It's definitely a sign of the times.

Pea Cock, are you serious? Obama voted against 2004 Illinois Bill 2164 allowing prosecution of citizens who protect themselves w/ guns in their own home against intruders. In '96 when running for Illinois Senate asked if he was against individual ownership of handguns by citizens..."YES". Barack Obama opposes four of the five Supreme Court justices who affirmed an individual right to keep and bear arms, Senate vote 245 9/05. Barack Obama has endorsed a complete ban on handgun ownership, Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization general candidate questionnaire, Sept. 9, 1996. And the list just goes on and on and on.... You should really drop the hateful rhetoric and do a little homework before busting off with something stupid.

Both right and left ideologists - Both Republicans and Democrats share the blame.
Our public mental health has been poorly managed because the left has been obsessed with protecting rights, while the right has been obsessively protecting their pocketbooks. The result is that a dangerous part of our population have freedoms they simply can't handle.

Epic is the poor or lacking mental health diagnosis. Plus recent funding cuts have placed an entire population of individuals who were from supervised living directly out in the streets to self medicate(crack & heroin), commit crimes and influence others.

All of these shooters are mentally imbalanced, they should have been diagnosed and their freedoms should have been limited - their whereabouts should have been monitored. The VA Tech Shooter should have been the catalyst that started necessary change. Since that didn't occur maybe underneath we choose to tolerate these calamities.

Political party blame lies in the fact that public safety has largely become politically influenced so if you live in an area that is not politically powerful you may see spending consequently less law enforcement and growing crime.

But guns make us safer.....didn't you know that???

Well what did you expect after the violence of redistributing tens of trillions of dollars from working people into the coffers of bankers and insurance and oil cartels? People, UNEMPLOYMENT historically has been responsible for rises in domestic violence.

Violence will continue until the war against the American people by the ruling class declares a ceasefire.

John Avalon is an idiot. The little jabs at the Democratic Party are disgusting. They do not want to ignore the existence of the second amendment.

Like all of our problems, the Republicans let it fester, and now the big boys have to clean it up. This kind thinly disguised partisan crap is worse than just coming out and revealing who you are. Have Megan write the next 'gun-violence' article.

Liars never prosper.

Let us not forget that Mr. Avalon worked for Rudy's campaign. How smart can he be if he spent 50 MILLION dollars and received...........ONE electoral delegate. That alone will go down as the WORST campaign ever, and yet here he is given a voice.WHY?

Every time someone says "no one every commits mass killings with a knife or axe" I think of Rwanda. 800,000 dead at a rate of 10,000 a day with the use of clubs and machetes. And that is only counting the dead, not the injured.

Enforced and better regulation would do much in this regard.

I do not believe it would stop anything. As someone mentioned earlier... drugs aren't exactly difficult to get. But at least a (legitimate/intelligent) effort would be made. There is nothing "wrong" with owning a gun. (It is just that certain people with "problems" shouldn't be able to buy one.)

Numbers have shown in countries that have out-lawed guns such as Britain that gun deaths have gone down in major ways. But to make that happen in the U.S.... well... let me just say... I'll expect the second coming of Christ to happen first.

I think shaydm06 @ 11:30 am, Apr 9, 2009 has it about right. Desperate people do desperate things. To my knowledge, we're talking about killers whose lives had NOT been going very well. The idea of killing people due to a "copy-cat" motive is dumb.

Look. We gave away our social safety net because those not working were "lazy", not worthy of assistance. The people of this country are utterly compassionless, and we have the government to prove it. Try to get financial help these days to keep a rented apartment. In Northern VA, people were working full time, but couldn't afford to buy or rent, so they lived in their cars. Need food? The local food pantry is likely out of food; the soup kitchen may not be open anymore.

Disability? Good luck with that. I applied for SSD 4 years ago. Months would go by w/o hearing from them. They _never_ met the milestones _they_ set for a decision, a hearing, or whatever. I've lived like a dog for 4 years, and my health has further deteriorated because of my living conditions. I don't have anybody to help me. Finally, on Dec. 22, 2008, I received a notice that I _would_ get a favorable decision, but nothing would be done for 30 days. Finally, on Mar. 6, 2009, I received the favorable decision, but was told that the matter was being transferred to a local (to me) office and I should hear from them within 60 days. I bet it will be more like 180 days and that there will be a new set of hurdles I have to jump over. On April 9, 2009, I'm still waiting. I no longer think that I will _ever_ get any disability benefits and I regret ever having gotten involved in the rotten,stinking process. I now fully understand what my mother meant, who worked for the Welfare Dept. (Social Services) from the 1950s to 1985, when she said she took early retirement because she was not allowed to help people anymore. Her job, and everybody's job was to fill out paperwork--that's was all that mattered anymore. And no doubt they spend huge amounts of money to administrate a system that is ineffective. Better that I should have curled up in bed, stopped taking my medications, and let nature take it's course.

Mad. You bet I'm mad. Everybody I know who has applied for disability is mad as hell. Like me, they worked their asses off early in life, managed to save a little, but broke down physically and/or emotionally. Now, like me, they can't get help. I have my old house, old car, and old computer...all bought when I was still able to work or with saved money. That saved money is nearly gone, so what do I do in the unlikely event I survive into retirement.

This goes way beyond disability. People no longer care about the welfare of others. And Rush will tell you that if you haven't gotten wealthy, it's your own fault. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps? Well I did, but couldn't sustain it. And many can't pull themselves up in the first place.

Expect more of what we have brought upon ourselves. But don't touch my 2nd Amendment. I've harmed no one and I won't harm anyone. Thank you, Final Exit. When my time comes, I will need your help. And I still won't be getting disability benefits!

Do I know you from elsewhere Truthseeker? GW/AGW issues maybe.

How many have ever actually read the second amendment:

Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms. Ratified 12/15/1791.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Note: it was ratified in 1791 protecting a "well-regulated militia" (i.e., National Guard) to protect a "free State" -- nothing was said about an individual's right.

Note: only muskets were available in 1791. Wonder how the Founding Fathers would have regulated assault rifles?

By all means, report the dead. Grieve for them and their families.
If, however, the DB is going to keep a tally of the dead, can you equally report when these horrific acts are carried out with legally owned guns versus illegally obtained guns?

Weapons:

Don't care how many guns you have,don't care what kind they are, Hand, foot or shoulder mounted,But I do want a law that says. If you commit a crime with a gun, any kind of crime, any kind of gun, even pointing a gun at someone, Its the death penalty. No if and or buts..No trial, No nothing. just death.....If you are caught carrying a pistol, Its jail time, If you are caught with a rifle, without a hunting license, It is jail time. 1 year for the first, 2 for the second .etc. Put in effect for one year. Then check the murder rate.
Oh yes, and I don't care how many you have in your home, so long as there in you home..If some fool breaks in you home,SHOOT THEM as many times as you like. With as many weapons as you have at your disposal.

why do the republicans and the NRA want so many guns on the streets of our cities. It is truly their legacy, and not a good one.

@liviapeacock: "A giant step toward ebbing the flow of gun crimes would be to muzzle the Hannitys, Becks, Bachmans and Limbaugh's of the world who perpetuate the lies that Obama is personally coming to knock on your door to take away your rights.

They have BLOOD all over their hands and MSM is too timid to hold their hypocritical, crazy bigoted feet to the fire."
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Exactly.