ST. GEORGE – Hundreds of people gathered in front of St. George City Hall Saturday waving signs and shouting chants for what event organizers called “more sane” gun laws.
Estimated to have anywhere between 500 and 1,000 participants, the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration joined other events across the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people calling for gun control.
“Today we’re marching for more sane gun law,” Katelyn Hunsaker, one of the event organizers, said. Like other events nationwide Saturday, the St. George march was organized by young people. Hunsaker, 19, is a theater student at Dixie State University.
“We put this together because what we felt was happening in our society was wrong and we want something to change it,” Hunsaker said.
Read more: Washington County School District recommits to student safety after Florida shooting
The “wrong” Hunsaker mentioned refers to repeated incidents of gun violence across the county, particularly school shootings. Saturday’s demonstration also focused on that point, as it was used to reflect on the 17 students and faculty killed in the Feb. 14 shooting massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
March participants gathered at the parking lot by the Delores Eccles Building at Dixie State University before marching toward the city offices. Along the way, many of the protesters shouted “Power to the people” and “No more silence, end gun violence,” among other related mantras.
Read more: About 100 Cedar High students walk out of class in memory of shooting victims
The group’s platform as it relates to gun law reform, includes calls for limiting magazine capacity to below 10 rounds and stricter background checks that include screenings for mental health status. They call for anyone who wants to buy a gun to be required to take a hands-on class along with annual firearms proficiency classes after that.
The group also wants to see more consistency in gun law across the nation, rather than differing laws from state to state.
“We don’t want to take away anyone’s rights,” Hunsaker said. “We don’t want to kill the 2nd Amendment. We want to make (the laws) more sane. (We want) something that’s going to limit mass shootings.”
In the opinion of passerby Scott Nielson, who stopped and talked with the protesters, the best way to stop school shootings is to let teachers be armed.
Read more: Utah House committee rejects gun control measure
“The answer isn’t to take guns out of the school,” Nielson said. “Teachers should have guns to protect the students. Someone who comes in, who’s crazy, has a mental incapacity, how are we going to stop that from happening unless the teachers have guns on them to protect themselves?”
The real problem is also the person pulling the trigger, not the gun, Nielson said, adding that he sees a firearm as a tool like a hammer. He could just as easily pick up a hammer and use it to hurt people as he could a gun, he said.
Kathryn Syssoyeva, who teaches theater at Dixie State University, said she doesn’t favor the idea of having guns in schools.
“I don’t want to see guns in the classroom. The only weapon I want to bring into the classroom is knowledge,” Syssoyeva said.
Read more: Utah law allows for armed teachers, but are they comfortable packing?
After the march reached the City Hall on 200 East, protesters collectively chanted, “What do we want? Gun Control. When do we want it? Now.”
The united voices of so many people in one place created an echo that rang across the street with each successive chant.
A five-minute sit-in and silence was then held in remembrance of all the victims of school shootings.
While sitting in silence, many signs were still held high. One sign said schools shouldn’t be a war zone, while others pointed the blame at the National Rifle Association and its lobbyists for standing in the way of gun control. Other signs called for improved access to mental health care or claimed there had been 1,000 school shootings since 2013.
Multiple signs called for a banning of assault rifles.
Read more: Active shooter drills prepare school staff, police for the unthinkable
Some signs pleaded for books over bullets, and one simply had the word “ENOUGH” written on it.
As the event concluded, Hunsaker said she was amazed by the turnout, having not expected so many people to attend the march.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “It’s so powerful that there are so many people who feel the same way that a small group of students do.”
The St. George March for Our Lives’ platform on gun control, according to the group’s Facebook page, is as follows in its entirety:
- We believe in rational gun policy that builds upon and strengthens existing legal frameworks.
- We believe that military grade weapons should not be accessible to the general public (10 rounds or more).
- We believe that the bump stock loophole should be closed.
- We believe that there should be consistent and enforced universal background checks that must be completed before a potential buyer can receive a gun. The background checks should contain relevant information about mental health and all interactions with the law.
- We believe that there should be collaboration between the states for consistent gun laws.
- We believe that there should be a required hands-on training class and efficiency exam so that all gun owners can operate a gun with competence.
- We believe that there should be a mandatory annual training class and mental health screening.
- We believe that the age of eligibility to buy a gun should be raised throughout the states from 18 to 21 years old.
- We believe that state issued permits should be legal only in the state of their issuance so that state rights are better protected across national lines.
As young adults in the American school system, we believe that there needs to be a change so that the frighteningly consistent tragedies that have occurred will stop. We believe that people should be able to learn without fearing for their lives. We believe that the actions specified above will help to bring about this change, and that if we stand together we can be that change.
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Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Katelyn Hunsaker, 19, a theater student at Dixie State University, was one of the organizers of the St. George March for Our Lives demonstration. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Hundred of people participated in the March for Our Lives demonstration in St. George March 24, 2018 that went from Dixie State University to the St. George City Offices. The St. George march was one of several held across the United States, organized by youth and young adults, that called for better gun control measures as a way to prevent mass-shootings at schools, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @MoriKessler
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.
Well, it is cute, I’ll give them that. And it got all these teenies away from their video games, and I was gonna say iphones, but they prob had their iphones w/ them. I’m starting to side with the ‘more guns in schools is a good idea’ type thinking.
So you are FOR more school gun violence???
Don’t mind Prophet Bob aka comments he had a chance to show his ignorance and stupidity so he did
PogoStik ignore that old fool. His “views” are that of the typical low-IQ voter that put an orangutan in the white house. He only posts in the comments to remind himself that he can still spell.
Nope. I support making our schools more secure ie: exterior doors need to be locked during class hours, visitors must check in at the office, visitors could even be required to be buzzed in just to get into the school in the first place, allow and encourage more teachers to carry firearms. Teachers also need to be held accountable when they witness bullying but do nothing about it.
This is absolutely insane. Thankfully, folks with your point of view are few and far between. Your vision of that kind of future for kids is disturbing and outdated. This is 2018, not 1955.
Reminds me of when the pligs swarmed city hall many years ago.
After retiring from LE after 25 years, all I can say is wow. If these people actually did some factual research, gun crime has gone down, not up (except in cities that have strong gun control, go figure). Texting drivers cause more death and mayhem than guns ever have. Cell phones and vehicles (which by the way are not Constitutionally protected) should be limited to adults 21 and older. For the safety of everyone. – Sarcasm.. There are plenty of “things” that are far more dangerous than guns that kill people everyday. The liberal / leftist / SJW agenda is the disarming of America, cradle to grave government, and tolerance of everyone’s views unless they are different than mine.
“The liberal / leftist / SJW agenda is the disarming of America”
Let me guess, you’ve been watching Fox News and listen to tripe from Hannity and Limbaugh. You sound exactly like a right-wing talking point and scripted propaganda. Nobody is coming for all your guns, Cleetus. But you go ahead and keep telling your pointed little head that they are.
Yeah man your facts and logic are clearly coming from fake news and can’t possibly be from anywhere else like the CDC or the FBI. How can you not care about the kids?? No one wants to take your guns away, except for certain ones because they are scary and look like what the military uses. Then when we ban those we will ban any other guns that look like them. Because the states that have done that are factually much safer than those that didn’t do anything to control the guns…. Oh wait, I mean your guns are slaughtering the kids man, how could you not care? Wish I had a leg to stand on but facts and logic don’t work with me, I only care about protecting our kids.
“Nobody is coming for all your guns”
Uh-huh. Yeah. Sure they’re not……….
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5087/text
http://thegatewaypundit.com/2018/03/it-begins-democrat-candidate-for-sheriff-suggests-killing-people-to-take-their-guns/
https://www.louderwithcrowder.com/marchforourlives-admits-gun-ban/
Law24 – Republicans are in control. Do you honestly think they’re going to do a single thing to take away your guns? Are you really that ignorant? The GOP is owned… OWNED by the NRA.
NOBODY IS GOING TO TAKE YOUR GUNS.
Maybe you should stop living in right-wing paranoid delusional fear and remove your head from your backside.
Oh, and, Gateway Pundit??? Really? LMAO!
Oh I’m well aware that this won’t pass in a Republican controlled House & Congress. The gun-grabbers know that too. The whole goal of this bill is to get a nice big list of who the gun-grabbers need to vote out come November so that a similar bill can be put forward next year and pass. Trump would likely veto such a bill but there might be enough of a vote to overthrow the veto.
Oh, and welcome to New Kalifornia…
Lots of misinformation on those signs. BTW we are all against killing of our school kids.
Does anyone think guns will ever go away? Or, that marching will solve anything?
Hello, there is a major cultural crisis amongst our kids. Suicide is rampant, depression is rampant and hyperactivity attention deficit disorder is soaring and it’s nothing to do with guns.
Our dysfunctional culture is producing killers without conscience like never before. Until we solve the mental illness we must secure our schools. Gun control is a distraction.
Want to learn about “gun control”? Take a safety class and join the NRA.. Blaming the NRA for school shootings is like blaming drunk driving deaths on AAA. ” If it isn’t broken, it’s because the left hasn’t tried to “fix” it yet!”
Take your meds, Johnboy.
Hey there dehydrated meat puppet! I don’t need meds, I’m LMAO at the degree of liberal stupidity being exhibited by all these MSM carrot chasing morons. hahahahahahahahaha!
That’s all you ever have, Mr. Haha. Mr. LMAO. Yuck it up, loser.
Nothing but laughs until Karma slaps you in the face and proves you wrong.
Only a matter of time, Jonhboy. Tick tock tick tock.
Go put some more of that dust in your bong junior!
Do you honestly believe I give a flying frog about what a misinformed liberal like you has to say ? hahahahahaha! I just keep on winning you fool! “The liberal / leftist / SJW agenda is the disarming of America” and only an imbecile believes they are not !
If you didn’t care what us liberals say you wouldn’t keep making comments defending your stupid post. The only thing you keep winning is the biggest idiot on stgnews comment section each week. How is that border wall coming along? What about that repeal Obamacare thing? Yes John you just keep winning!
First of all, Why City Hall ? They didn’t cause anything, and they can’t cure any of their demands. They should have turned fire hoses on that bunch. Why not march on the Federal Bldg ? Or why not just stay on the DSU (Berkeley of southern Utah) campus?
Still haven’t heard a good explanation to the phrase “common sense gun control” What does that really mean? There is obviously a group that would like to ban all guns completely, but would settle for incremental “common sense” laws here and there until they fully accomplish their goal in a few more years. And then what next? What other personal rights or freedoms will they go after next?
Since the shooting incident at Parkland HS in Florida instigated all these marches today, why not go after the real problem of this shooting. They should be marching on the Broward Co. Sheriffs Dept and their inept handling of the many calls (39 ?) they had regarding the shooter over the last few years. They should march to have Sheriff Israel fired and held responsible for not responding to the kid who caused this shooting.
We should be very careful using teenagers emotional feelings to make laws and change Amendments to the Constitution.
This is the platform of the March 21st march. Addressing each plank (in brackets) brings some reality to their issues.
[We believe in rational gun policy that builds upon and strengthens existing legal frameworks.]
The rational gun policy in this country is the second amendment to the Constitution.
[We believe that military grade weapons should not be accessible to the general public (10 rounds or more).]
None of the semi-automatic firearms are “military grade weapons.” The number of rounds in a clip makes very little difference. The time it takes to eject a five-round clip and insert another to continue firing makes little difference. A person intent on doing bodily harm will be exercised in the fastest exchange of clips.
[We believe that the bump stock loophole should be closed.]
This is the only point that would make any sense, however, using the Florida school shooting as justification for this plank makes no sense because a bump stock wasn’t used. In other words this rally is a day late and a dollar short on this particular issue.
[We believe that there should be consistent and enforced universal background checks that must be completed before a
potential buyer can receive a gun. The background checks should contain relevant information about mental health and all interactions with the law.]
How many criminals that obtain their firearms illegally will submit to such intrusions into their lives? They could care less about the laws that are put on the books to keep them from buying them. In the case of Nicholas Cruz, all of the indicators were there that would have curtailed his gun buying spree, they were just ignored by the officials that should have dealt with his behavior. Had President Obama not rewarded the sheriff’s department and the schools for not reporting Cruz’s behavior, the whole incident might not have happened.
[We believe that there should be collaboration between the states for consistent gun laws.]
Gun laws have no affect on criminals. Obtaining guns illegally is their modus operandi.
[We believe that there should be a required hands-on training class and efficiency exam so that all gun owners can operate a gun with competence.]
Hands on training is a good thing, but to make it mandatory is a violation of our individual rights under the Constitution. Making someone pay for exams to prove competency would be no more than a nuisance. Most gun owners work on their competency on their own without compulsory means.
[We believe that there should be a mandatory annual training class and mental health screening.
This is rapacious of the other plank except for the mental health screening. If gun owners must go through mandatory health screenings, then everyone should have to be screened. More homicides are committed with baseball bats or hammers each year than with firearms. Why do we focus only on guns?
[We believe that the age of eligibility to buy a gun should be raised throughout the states from 18 to 21 years old.]
This is a good idea if you want to raise the age limit for joining the military to 21 also. Otherwise, you are preventing young individuals that will be required to use authentic assault weapons on a daily basis from acquiring a firearm that would provide them with knowledge critical for the defense of our country.
[We believe that state issued permits should be legal only in the state of their issuance so that state rights are better protected across national lines.]
What you are saying is that you can be secure in your person only in your home state. That would make every out-of-state visitor a target for any felon, gang member, robber, or thug who has obtained his firearm illegally. That would really be a boon to the economy, making vacationers shay away from tourism destinations outside their own state.
The problem I see here is that our society has been indoctrinated to think that the guns are the problem. The media does not hesitate to use the term “weapon” when talking about violence that occurs with a firearm, but they don’t call the baseball bat a weapon or a hammer a weapon when they are used with the intent to commit bodily harm. More people are killed by items other than guns than with them. Using the term weapon exclusively for guns has tainted the true meaning of a weapon.
Anything can be considered a weapon if it is used with the intent to harm or kill another human being. Just one example, the schoolroom is full of pencils, but they are considered writing utensils, unless, someone picks up one and tries to stab another student. The pencil is then a weapon because the intent of the aggressor is to inflict bodily harm upon another. Nothing we have at our disposal, outside of a military context, if used for what it was intended is a weapon. The only thing that makes any object, including our hands, a weapon is the intent on the part of the perpetrator to injure someone else.
You just typed a whole lotta nothing to emphasize points that 99% of Americans already know. Hope it made you feel better.
The whole thing just proves how the MSM is holding out the Lefist Liberal Carrot of Propaganda and those not familiar with civics or The Constitution (liberals in general) are chasing that carrot . The Ar15 is not a military grade weapon !
No it’s just the exact same weapon with the full auto feature removed. Have you ever field striped an AR-15? Same thing as an M-16 minus the full auto feature. Same clip, same bullets, same options to add features such as front hand grip and scopes. You can even buy a grenade launcher for the AR-15. Maybe not now but Colt did sell them last year for a short time to civilians. So no matter how many times you say this gun is not an assault weapon or a military grade weapon, you will be wrong. The full auto feature is the ONLY difference.
And try as many times as you want it will NEVER fire fully automatic, You can’t buy the parts. Just like you will never be anything more than an MSM lemming because you can’t get a brqain transplant. ASSAULT WEAPONS MUST Be switchable to FULLY Automatic.. AR 15s are not switchable and the parts are not interchangeable.. Keep eating those tide pods !
You people are taking the wrong angle with this by using some fallacious arguments. For ALL practical purposes an AR15 IS A MILITARY-GRADE WEAPON. Ofc it isn’t on the same level as a high-caliber machine gun or something– those are already banned, but the AR is a very effective killing machine and that’s what it was designed to be. High-cap mags do make a big difference. The question isn’t whether or not citizens are owning military-grade rifles; the question is how outgunned should we be by our gov’t. You and johnboy arguing tiny nuances of an AR15 vs something like an actual military M4 is just childish nonsense, “Hurr durr, wurs ma select fire switch”, right john? I’d argue the things are more effective at killing in semi-auto. If you people wanna defend gun rights then use valid arguments to do so.
Great the commies are out, in the open.
great another commie makes a stupid comment
These young people are articulate, thoughtful, and passionate. I have listened to tv interviews with many of them and am extremely impressed with their maturity. Common sense gun safety will come. They are on the right side of history.
That’s what paid actors do! Fool the sheep. Make you believe they are something they are not because the left knows that liberals are gullible. Hitler used children too ! Just say’n”
Wow, amazing how many “paid” actors attended that school in Parkland, FL according to you. I have seen interviews with at least two dozen of them and they are survivors, not actors. All paid actors? Where do you get your “news”? Are you a Sandy Hook denier as well? Just say’n.
John, thankfully, your kind are dropping like flies. How much longer ya got, old man? 10-15 years maybe? I bet you lose your mind before then. You’re clearly halfway there if you believe victims of a school shooting were “actors.” You probably think the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax too. You dumb, DUMB man.
Hahahahahahaha! Keep drinking that kool-aid…
It’s because he gets most his information from the Alex Jones show and Sean Hannity. The rest he just makes up.
To suggest the shooting didn’t happen is pretty ridiculous, you may need a tinfoil hat, BUT to suggest these kids aren’t getting coached off camera on what to say and how to say it is equally insane.
I just hope 3 or 4 people in St George took the time to actually listen and watch these future (current ) leaders. They are more focused articulate and determined than anything coming out of Salt Lake or DC in years. These young adult are absolutely amazing… just maybe, just maybe, there might be something to salvage in this country after all.
It really sad that an 18 year old can walk into any Utah gun store or gun show (at practically any age and legally purchase a gun… but they are outlawed to go dancing ! nice value SG.
Meat puppets!
Yes we know that’s your favorite band, you don’t have to remind everyone.
It was not so long ago that any 15 year old could walk into a store and purchase a rifle on his own. At that time we did not have a problem with mass shootings in schools, so something has changed. It isn’t guns or the availability of guns that has change, but rather the culture has changed. The solution is to find out what has changed in our culture to make so many of us violent. The place to start is to examine the violence in media and in particular in video games where young children learn that shooting people will be rewarded. The irony is that if you tell these protesters that their favorite video games will be banned, they will cry “First Amendment, First Amendment”. So they are wanting to save the lives of children as long as they can do it by sacrificing the rights of others rather than sacrificing their own rights. How disingenuous and dishonest. By the way, that smacks of tyranny which is the very reason the Constitution guarantees our right to own guns, to fight against those who would oppress us even in the name of providing us with more security
agree
Blemonds, well said.
I’ve used a firearm twice in the last 30 years stop a robbery/mugging and know of four individuals who successfully defended themselves from criminal intent.
If it wasn’t for firearms, I probably wouldn’t be here and neither would those four folks.
When are these people going to march against bombs in backpacks left in lunchrooms?
These are the same people who believe that by putting baseball cards in the spokes of their bike makes it go faster..Totally Clueless.
Good come back John. Kids haven’t done that to bikes for years. Where do you get your information? Total Moron
Well it’s you moron, you think an AR15 is an assault weapon.. You scared of plastic little girl? These are the same people who believe that by putting baseball cards in the spokes of their bike makes it go faster..Totally Clueless LIBERALS
Yeah guns aren’t made of plastic moron. You seem to be the clueless one
Moron.. you are scared of it because it has plastic trim… You are clueless about firearms ! Do you have a clue as to how many different weapons have the same rate of fire as an AR15? Of course not! You just listen to the MSM and believe the crap they tell you. You don’t do any research and it shows. ! Nobrains is scared of a little black trim !! Poor baby ! Let’s ban them because they look scary. We should ban you because your’e STUPID!
Maybe we should Ban cars for High School kids also. Way to many getting killed in auto crashes.
Not one sign that says” parents train your kids and teach them the value of life”? Seems odd to me.
Because it’s easier to blame you instead of them being responsible parents
These so called marches across the US are not orchestrated by these kids they are manipulated by people like George Soros and his money. The same George Soros that was happy to turn in fellow Jews during WW 2, the same George Soros that almost broke the bank of Englandand has an arrest warrant in many countries, the same George Soros that owns most of the Voting machines in the United States. Now why would he own voting machines? to manipulate elections just as he has manipulated these marches. No we will not listen to these people. If these people truly cared about lives they would go after Big Pharma, every shooter has been on Psychiatric Drugs, is it possible some of these marchers are on drugs?
Big Pharma greases politicians hands, do something about that also.
it’s true, these marches are organized by professional and paid protest organizers. They are orchestrated by creatures like Soros who have very sinister agendas. The last priority on their minds is protecting teenies from gun violence, but teenies are naive, easy to manipulate, and easily used as a tool for their agenda.
The fact that you believe this is truly disturbing. Seek help, soon.
The fact you don’t see it is even more disturbing, being brain dead is not a valid excuse !
GOD bless the US Constitution.
It appears from the preceding comments that a lot more kids are going to die because gun worshipers lack common sense and critical thinking ability. Pathetic ignorance is obviously a family value for far too many people.
Hope you get cured of that Pathetic ignorance. It is ever so clear now as to why the democrat mascot is a donkey, keep chasing that carrot !
You’re assuming (falsely) that the only way a determined murderer can kill kids is by using a gun. Two points. Looking internationally we’ve seen terrorists adjust their tactics, using guns when they can and when they can’t, they use knives, bombs and motor vehicles. Mass murderers will adjust as well. Second, criminals don’t care what the gun laws are. If they have to obtain a gun illegally in order to perpetrate a mass shooting, then that’s what they’ll do. It’s odd to assume that a criminal would decide he couldn’t commit a murder because it would be illegal for him to use a gun. Remember, the problem isn’t the weapon of choice. The problem is the violent culture. Finally, what you did with your comment was commit a logical fallacy called an appeal to emotion. Appeals to emotion are made when reason won’t win the argument
I don’t agree with all of your comments, but this one is tops.
In the beginning of the article, it states they want gun laws to be more uniform across the nation, rather than varying state by state. Yet, one of their major points listed in their priorities is that any permit you can get would only be valid in your home state (with the bs line of protecting states’ rights). What’s the point of consistent gun laws nationwide if you can only have your gun with you when you’re in your home state? Dozens of states have found reason to recognize other states’ permits now, of their own decision. Are you really saying those states don’t have the right to make that choice?
How come there are no marches, against knife violence. I mean they can still kill people, why not forks.
That excuse is getting old. The AR15 is a tool for killing people. That’s all. A car is useful for other purposes as is a pocket knife or a hammer.
and you’e a tool for indoctrinated sheep ! Keep chasing that carrot !
No… Many competitive sports utilize the Armalite Rifle (AR). Stop generalizing…
It’s true, AR’s and similar were designed to kill people as effectively as possible, and they do, as with any well-designed rapid-fire assault rifle. I don’t care how many “shooting sports” the AR is used in. The sole purpose of these type of rifles is to kill people. I’m pro-gun at the moment, but you people need to stop using fallacies and nonsense to defend gun rights.
Sorry, Fudd, but with those comments, you are as pro-gun as Obama is a Republican.
sometimes bob(comments) likes to put no filter’s foot in his mouth!
You never know what you might be missing out on johno. Good ol’ Nofilter might have supermodel looks, although I doubt it 😉
So in order to be “pro gun” I’ve got to tell BS stories about the AR not being an assault rifle. Or tell a bunch of BS about how wonderful a weapon it is for “shooting sports”. Sorry circus kids, AR is a military-type assault rife designed to kill people. It is what it is.
Isn’t it obvious? The Parkland shooter killed 17 people in 6 minutes. The Sandy Hook shooter killed 26 kids and adults in 5 minutes. The Las Vegas shooter killed 58 people in 10 minutes. They are called mass shootings because the shooters use weapons that only the military should use.
The purpose of the 2nd a
Amendment is for us to be able to maintain the security of a free state. It should be obvious that said security would be threatened by a government using the military, possibly our own government. To maintain security when threatened by a military force, military weapons are prudent. Thus, weapons like the AR-15 are the very types of weapons the 2nd Amendment meant for us to be able to own
Actually anyone intent on doing damage and killing many people could be just as effective using a 9 mm pistol.. your argument is full of bullet holes ..hahahaha ! Keep drinking that kool-aid !
Meanwhile, pistols were the weapons used the Virginia Tech shooting killing 32 and wounding an additional 17. The Fort Hood shooting saw the use of a Semi-auto pistol and a revolver which killed 14. But hey, its not an AR-15 and doesn’t fit our narrative of banning the “scary black gun” so we’ll just completely ignore that those.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/rpt/2013-R-0057.htm
The above site looks at “mass” shootings from January 2013 back to 1999, the Columbine shooting. It records 50 shootings. Of the 50, 34 were committed using pistols, revolvers, & shotguns. 4 were committed with weapons that were not made identifiable to the general public leaving 12….. read that again, 12, that were committed by any rifle of any kind. Pleas just stop the “Ban the AR-15” rhetoric. We know what you want. You want to ban all guns and its simply not going to happen. Even banning the AR-15 is not going to happen. Get over it.
Put a little black mustache on that Hogg kid doing the arm salute at the March and then think back if we’ve ever seen that before. It didn’t turn out good that time either. Be careful picking leaders.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5440273/Cops-called-Nikolas-Cruzs-home-45-TIMES-past-decade.html
45 calls and you people think the gov’t is capable of protecting the public. I’d call it an abysmal failure of gov’t, and you people want gov’t to be the only ones with guns? It’s extreme naivety, with a childlike trust in gov’t. Sort of like believing in Santa, is it not?
i realize dailymail is tabloid-ish, but I’d bet their sources are dead-on accurate here.
Keep spreading that propaganda, chief. Even Brits know the Daily Mail is a half … rag not worthy to be called news. Grow a brain you simp.
Ed. Ellipsis.
Oh wow, we’ve found a guy that even makes John look really really good in comparison.
dailymail said their source of the ’45 calls made’ was from CNN
A lot of other mainstream sources said 39, but CNN prob dug up more info
I would think your kind would trust CNN?
first and last time i reply to you. I have a rule about replying to total morons. cheers 😉
I’ll see if i can dig up the cnn article link
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/27/us/parkland-shooter-cruz-sheriff-calls-invs/index.html
HA! Even you referred to the Daily Mail as tabloidish. Yet I’m the total moron. Logic clearly escapes you. And comparing me to John… REALLY? It appears I’ve touched a nerve. Good, I’m laughing at you.
your above statement proves the point… like I said, you’re worse than John– you’re a petulant child.
😉
So it’s ok for the military to have weapons, that we can’t have because were non military what the hell. Is all that about why don’t you try telling that to ever evil form of government who killed there citizens wholesale, see how well it worked out for them to resist a government with weapons that their own has and they don’t. You anti gunners trust your government way to much, are founding fathers set up a government that would keep them in check for that specific reason, or else we are nothing more then salves to any evil government out there. You anti gunners should research the journals of the victims of the Jews and such that Hitler murderd and see how well gun confiscation worked out for them. You anti gunners think that just one more law will help and then another, and then another till it’s illegal to own a firearm. And then again ask the communist victims of Stalin and see how well gun confiscation worked out for the Russians as well as the people of the genicide in Cambodia how well it worked out. Better yet why not ask the Christians that were murderd by the Muslims in Armenia in the early 1900.
Gun control never stops with just one little law, it is always a slippery slope all the way to the bottom.
Only the MSM and other uninformed liberals believe the AR15 is a military assault weapon, the military does not agree. The definition of an “assault rifle” is “Assault rifles are short, compact, select-fire (i.e. both semiautomatic
and full-automatic) weapons that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between
submachinegun and rifle cartridges.
Selective fire is defined as a weapon, which at the user’s selection, can fire semi-automatic or fullautomatic
fire. Semi-automtic is defined as a weapon designed to fire each time the trigger is
pulled. Full automatic is defined as a weapon which will fire continuously as long as the trigger is
pulled. AR15s can not fire fully automatic. You sheep are scared of plastic trim !
wow
And your a military expert are you? You sound like the teacher from Charlie Brown, you can’t get over the idea of people calling an AR-15 a assault rifle. We keep telling you we aren’t calling it an assault rifle, but you keep bringing up the same old come back. It must really suck to be you with your tiny little brain.
Well it’s not my fault that they are wrong, and yes I am an expert.. But reality can’t exist in the mind of a liberal .The MILITARY definition of an “assault rifle” is “Assault rifles are short, compact, select-fire (i.e. both semiautomatic
and full-automatic) weapons that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between
submachinegun and rifle cartridges.
Selective fire is defined as a weapon, which at the user’s selection, can fire semi-automatic or fullautomatic
fire. Semi-automtic is defined as a weapon designed to fire each time the trigger is
pulled. Full automatic is defined as a weapon which will fire continuously as long as the trigger is
pulled. AR15s can not fire fully automatic therefore are NOT ASSAULT WEAPONS..
Once again you are fixated on the assault weapon name. I AM NOT CALLING IT AN ASSAULT WEAPON YOU IDIOT. BTW google search doesn’t make you an expert, but the medals pinned to my chest by my commanding officer does make me an expert marksman with an pistol and a M-16 rifle. Pretty sure I tore down and put that gun together more times than you and like I said in another comment the AR-15 which I do own is the same as the M-16 minus the full/semi auto switch. Maybe your Wal-mart bought gun is different and made of plastic, but my Colt AR-15 is not made of plastic. Also stop using the “….” just so you can sound like Trump on his twitter account, it only makes you look like an idiot even more in your stupid childish post.
lol
read the article moron !
So many sheeple….
The comments are a good example of why the kids have to lead the charge. Your guns will be limited. It’s only a matter of time. You can troll the news online as much as you want but it doesn’t change a thing.
Why are we constantly subjected to ignorant people telling us what the Founding Fathers intended….when the Founding Fathers told us what they intended, and why, in their essays and arguments for ratification of the Constitution? It was required reading in your American History classes, but few seem to have completed the assignments. Much easier to just fabricate things to suit your personal beliefs. Sure, the language was a little flowery then, but at least there was no wholesale slaughter of the English language with phrases like “should of ran”–which we see daily here.
To recap, the whole argument regarding ratification of the Constitution was whether the states were all to act independently, or should form a strong central government. The Constitution itself is the document by which We the People, having duly voted, established a strong central government.
In Federalist 23-29, Alexander Hamilton (writing under the pen name Publius) laid out the arguments for a strong central government providing for the common defense.
He argued that the young nation was surrounded then, as now, by potential enemies in all directions. He pointed out that it was in the general interest to form a national defense so that, for instance, New York did not bear the full responsibility of repelling the British, Pennsylvania of repelling the French, and Georgia of repelling Spain.
That meant that a central power needed the authority to maintain a standing Army, or a “well regulated militia” (that pesky little phrase that would appear again several years later in the 2nd Amendment.) Now, this rightfully raised the question of how the people were to be protected from a despot using the standing Army or well regulated militia against them. And the answer provided by the Constitution is to place the DECISION about when to form and/or deploy it in the hands of the legislative branch (Congress) rather than with the executive (President). As for that “well regulated militia”, he lays that out in Federalist 29 when he points out that it requires unity, organization and training under the authority and discipline of the Congress elected by the people of the States.
So, according to the actual, oft published, but seldom read writings of the Founding Fathers for whom so many of you claim to speak, “well regulated militia” properly describes a standing military formed, trained, and employed under authority and discipline of our duly elected Congress. It could also describe a coalition of well and properly trained militias from each state, if unified and employed under the discipline and authority of Congress. It does NOT describe millions of autonomous individuals, armed to the teeth, claiming self righteously to protect us all from “gub’mint”. It also does not mean that the President can commence military action by executive order. The Constitution specifically places that power with the Congress, and we should rightfully insist that Congress reclaim that power. This is true whether your party’s guy or the opposing party’s gal sits in the executive chair.
Finally, the Constitution was created as a living thing, capable of being changed but only after careful consideration, deliberation, and ratification. It’s quite amusing to hear people claim that the Second Amendment is an inviolable, unchangeable part of our founding Constitution….when by definition, the Second AMENDMENT was itself a change to the Constitution.
In other words, you fully trust big brother gov’t and support a full and total gun grab. Are you maybe just a little naive about how corrupt “our” gov’t can actually be? Congress: fully corrupted and owned by special interests and agendas.
I realize gun violence is a huge problem in this country, but maybe you should study your history a little better and find out why creating a disarmed and helpless populace is a bad idea. It puts us totally at the mercy of our rulers. You’re naive if you think history can’t repeat itself. Human nature has not changed over the centuries of massive wars. You’re naive if you think that the US is immune from tyranny. I’d say you’re a fool even.
No, I didn’t say that with my words or any other words. You just decided to attribute an agenda to me in order to counter with your own. As for studying history and/or politics a little better….. That’s what my degrees are in and I have never stopped studying it. It would actually be a lot easier if I could just announce that I already have all the answers, but I don’t.
I’d be happy to discuss history, with actual historical references. It’s a little more credible than leaping to conclusions about somebody else’s agenda just so you can argue with it.
your argument came across as very ‘anti-gun-ownership’. I’m not sure you stated it directly, but that’s how it read.
I own guns and have a concealed carry permit. But rational discussion on the topic is long overdue.
An actual independent, you sound like a frigging communist. I know that I may not be-the most flowery worded guy but, but you sound like a stark raving European socialist and I am offended how you act like your a constitutional scholar with all your fancy words. But I am … off how you call the constitution is a living and breathing document is crap.
Ed. ellipsis
Interesting conclusions you jumped to, regarding my agenda. I didn’t even state an agenda, because I have very mixed feelings on gun control. It’s complicated. I do have strong feelings about people claiming to speak for the Founding Fathers while ignoring or dismissing what they actually said. And you’re actually saying that Alexander Hamilton sounds like a friggin’ communist.
The Constitution even includes a set of instructions for tweaking it when necessary. That’s how the Bill of Rights, including the Second Amendment got there. That’s why women can vote now, and why nobody is 3/5 of a person any more, and why there’s a stated right to free speech and protection from unreasonable search and seizure. All sorts of things have changed, and they’ll continue to do so. The Founders knew they couldn’t get it all correct on the first try, and that well considered adjustments would be necessary.
Guns are not the problem. Evil hearts are the problem.