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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

I am as well heartbroken to hear the devastating news of shooting in Maine. At this time, we need diversity to be our source of love and humane values. May the Maine residents find peace, calm, and understanding as the state finds, atleast, a long-lasting to the unexpected shootings across the country every year.

And lastly, should I congratulate Rs or should I poke holes

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Will, from Cal's avatar

Edwin, I know your heart is in the right place but when you say that "Guns don't kill people. It is the people that kill people," you are touching a nerve for most people reading here, because that is almost word-for-word one of the things that is frequently said by those people in America who oppose dealing with the problem of the violence. They say it to confuse and deflect, so that people will not demand the actions needed to solve the crisis. They say it as if they were a poison salesman who said "Do not blame my poison! It is not the poison that is the problem, but the person who puts the poison in the drinks!" Well, yes... but without your tool which serves no purpose but to hurt, that person would not be able to inflict the hurt at all!

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I think you are not a resident in the USA, so I figured you would not know that and maybe would like to know how it might sound unintentionally. I hope you don't think I am patronizing. Please keep posting.... I am glad you are here!

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

Yes, sure. And Iam sorry that I didn't intend to sound that way. I understood and I think that phrase has become a political construct for those who want to escape from gun regulations. I am happy that you corrected and differed with me with decorum and understanding. Cheers

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JDinTX's avatar

Hold those congratulations

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Happy Valley No More's avatar

My stand about тАШpeople killтАЩ is the same as yours, Will. People with guns kill. Killing each other may never stop, but perhaps the numbers wonтАЩt continue to be so immediately devastating.

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Marlo's avatar

Another example of why assault weapons should be banned. He was using an AR 15. And another reason to dismantle Citizens United which is allowing the funding akin to bribery. And another reason we have to find a way to remove corruptThomas & Alito from the Supreme Court who voted in favor of Citizens United.

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GJ Loft ME CA FL IL NE CT MI's avatar

According to one of the CNN reports last night the shooter has been "hearing voices" and other delusions. I don't have the link--sorry. At this point this may or may not be verified. As a Mainer, thanks to everyone for your kind remarks. We are in shock.

Maybe this isn't the time, but our Congressman Golden has not been very supportive of gun legislation in the past. His hometown is Lewiston, so maybe he will support common sense gun legislation in the future.

We need to provide better mental health support and facilities for everyone.

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Ally House (Oregon)'s avatar

Gary, I am sorry this national disease has touched your community. Please, be gentle with each other as you get past this point in time and begin the healing process. I live in a community that has seen a mass shooting, and just north of another one; those wounds are still fresh, even after 20 and 8 years.

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GJ Loft ME CA FL IL NE CT MI's avatar

Thanks for the kind words.

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Marlo's avatar

And WHY did even have a gun let alone an AR 15??

тАЬCard had reported hearing voices and had threatened to carry out a shooting at the military training base in Saco, Maine.тАЭ

https://www.klove.com/news/us-and-world/maine-shooting-suspect-had-been-in-mental-health-treatment-had-heard-voices--as-many-as-22-lives-lost--dozens-hurt-47091

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T L Mills's avatar

ЁЯШв As a Mainer, many thanks for all the concern and kindness in thoughts sent our way. With our lax gun regulations, I don't know how we never expected the national disease not to touch us at some point...

We shall persevere and heal--eventually, but this has touched us all with fear and trepidation. And perhaps this will spur some of the state-level Repubbie Reps to reconsider some restrictions on who can own firearms.

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JDinTX's avatar

I dream with you

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Jen Schaefer's avatar

And Roberts!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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July Corner's avatar

Less people would be killed by people if there were less or no guns.

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J L Graham's avatar

Or fewer people with guns. Any fool can kill a person with whatever is handy, a rock, a paring knife, but guns make it easy, and kill from a distance. What is weird in the US is how guns are fetishized, and violence or casual threats of violence celebrated. Violence and celebration of violence is to be found around the world, but there seems to be a somewhat unique American spin to it. My impression is that many Europeans regard America as gun obsessed.

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JDinTX's avatar

Why, because guns are the God of choice

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GJ Loft ME CA FL IL NE CT MI's avatar

Mainers love their guns. Almost everyone I know in Maine is a gunowner here.

A friend in Maine is in his late 70's and has an arsenal of guns. This wouldn't be noteworthy if his sister when she was 16 hadn't shot and killed their mother in a hunting accident. He is a wonderful person and admired by almost everyone, but this seems paradoxical.

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Carole Berkoff's avatar

Public Buses in Missoula now allow people to carry guns.

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J L Graham's avatar

And yet carrying any object that even vaguely resembles a gun, a toy gun, a bottle, a wallet, a TV remote, is considered justification for police to shoot a black man.

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Kathy Clark's avatar

We are heading to Montana in a few days for a week. I know I will be shocked at open carry.

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Carole Berkoff's avatar

We have snow but next week looks sunny but cold nights. I dont notice a lot of open carry but then I may have become accustomed to seeing it. I dont see it in grocery stores or other places I go but then the people I see are not the ones who insist on exercising their rights. Right now it is hunting season

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Kathy Clark's avatar

Coming from Alaska ....... but I store winter Sorrels in Helena......on our way to Arizona. No snow here yet but 19 this am.

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Christopher Colles's avatar

Sporadic is the wrong word

And it is the guns

This don't happen nowhere else

Ok, war zones

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Rickey Woody's avatar

To be more specific, access to the guns. Too easy to get as well as unlimited access to ammo and no requirements for training.

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Miselle's avatar

Edwin--when I read your words "unexpected shootings" my mind immediately thought, nope, not unexpected. :_(

I expect these things all the time and am grateful when a week goes by without any.

That is the US today.

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

"I expect these things all the time and am grateful when a week goes by without any."

It is so inhumane living in a space where you expect shootings to occur. I imagine the fears and anxieties that you face throughout the day. And I pray that may you all find a solution that will eradicate gun shootings.

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Miselle's avatar

Thank you, Edwin.

This has greatly impacted my retirement. I give careful thought to going to any public festivals or concerts, anywhere I could be a fish in the barrel. I've been told that you can't live your life in fear, and I agree. However, I've tried to do these things and become so anxious that I can't enjoy it.

Physically, while I'm in fairly good shape, I couldn't run for a very long stretch. (Think of the old joke of if encountered by a bear you need only to outrun your friend.) No joke, I tossed away any shoes that I would find difficult to run in. I wear sneakers everywhere.

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