Mass shooting at Jacksonville Landing

[MusicMan]

Whatever 'side' your on, I'm pretty sure we are the only country in the world where kindergarten children need "active shooter" training.
That's something to ponder.

[acme54321]

Whatever 'side' your on, I'm pretty sure we are the only country in the world where kindergarten children need "active shooter" training.
That's something to ponder.

I get your point, but there are a lot of counties whose 5 year olds have a lot bigger problems than an active shooter drill.

[JeffreyS]

Maryland has very strict gun laws.  Looks like gun laws don't work.  At least my husband and I can easily defend ourselves in Florida with minimal government interference if we are attacked for being who we are.

People say there are more jellyfish in the ocean now so I scooped a bucket of water out of it to see.  No jellyfish in the bucket they must be wrong about there being more of them. I am upset about the day is why I chose to point out the ignorance of your anecdotal post. My reasonable self knows you are convinced you made a good point and no evidence will dissuade you but hope springs eternal.

[Snaketoz]

I'm tired of people blaming the NRA.

Kerry, I don't put all the blame on the NRA, but they have to be blamed just for the constant propaganda they spew and the huge amounts of money they spend to overpower the will of most sane citizens in this country.  They spend huge amounts of money in a rigged system they helped develop to elect morons who most people would dismiss as weirdos without the NRA's help.  They blame the victims, they are against expanded background checks, they give very untrue info on the reasons why people should arm themselves, etc.  No other advanced country in the world has the gun death rates we have.  You are no safer with a gun in public places, in fact you and bystanders are more at risk with every additional gun.  I believe there are instances where it's reasonable for a well qualified, vetted, gun owner to carry a weapon.  BUT, this country is completely out of control.  The II amendment clearly states: "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".  When have you ever heard the NRA cite the complete amendment?  Why are they against background checks?  In Florida and most states I have to be licensed and insured to drive a car.  Does the 2nd amendment not say a WELL REGULATED militia?  We have all these NRA banner waving candidates running for office now telling us how they will fight terrorism and are endorsed by the NRA.  Terrorism killed 3,046 people in the U.S. between 2001 and 2014.  Between 2001 and 2013 in the U.S. 153,144 were killed in homicides using firearms.  Somebody has the wrong priorities.  I've changed my mind about guns, and I think a lot more people are too.  I hope it won't take the shooting death of a friend or loved one for people to admit our current gun laws are killing us.

[bill]

how many of the guns in Chicago were registered?

[vicupstate]

Maryland has very strict gun laws.  Looks like gun laws don't work.  At least my husband and I can easily defend ourselves in Florida with minimal government interference if we are attacked for being who we are.

You can't say gun laws don't work based on that,  because you can walk from anywhere in Maryland to a different state in about 30 minutes. There is no reason or logic for AK-15 and the like to be legal. The only reason they are legal is because the NRA  (gun manufacturers) has bought our government. Handguns are legal under the 2A and should remain so.  Very few people actually disagree with that previous statement.   

[ProjectMaximus]

I am glad to hear that it sounds like the folks from the Jax community are gonna be ok.

Condolences to the families of the out-of-town victims who were shot to death. Senseless and tragic. And wishing a speedy recovery to those who were injured.

On the bright side, I've never seen such glowing descriptions of the Landing in the media coverage I've read. It's been called a Jacksonville Hot Spot, a nightlife district, and a major destination with dozens of popular bars and restaurants.

[jaxnyc79]

I am glad to hear that it sounds like the folks from the Jax community are gonna be ok.

Condolences to the families of the out-of-town victims who were shot to death. Senseless and tragic. And wishing a speedy recovery to those who were injured.

On the bright side, I've never seen such glowing descriptions of the Landing in the media coverage I've read. It's been called a Jacksonville Hot Spot, a nightlife district, and a major destination with dozens of popular bars and restaurants.

I wonder if this tragedy might be the spur to get Curry and Sleiman to sit down and put aside grievances and craft a future strategy for the Landing.  No, the shooting was not related to the tension and conflict and war of words between Curry and Sleiman, but given the Landing was the site of an act of hate and violence on Sunday, can anything be done to change the energy and aura surrounding the site?

[vicupstate]

^^ I was aware that it was a handgun used. I was merely saying that restrictions against such guns was not unconstitutional. Passing laws to make that so, would not eliminate gun violence but it would be a step in the right and logical direction.  The 2A has NOT been infringed upon. At all.  There is not now, nor has there ever been, a right in the constitution that had/has no limitation or restrictions. 

It is the purpose of the government to determine what those limitations and restrictions are, and they are not immutable for all time.       

[thelakelander]

On the bright side, I've never seen such glowing descriptions of the Landing in the media coverage I've read. It's been called a Jacksonville Hot Spot, a nightlife district, and a major destination with dozens of popular bars and restaurants.

Yes, whether people like Sleiman and the Landing or not, it is probably the single largest thing that represents the image of downtown Jacksonville to the outside world. It's about as iconic in Jax as it gets. So when visitors do see it in person, guess that they think about DT Jax in general (assuming their visit doesn't align with a special event or festival)?!

[Charles Hunter]

jax_hwy_engineer, if can I assume your screen name is somewhat biographical, do you favor getting the "government intrusion" and "nanny state" out of the engineering and construction professions?  Anyone with a straight-edge can hang out a shingle as a "Structures Engineer" and go about designing bridges?  Anyone with a shovel as a highway or bridge contractor?  There are legitimate reasons for the people, as the government, to enact regulations to protect the safety of the public.  The question is to rationally discuss 'how much' regulation is appropriate, to balance freedom with responsibility and safety.

[Kerry]

The mentally ill should not have access to a gun.  It would be nice to have a list of mental health patients that are deemed a public safety hazard as well as a list of people who are prescibed medications that would make them more likely to commit such mass shootings that could be included in a background check - but HIPPA laws would stop that cold in its tracks.

We can't even get the mentally ill off the streets - let alone keep them from getting gun.

[KenFSU]

I wonder if this tragedy might be the spur to get Curry and Sleiman to sit down and put aside grievances and craft a future strategy for the Landing. 

The more likely, more depressing alternative is that the shooting gets politicized by both sides. Sleiman's lawsuit against the city alleges that they fail to provide proper security, among other things, at the Landing. And Curry wants to tear down the Landing because he thinks its blighted. Hope I'm wrong, but I could see both sides using the shooting as justification that they are "right" about the Landing's problems.

[Wacca Pilatka]

^ Sadly, you're probably right.  Plenty of people on social media last night were using this as an argument to tear the Landing down and/or call downtown unsafe.

[Charles Hunter]

j_h_e, thanks for your reasoned response.  The NRA consistently opposes basic registration requirements (who owns which guns).  I am certain they would oppose requirements for showing competency in the safety and use of guns.  Since they bankroll enough legislators, at the state and federal levels, to prevent such laws from happening.  So, your point about legislators not doing what the voters want is correct.