Comprehensive approach needed to prevent gun violence

I have heard it suggested to simply integrate and cross check existing data bases of arrest records and legal motions filed with new and existing gun background checks.

If someone has had their drivers license taken away due to criminal behavior or mental health issues, then it does make sense to reevaluate the same person regarding their ownership of a weapon.

When Congressman Thompson writes "we need a comprehensive approach that goes beyond just arming more people with more guns," one hopes he didn't mean to suggest that a good "comprehensive approach" could actually INCLUDE "arming more people with more guns." For if he thinks arming more people with more guns is even a remotely rational part of ANY solution to gun violence, this would be a good time for him to announce his retirement at the end of 2014.

Hopefully, he will clarify his views in a future letter to the editor. It would be informative, for example, learn how a professed hunter and gun expert like the Congressman rationalizes the "sport" of shooting wildlife to death for pleasure with a professed desire to "reduce and prevent gun violence" in our culture.

Hunting is the only form of gun violence actually sanctioned by law, promoted with tax dollars and with its own state agency (the Fish and Wildlife Commission) dedicated to making sure that future generations of children grow up thinking it is perfectly fine -- if not "manly" -- to shoot living creatures to death, for "sport."

Hunters, along with the gun manufacturers, form the backbone of the NRA which has notoriously insisted that arming more people with more guns IS the solution. Though the Congressman is not one of the NRA's favorites, as a hunter he owes his constituents more detail on his ideas of a "comprehensive approach" to reducing our culture of gun violence, inasmuch as he has been designated to lead a congressional panel exploring solutions.

Will he suggest a ban on hunting? Probably not. According to the Interior Dept., a reported 13.7 million people, about 6 percent of the total US population over age 16, went hunting last year, and spent $34 billion. http://www.petersenshunting.com/2012/08/16/number-of-hunters-in-us-rises-for-first-time-in-decades/ In CA, of 289,00 hunting licenses in 2009, 24,000 went to kids.

Killing is big business in the US, taught early.

Bob...Some Oakland and SF High schools have armed police
on campuses to curb violence. And these are some of the
most Liberal cities in the Bay area. If it works for them
why not else where? Regarding all the hunting. SO WHAT !!
Don't you realize that those huntings licenses help to
preserve the wild life that you and other Lefties love
so much? Do you have any clue how hunting brings fathers
and sons (and daughters in some cases)closer together?
I know...as probably does Rep. Mike Thompson as well.

Congressman Thompson...If inanimate objects such as guns
are the cause of killing people (as Second Amendment
haters on the Left like to think) then surely, other
outside of one-self forces, can contribute to people
killing other people??? You mention, "addressing our culture’s glorification of violence" as needing to be addressed. You
must agree that if guns are the cause of people killing
people then how can you look the other way regarding the
garbage that Hollywood produces? Or, the crap that poses
as "music" in the music industry? Are you as a Democrat
actually ready to bite the hand that feeds the Democratic
Party?? I highly doubt it. You..as many Democratic politicians..
will just pay lip service to violence in Hollywood but will
not do anything. The Democrtic Party knows who, "butters
their bread" and will just continue to make guns the scape
goat. Business as usual.

Wayne - Thanks for commenting. Some random thoughts:
1. We agree: “culture” is part of the problem. Some movies should never be made, or seen by kids.
2. Unlike movies and scary childhood fairy-tales, hunting is not about make-believe. It’s about real killing -- actually shooting living creatures to death. Pretty sick thing to do, or to teach kids.
3. Guns were invented to kill lots of people and animals – at a distance, with minimal risk. A coward’s weapon? Perhaps, but they work well. They have NO other use. They make lousy door-stops.
4. Annual stats: 31,347 total gun deaths (18% of all US deaths). 11,493 homicides, 18,735 suicides (50% of suicides) and 100 fatally shot hunting in US & Canada. The rest were “accidental” – i.e., due to stupidity. What's the background check for stupidity? (Or sudden rage?)
5. Deaths while watching movies: Zero, unless a gun-nut shoots up the theater. E.G., Aurora.
6. Movies are 1st amendment protected free speech. Shooting off one’s mouth never killed anyone.
7. Want to bring kids & parents together in the outdoors? Take them to a preserve or zoo to see & teach respect for animals. Better yet - when you go hunting, leave the guns at home and take cameras. Kids will learn a whole lot more & have a better experience, minus killing. They also learn Dad is not a scary person who kills animals.
8. If hunters sincerely want to conserve wildlife for wildlife's sake, they can give what they now spend on hunting to wildlife organizations that do that. The ONLY reason hunters 'conserve' wildlife is to make sure there is enough to kill without extincting whole species.
9. Stripped of self-deluding excuses for hunting ('tradition,' learning about the outdoors, bonding with kids, etc.) killing is the essence of the hunting culture. That's not "Left" or "Right" that's just pretty sick.

You said a lot Bob and I will address your points. May take
me a second post to get it all in.

#1. You say you agree but in Point #5 & #6 it shows that you
"speak with forked tongue". You either think that violence
in films can effect a growing persons mind or you do not.

#2. Can you think of other ways to prepare a meal with
meat without killing it first? To me,it does not matter
what you think about hunting. You are in the minority
in the way you think. You are probably in the minority
in the Democrats think at large. I don't think I have ever
seen you protesting in front of Safeway regarding the dead
animal parts they are selling as food.

#3. Instead of looking at it as the "cowardly way" don't
you think it could be looked at as the "humane way" of
taking game? Unless, of course you want us to go back
to the day of sticks and stones? How about looking at it
this way regarding the invention of guns. Guns brought
about the independance of America from England. Guns
stopped Hideki Tojo's Japan and Adolf Hitlers Germany in
WWII. Guns save more people and prevent more crimes then
the other way around. These incidents are just not
reported the same way in the media when they are used
in self defense.

#4. Reagarding your stats. You failed to mention that a
high percentage of the total deaths are a result of
criminals being killed by someone using a gun in self
defense. Would you feel better if the total death count
being lowered if it meant innocent people being killed?
Here is a stat for you to ponder. The "wheel" kills
200K people in this country every year. That would be
bicycles, cars, skateboards, etc: Automobiles alone
kill 50K a year. I find it interesting that a device
designed to kill (the gun), kills far less people then
a device designed not to kill (the car). Bob, maybe
you are barking up the wrong tree when it comes to your
concern??

#5 & #6. Again, you speak out of both sides of your
mouth on this. You eiher agree that viewing violence
can effect a growing mind or you do not. You contradict
yourself in Point #5 & #6 vs. what you said in Point #1.

#7. I'm all for taking photos of wildlefe as well as
hunting and fishing. Are you going to tell that
impoverished family living in the Appalacian mountains
that they can't provide meat for their family because
you think it is wrong? Just because you say, "we don't
NEED" this or that is none of your business. Rememeber,
we have a bill of RIGHTS. Not just a bill of "NEEDS"
as some individual might think. I wonder if Mike
Thompsons kids think Daddy is scarry because he hunts???

#8. The problem is that wildlife orginizations are not
law enforcement agencies. That is why we have the CA.
Dept. of Fish & Game. Regarding your opinion why hunters
"conserve" wildlife. Your right! It is a renewable
source if managed well. You would rather see animals starve
and die horrible deaths from over population then see
hunters thin heards and make a more healthy population
in the process. I have a gross example of this practice
in Africa if you doubt me.

#9. Again, you have to kill it before you can grill it.
If you know of any other way then let me know. :-)