This is why gun control is important! And why Hillary is full of shit and out of touch!

[ej510]

Two hurt in shooting
, FROM STAFF REPORTS
Article Created: 04/13/2008 03:12:17 AM PDT


OAKLAND — An East Oakland shooting in broad daylight Saturday afternoon left two adults hospitalized in serious but stable condition, police said.
A man and woman were shot about 11 a.m. while standing in the street in the 2300 block of 90th Avenue, Sgt. Barry Hofmann said. He added that he could not provide further details because police were still investigating.

A TV news team was nearby when the victims were gunned down. A reporter and cameraman were about two blocks away at the scene of a blaze that erupted earlier on 90th Avenue.

A neighbor said gunfire was common but not an ev eryday event in the area. "You never know what you're going to get," the neighbor said.

The 15 most dangerous cities.

1. Detroit, MI (884,462)
2. St. Louis, MO (346,879)
3. Flint, MI (118,256)
4. Oakland, CA (398,834)
5. Camben, NJ (80,071)
6. Birmingham, AL (233,577)
7. North Charleston, SC (87,655)
8. Memphis, TN (680,828)
9. Richmond, CA (103,106)
10. Cleveland, OH (452,759)
11. Orlando, FL (216,819)
12. Baltimore, MD (637,556)
13. Little Rock, AR (186,670)
14. Compton, CA (96,520)
15. Youngstown, OH (82,938)

This is wht happens in innercities everyday. This is what happens when people have no hope.

[MercutioATC]

1. And how does that relate to gun control?

...and, actually, "gun control" is a gross oversimplication. To some, it means banning all guns. To some, it means just enforcing existing legislation. To some, it means hitting what you're aiming at.

What type of "gun control" are you advocating...specifically?

[ej510]

4. Getting gun shops out of innercities there are tons gun shops in innercities.......

and high murder rates I sear someone gets either in Oakland or San Francisco every night.

[MercutioATC]

13. Those "gun shops in inner cities" are legal establishments...

...and they're NOT where people who commit crimes get their guns.

An inner city gun shop follows the same rules and enforces the same restrictions as a wealthy suburban gun shop. Those rules are determined by both the federal and state governments and all have some sort of "check" process, at least for handguns.


That said, guns aren't the issue...crime is. If you want to solve the gun crime issue, you have to solve the crime issue. That starts with better education and job opportunities. People who feel empowered commit fewer crimes. People who have something to lose commit fewer crimes. The reason that gun crime is lower in affluent suburbs than in inner cities has nothing to do with the availability of guns...it's the availability of opportunity.

I'll get off of my soapbox now. I understand that there are some who have a real problem with guns. I can both respect their personal feelings and try to present an argument that a broader perspective is needed if any difference is going to be made.

[keep_it_real]

7. Instead of voting for the candidate that offers an economic solution

That would raise the standard of living of the community the voters get side-tacked into voting for a candidate that is for a gun issue but does not have a economic solution that will make life economically better and lift the standard of living for the community.

[MercutioATC]

17. I know. I'm just trying to illustrate that somebody can have both.

Guns are only a wedge issue because we've been told they have to be. It's perfectly compatible to support both gun rights and economic issues.

[bbinacan]

14. Good point.

I'd like to know if the guns used were legally purchased. I doubt they were.

[noel711]

2. But are they bitter...?

[villager]

3. but according to the gun cultists, the prevalence of guns has *no bearing* on gun crimes!

It's all a giant, massive coincidence!

[ej510]

5. Shootings in the bay area are up!

From SF to Oak to San Jose. Don't even bother going into North Richmond. Gun control is needed.

[sergeiAK]

10. Doesn't CA have strict gun control already? -nt

[keep_it_real]

9. What you're describing is a "wedge issue" that Obama

Was talking about.

[AZ Criminal JD]

6. I thought Leader Obama said he favored the 2nd Amendment in Penn.

Didn't you get the message?

[ej510]

8. Come to Oakland for about a wk. I guarantee you that you will......

change your mind on gun rights.

[keep_it_real]

12. Maybe everybody in Oakland should own a gun?

[ej510]

18. Maybe you do not know what you are talking about.

Kids as young as 13 are killing people.

[AZ Criminal JD]

19. I grew up on the south side of Chicago and now live in Birmingham.

I will be happy to go to Oakland and in fact I have been there a couple times since I have a friend who lives there.

[keep_it_real]

11. Indeed he does but the 2nd Amendment can be used as a "wedge issue"

That distracts from the real issue of money, jobs and economic issues and solution.

[AZ Criminal JD]

20. No the 2nd amendment is also a "real issue"

But does he support gun rights or not? Which is it? Or does it depend on where he is at?

[knixphan]

15. Let's deal with gun control AFTER we get Obama into office.

It's not an election issue.

[bbinacan]

16. Do you happen to have a link

for those stats? Thanks in advance.

[MojoMojoMojo]

21. Obama took the position to ban manufacture sale and carry of handguns in the 90's

He cant win the GE because of that stand.

[nemo137]

22. Man, I've said it before and I'll say it again.

The problem with talking gun control is that there are two gun cultures in the country. One is the one you highlighted - urban, violent, takes "collateral damage." It's (at least partially) to blame on the ready availability of guns. Then you have the rural gun culture, where the gun is both a tool for putting food on the table and a guarantee against tyranny. Try to argue to the first group that guns are a tool or a check on government power, and the image of their neighbor or cousin airbrushed on a t-shirt springs to mind, and they shut you out. You talk about gun control to the second group, they see jackbooted tyrants or remember when their family got through the Depression by hunting. I'm one guy, and I don't have a solution, but the sooner we realize that you have two massively different gun cultures to deal with whenever we talk about gun control, the sooner we'll be able to figure it out.