Subj : Re: Guns
To   : DALE SHIPP
From : Mike Powell
Date : Tue Apr 18 2023 17:11:00

>  MP> For example, both the kid who shot up the high school in Florida, and
>  MP> the kid who shot up the grocery in upstate NY, were either known to
>  MP> local law enforcement or the FBI.

> But, none of the people who knew of the "issues" did anything to stop
> the soon-to-be shooter.

Exactly!

>  MP> That last bit is not true.  In 2007, the Virgina Tech shooter used two
>  MP> pistols to kill 33 (including himself) and wound another 23.  There are
>  MP> not that many mass shooters who can claim such numbers.

> I recall the Virginia Tech shooting.  As I recall, the shooter was
> shooting from a concealed position in a tower.  It took some time to
> identify where the shots were coming from and to get someone up there.
> I also thought that he was using a rifle.  I would not have thought that
> he could have been so accurate using a pistol at that distance.

No, that is not the one.  At Virginia Tech, the shooter entered a dorm
building and, later, a classroom building, shooting persons in multiple
classrooms after securing the exits.  He used two pistols, and one was a .22.
I am not sure about the other one as it is/was available chambered for
multiple calibres.

> In each case, I stand by my statement, with the additional caveat of the
> amount of time taken.  An AR-15 can do a lot more carnage in a short
> time than a shooter with a pistol could do.

The instance you cited, the guy killed 35.  At Virginia Tech, the shooter
killed 33 in a similar amount of time.

Meanwhile, during our AR-15 ban, the Oklahoma City Bombing killed many more
than both of these shooters (168, and injured 680) in just a manner of
moments.

> Not immune, but it certainly seems from the reporting that they were
> greatly reduced.

> As the adage says, "don't let perfect get in the way of good".

Not really.  If you look at their history, that shooting incident was an
anomoly.  Most of the killings before and after did not use that kind of
weapon, if they even used a gun at all.  They do not appear to have reduced
their number of mass killings.  Per capita, if you look at a list, it
appears they likely average less than the USA does, but that was true
before and after the shooting.

The difference is probably cultural, and I would guess they do a much
better job with their mentally ill.  I work downtown in a small town.  I
take 2 15 minute breaks a day where I go out and walk.  I run into at least
one obviously mentally ill person a day... often one per walk.

If I worked in downtown Louisville, I doubt I'd leave the safety of my
building.


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