Will this be the breaking point for gun control?

[Tekken_Guy]

In the gun debate, no mass shooting venue can compare to a school for moving public opinion. It was a high school that first brought gun violence into the American consciousness (Columbine). It was an elementary school that shaped the modern day gun control movement (Sandy Hook). Will it be a high school shooting that is the final nail in the coffin for the NRA?

[ProgressiveCanadian]

The NRA will continue to have influence over the GOP, this will not end until the people corrupted by gun lobbyists get voted out of office.

[The Dowager Mod]

If 20 dead children at Sandy Hook did not change anything, this certainly will not.

[darklordoftech]

If Columbine didn't change things and Sandy Hook didn't change things, why would this change things?

[Joey1996]

If Sandy Hook wasn't nothing will be. Someone can kill 100 people in a mass shooting and the most we'll get is thoughts and prayers.

[cvparty]

a more interesting question--what would it take? i honestly don't know the answer

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

a more interesting question--what would it take? i honestly don't know the answer

Democratic control of the federal government.

[junior chįmp]

a more interesting question--what would it take? i honestly don't know the answer

Democratic control of the federal government.

Democrats lack the political will and courage to take on this issue.

Gun control is alot like the Civil Rights issue....it's basically another gigantic problem the crusty Boomers will punt to future generations to deal with in the way Civil Rights was ignored for nearly a century and always deferred to some future generation to fix.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

a more interesting question--what would it take? i honestly don't know the answer

Blacks and hispanics buying guns

[publicunofficial]

Gun control will only happen when country clubs and lobbying firm offices are getting shot up instead of high schools.

[Tekken_Guy]

Sorry. I meant ordinary republican voters, not the lawmakers and the NRA bosses. I mean via Public Opinion polls.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Sorry. I meant ordinary republican voters, not the lawmakers and the NRA bosses. I mean via Public Opinion polls.

"ordinary republican voters" believe what they're told to believe - Trump is proof of that.

[Statilius the Epicurean]

Sorry. I meant ordinary republican voters, not the lawmakers and the NRA bosses. I mean via Public Opinion polls.

Lol. Ordinary republican voters are already vastly out of step with the GOP on gun control and it doesn't matter.  Republicans in congress block gun control measures like universal background checks that have 80-90%+ support from the public.

[Holy Unifying Centrist]

Jesus 0-26 in the poll

[ProgressiveCanadian]

Sorry. I meant ordinary republican voters, not the lawmakers and the NRA bosses. I mean via Public Opinion polls.

"ordinary republican voters" believe what they're told to believe - Trump is proof of that.

[Joey1996]

a more interesting question--what would it take? i honestly don't know the answer

Blacks and hispanics buying guns

[Virginiá]

Democrats lack the political will and courage to take on this issue.

Gun control is alot like the Civil Rights issue....it's basically another gigantic problem the crusty Boomers will punt to future generations to deal with in the way Civil Rights was ignored for nearly a century and always deferred to some future generation to fix.

They don't lack the courage. They lack the power to do something about it. That was just as true in 2012 as it is now. So long as Republicans have a say in any part of the process, they will say no. No doubt a lot of Democratic Congresspeople recognize the futility of this so long as Republicans control a branch/chamber of the federal govt/Congress.

[Pandaguineapig]

No, like with Sandy Hook it becomes clear that no actual proposed policies are going to do anything to prevent school shootings and the typical "outraged" people find a new shiny object after using dead children as props

[Virginiá]

No, like with Sandy Hook it becomes clear that no actual proposed policies are going to do anything to prevent school shootings and the typical "outraged" people find a new shiny object after using dead children as props

Oh come on. Let's be real here, Republicans don't care if gun control would actually help, hence things like the CDC research ban. Mass shootings like this are already priced into conservatives' views on the 2nd amendment. In that sense, it's like the CSA scheduling of marijuana - Schedule I, so proper research on it was very difficult if not impossible, as was intended. No one cared if it was actually harmful enough to be banned. They just wanted it banned, period. Likewise, Republicans don't care if some form of gun control would work. They don't want to restrict guns in any meaningful way, period.

[Pandaguineapig]

No, like with Sandy Hook it becomes clear that no actual proposed policies are going to do anything to prevent school shootings and the typical "outraged" people find a new shiny object after using dead children as props

Oh come on. Let's be real here, Republicans don't care if gun control would actually help, hence things like the CDC research ban. Mass shootings like this are already priced into conservatives' views on the 2nd amendment. In that sense, it's like the CSA scheduling of marijuana - Schedule I, so proper research on it was very difficult if not impossible, as was intended. No one cared if it was actually harmful enough to be banned. They just wanted it banned, period. Likewise, Republicans don't care if some form of gun control would work. They don't want to restrict guns in any meaningful way, period.

If you guys actually cared about gun violence you would focus on hand guns and gang violence rather than mass shootings(which make up a small percentage of murders) major media companies would also stop turning school shooters into cultural icons for ratings ( Many of these shooters are copy-cats often inspired by extreme media saturation of columbine or sandy hook)

[SteveRogers]

No, like with Sandy Hook it becomes clear that no actual proposed policies are going to do anything to prevent school shootings and the typical "outraged" people find a new shiny object after using dead children as props

Says you. How about we try something, anything, and see? Should we really be leaving any stone unturned when it comes to trying to prevent these shootings from happening?

[Dr. Arch]

No, like with Sandy Hook it becomes clear that no actual proposed policies are going to do anything to prevent school shootings and the typical "outraged" people find a new shiny object after using dead children as props

Have fun with it then. It's almost like people like you don't care at all (maybe you don't?). Let's do SOMETHING. PLEASE. For Pete's sake!

[fluffypanther19]

lmao...no

[The Mikado]

I do think that there's already a sea change of public opinion and energy on this issue. I've seen far more condemnation of the NRA by public figures than I could've ever imagined 15 or even 5 years ago, and the sheer revulsion and contempt of people towards the thoughts and prayers cliche increases every time. Are we at a tipping point yet? Probably not, but we are headed that direction.

Like usual when this happens, the politicians will be 10-15 years behind the public, but I wouldn't be surprised if the gun debate in the 2030s is FAR more hostile to the NRA's priority than the debate today is.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Scalise was shot and almost killed by a nutso, and he still doesn't dare to say anything that might displease the NRA.