HOW THE USA CAN STOP MASS SHOOTINGS

I yesterday posted on the issue of mass shootings.  In the process of doing research, I saw the following:

“The single mass shooting (51 Muslims in two mosques) in New Zealand led to the immediate reform of the law (only SIX DAYS after the shooting) tightening it to ensure something like that never happens again. The US government chooses money over the lives of the American citizens.”  

Later in the month, 119 of the 120 members of their Parliament passed a permanent law banning most semiautomatic weapons.  The public had six months (until December 20) to relinquish semi-automatic weapons, for which the government would reimburse 95% of the original cost.  Gun registration will be next, and is expected to be passed.

Tweeted Bernie Sanders:

 Sanders

✔@BernieSanders

This is what real action to stop gun violence looks like. We must follow New Zealand's lead, take on the NRA and ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons in the United States. https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1108556902139596800 …

Keep in mind that Sanders has historically been against Federal gun control, and has been supported by the NRA.

So attitudes might be shifting.  But can the USA do what New Zealand did?  According to BBC News...NO!"

• New Zealand could do this because it is a parliamentary democracy controlled by one party.
• The U.S. Senate, even if controlled by Democrats, which is not the case today, allows filibusters.
• The National Rifle Association is a political force that can make or break politicians.
• The current Supreme Court will support the Second Amendment.
• There is a huge enthusiasm gap:  5 million NRA members are vocal and effective...the rest of the citizenry keep shifting from concern to apathy, depending on how close was the last shooting.

As business as usual won't work, what about something a lot more bizarre and Draconian?  Let me first send you to one of my Huffington Post articles of a decade ago.  That was Part One for a two-part posting.  HuffPo refused to publish THREE STRIKES AND YOU'RE DEAD as a solution to end crimes.  They said the public was not ready for something so ridiculously outlandish.  Yes, three convictions and you're terminated.  However, you can read Chapter One of SIMPLE SOLUTIONS FOR HUMANITY, or, better yet, just click on my 13June2009 posting here.

Like the above, don't take this scenario too seriously, for I'm just attempting to evoke outrage.  Perhaps an actual movie following this storyboard could eventually lead towards minimizing mass shootings.

My original thought was for a misguided, but well-meaning, group of citizens to organize a tour of a notorious jail, and, somehow, safely take control over that prison.  They place human suicide jackets on several death row prisoners, and alert officials and the general public that any attempt to neutralize them would only lead to triggering a few deaths.  Drones would be used to get weapons and bombs into the penitentiary.

Next, an announcement would be made that the U.S. Congress has exactly one week to pass a law outlawing all civilian weapons, which need to be turned in by the end of the year, with the same type of compensation provided by New Zealand.  Those who "only" use their rifles for hunting and similar activities would be allowed to keep their weapons, with the qualification that if any firearm is stolen and used to kill anyone, the owner would also be charged for the crime.  Criminals and stupid citizens who don't comply will be liable for the death penalty if they are ever caught.  No exceptions.

But what would be the motivation of Congress to do anything?  If no legislation is enacted, on Day 8, the prisoner next scheduled to be put to death anyway, would be fatally shot in public.  This would occur daily until this gun control law passes.  Let's say this ploy works, and no one is killed.  Couldn't Congress just reverse itself?  Well, no, because the Senate can filibuster, and Democrats would forever prevent the change from occurring.

Then I thought, heck, a few prisoners who probably deserve to die anyway would not be compelling.  So, what about an elementary school?  The story here introduces some serious moral consequences, so let me stop here.  But it could work.

-
Two dangerous ocean storms will strike the Orient from Taiwan to Japan:

Lekima is now called a Super Typhoon at Category 4, and will seriously impact Okinawa, Taiwan and China:

Krosa is now a Category 3 typhoon, and strengthening:

Southern Japan is already saturated, having survived Typhoon Francisco a few days ago.  The path of Krosa is surprisingly difficult to predict, for there are too many factors at play, including the effect of Super Typhoon Lekima.  Probably best to avoid Japan this weekend into early next week.

-