Mass shooting at Charles University in Prague. ~
How could this happen? Doesn’t the Czech Republic have gun laws?
And why would a mass shooting be possible outside of the US?
And why would a mass shooting be possible outside of the US?
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ArishMell · 70-79, M
How and why this one could have happened, we've yet to know. Each case is individual.
Such incidents though are extremely rare outside the USA; excepting terrorist outrages that have clear and often openly stated, political or religious motives.
They have even happened in the UK, where guns are difficult to obtain and only a very small proportion of the population own any sort of licensed firearm, and then for definite agricultural or sporting purposes. There have been about 4 in 40+ years. (So a relatively high number, but even "only" one, is one too many, of course.) Tragically, the worst was the attack on Dunblane Primary School: 13 children and a staff member were killed.
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Today is an awful [i]terrorist[/i] anniversary: 35 years after the airliner en route from London to New York was blown up over Lockerbie, killing all on board and 12 on the ground.
Dr. Jim Swire, whose daughter was one those killed, has been quietly trying to get at the truth over the years, and interviewed on BBC Radio Four today explained he thinks the British Government officially let Libya be the scapegoat, to suit the USA.
Accusing the UK for "not having the guts" (his words) to stand up to Washington, he thinks the attack was Iranian, in revenge for the US mistakenly shooting down an Iranian airliner some years previously. Quite a few leading politicians of the time supported him, but he is honest enough to admit it may be many years yet before anyone really knows publicly.
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So-called "mass shootings" are different though, and when the murderer is killed or commits suicide at the time, his (usually his) motive will never be known unless he has left clear statements of intent.
Such incidents though are extremely rare outside the USA; excepting terrorist outrages that have clear and often openly stated, political or religious motives.
They have even happened in the UK, where guns are difficult to obtain and only a very small proportion of the population own any sort of licensed firearm, and then for definite agricultural or sporting purposes. There have been about 4 in 40+ years. (So a relatively high number, but even "only" one, is one too many, of course.) Tragically, the worst was the attack on Dunblane Primary School: 13 children and a staff member were killed.
++++++
Today is an awful [i]terrorist[/i] anniversary: 35 years after the airliner en route from London to New York was blown up over Lockerbie, killing all on board and 12 on the ground.
Dr. Jim Swire, whose daughter was one those killed, has been quietly trying to get at the truth over the years, and interviewed on BBC Radio Four today explained he thinks the British Government officially let Libya be the scapegoat, to suit the USA.
Accusing the UK for "not having the guts" (his words) to stand up to Washington, he thinks the attack was Iranian, in revenge for the US mistakenly shooting down an Iranian airliner some years previously. Quite a few leading politicians of the time supported him, but he is honest enough to admit it may be many years yet before anyone really knows publicly.
++++
So-called "mass shootings" are different though, and when the murderer is killed or commits suicide at the time, his (usually his) motive will never be known unless he has left clear statements of intent.
ninalanyon · 61-69, T
twiigss · M
I just know I heard about this while I'm working and thought to myself, I'm in the US, how does this affect me? Or the thought of, but I'm not in Prague. I think it was world News that I was hearing, still didn't find it relevant as I'm not in Prague.
MrBrownstone · 46-50, M
Why do murder laws not work?
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ArishMell · 70-79, M
@MrBrownstone I live in a country with two things already:
Firstly, gun laws. Strict ones on the types, sales and purchase, ownership and use of guns and ammunition. You won't wander into your local supermarket and find firearms 'twixt cornflakes and washing-powders.
Secondly, no general civilian need or wish to own guns, outside of genuine, licensed and controlled purposes. Those are sports shooting at artificial targets, and in certain seasons, controversially, game-birds bred for shooting; and [i]authorised [/i]agricultural / wildlife control. Also collecting antique guns no-one in their right minds would attempt to fire, but I think are normally disabled anyway. Allied to no general civilian need or wish to relax the laws. Even the Police Firearms Units are a very small proportion of the Police overall; and if they shoot anyone that is subject to close investigation.
It doesn't mean the criminal fraternity are entirely gun-free, buying from highly illegal dealers; but very few criminals go that far. Most murders between teenagers and young men, many over drug-dealing, are by stabbing though; and there are far too many of them.
Consequently, although shootings do occur, they are a tiny fraction of all crimes of violence here, and long may that be. Though we must never forget for example, poor little Olivia Pratt-Corbell's death by a cowardly drug-dealer, whose intended victim was another of his useless ilk who had tried to escape him by running randomly into a home that happened to be hers.
Shootings, not even "mass" or "terrorist" ones, don't create demands for guns as domestic implements. If anything any calls are for even stricter laws; but the consensus seems that on the whole the law is about right for the society it is trying to protect.
Occasionally, County Police Forces have weapons amnesties and these do drag in firearms, but most of the weapons seem to be knives, swords, knuckle-dusters and the like. Many are probably inherited: Great-Grandad's war "souvenirs", or once-licensed sporting guns the family have found and want rid of.*
....
As I typed I tried to think of any among the very many people I have known over my adult life, who ever owned a fully-working firearm, apart from farmers. I don't recall more than two; both work colleagues who went clay-pigeon shooting. Maybe one or two friends with air-guns in their youth; and more recently a third who had a few antique guns. He sometimes demonstrated one flintlock's action with some black powder, but as literally just a "flash in the pan"; nothing in the breech.
''''''''
*Reminding me of an unsettling experience years ago, helping friends sort through a big box of nuts, bolts, old door fittings and the like they'd been donated. Most was basically scrap metal but among it emerged a number of pistol rounds! Luckily one of the group was a Police Officer able to arrange safe, legal disposal of the ammunition.
Firstly, gun laws. Strict ones on the types, sales and purchase, ownership and use of guns and ammunition. You won't wander into your local supermarket and find firearms 'twixt cornflakes and washing-powders.
Secondly, no general civilian need or wish to own guns, outside of genuine, licensed and controlled purposes. Those are sports shooting at artificial targets, and in certain seasons, controversially, game-birds bred for shooting; and [i]authorised [/i]agricultural / wildlife control. Also collecting antique guns no-one in their right minds would attempt to fire, but I think are normally disabled anyway. Allied to no general civilian need or wish to relax the laws. Even the Police Firearms Units are a very small proportion of the Police overall; and if they shoot anyone that is subject to close investigation.
It doesn't mean the criminal fraternity are entirely gun-free, buying from highly illegal dealers; but very few criminals go that far. Most murders between teenagers and young men, many over drug-dealing, are by stabbing though; and there are far too many of them.
Consequently, although shootings do occur, they are a tiny fraction of all crimes of violence here, and long may that be. Though we must never forget for example, poor little Olivia Pratt-Corbell's death by a cowardly drug-dealer, whose intended victim was another of his useless ilk who had tried to escape him by running randomly into a home that happened to be hers.
Shootings, not even "mass" or "terrorist" ones, don't create demands for guns as domestic implements. If anything any calls are for even stricter laws; but the consensus seems that on the whole the law is about right for the society it is trying to protect.
Occasionally, County Police Forces have weapons amnesties and these do drag in firearms, but most of the weapons seem to be knives, swords, knuckle-dusters and the like. Many are probably inherited: Great-Grandad's war "souvenirs", or once-licensed sporting guns the family have found and want rid of.*
....
As I typed I tried to think of any among the very many people I have known over my adult life, who ever owned a fully-working firearm, apart from farmers. I don't recall more than two; both work colleagues who went clay-pigeon shooting. Maybe one or two friends with air-guns in their youth; and more recently a third who had a few antique guns. He sometimes demonstrated one flintlock's action with some black powder, but as literally just a "flash in the pan"; nothing in the breech.
''''''''
*Reminding me of an unsettling experience years ago, helping friends sort through a big box of nuts, bolts, old door fittings and the like they'd been donated. Most was basically scrap metal but among it emerged a number of pistol rounds! Luckily one of the group was a Police Officer able to arrange safe, legal disposal of the ammunition.
RedBaron · M
@ArishMell Because the US has a very different culture than England. Gun culture partly goes back to the frontier in the 1709s and 1800s; something that didn’t exist in England.
As justification for our separation from the Crown, Ben Franklin said it best:
We’ve spawned a new race here. Rougher, simpler, more violent, more enterprising, less refined. We’re a new nationality, we require a new nation.
As justification for our separation from the Crown, Ben Franklin said it best:
We’ve spawned a new race here. Rougher, simpler, more violent, more enterprising, less refined. We’re a new nationality, we require a new nation.
Ceinwyn · 26-30, F
It’s not a monthly event in Prague like it is in Twatsville, USA
MorbidCynic · F
It’s still significantly less common there lol