Please note, my views have been widened a bit after reading some interesting posts here. I used to think that no one should have a gun - what for, if you don't hunt? And even hunters I would (still do) get angry with that hunt but don't make full use of the animal they kill. That's another topic - I'm just trying to clarify my current thoughts on guns.
Currently, I don't believe in a full gun ban. But neither do I believe everyone should get to have one. Our laws ARE ineffective and in need of revision. But what do you think of the following situation?
Article from
CNN:
Quote:
BATAVIA, Ohio (AP) -- A man who neighbors say was devoted to his meticulously kept lawn was charged with murder in the shooting of a 15-year-old boy who apparently walked across his yard.
Charles Martin called 911 on Sunday afternoon, saying calmly: "I just killed a kid."
Police, who released the call's contents, said Martin also told the dispatcher: "I've been harassed by him and his parents for five years. Today just blew it up."
Larry Mugrage, whose family lived next door, was shot in the chest with a shotgun. The high school freshman was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Martin, 66, allegedly told police he had several times had problems with neighbors walking on his lawn. He remained jailed without bond Monday. His jailers said no attorney was listed for him.
Neighbors said Martin lived alone quietly, often sitting in front of his one-story home with its neat lawn, well-trimmed shrubbery and flag pole with U.S. and Navy flags flying.
Joanne Ritchie, 46, said Mugrage was known as "a good kid." She said she always also considered Martin to be friendly.
Union Township is near Batavia, about 20 miles east of Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Quote:
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Martin, a retired Ford Motor Co. worker, reportedly told investigators the victim, his parents and other youths had been harassing him for five years.
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Union Township Police Lt. Scott Gaviglia said Martin had no criminal history and last called police in 2003.
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Other neighborhood kid's quote:
Quote:
Sean Fritts, 16, who also lived in the Clermont County community, agreed that Martin's lawn was his pride and joy.
"He was real protective over his yard and mowed it a lot, and sometimes even measured the grass," Fritts said.
Still, Fritts said he wasn't aware of any disputes involving Martin.
"I never had any problems with him, and I don't know that anyone else did," Fritts said.
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A few questions, without many answers in this rather brief article:
1. Mental illness, anyone? I think that's pretty clear that he's gone off the deep end. He was seen
measuring his lawn.
2. Gun control questions arise - let's infer that this guy was high-functioning. No mental illness history, or else he would not have been able to get the gun permit, correct? But clearly he's got issues that have developed into a serious problem. What do we do about these situations? How do we regulate idiots from being able to own guns? Do we require classes/training first?
I know that the real problems are with illegal gun owners - perpetrators of crimes are not concerned with permit laws. But it's these people, using their guns for crimes like this, that are clouding what might be a clear cut issue. While I wish for harsher penalties for perpetrating a crime with an illegal/unlicensed gun, it's things like this that make me not want regular people to own guns either.
What do you suggest, as REAL WORLD possibilities, as an answer to cutting down on crimes such as this?