Canada announces immediate ban on "military-grade" assault weapons

[billh58]

The Canadian government on Friday announced an immediate ban on about 1,500 models of "military-grade" assault weapons. The ban comes less than two weeks after the deadliest mass shooting in the country's history, in which a gunman used weapons that will now be outlawed.

"These weapons were designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a press conference. "There is no use and no place for such weapons in Canada."

He said Canadians "need more than thoughts and prayers."

The ban immediately stops the sale and import of the weapons, as well as all transport unless they are being deactivated or disposed. The government will allow a two-year "amnesty period" for Canadians who already own these weapons to comply with the ban. Trudeau said there will be legislation in the coming months to give "fair compensation" in a buyback program.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/canada-assaault-weapons-ban-military-grade/

Trudeau went on to say, "You don't need an AR-15 to bring down a deer." Truer words were never spoken, and nobody's "rights" were infringed with this ban on obscene weapons designed for one purpose only: to kill.

[abqtommy]

1. That's good as far as it goes but how about providing more money for mental health

screening and treatment? That would really help a LOT!

[billh58]

2. Experts say there's little connection between mental health and gun violence

President Trump and Republican lawmakers spent Thursday pointing to a void in the nation's mental health as a cause for Wednesday's school massacre, killing 17. But those who study mental disorders say they do not lead to mass shootings.

"Most Americans with mental illness are not violent," said Alex Azar, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control. "In fact, they're more likely to be victims of crimes themselves," he said.

Only three percent of people with serious mental illnesses contribute to violent crime, according to a 2016 report by the American Psychiatric Association. It found each year, mass shootings by the mentally ill make up less than one percent of all gun-related homicides.

"It's not this simple issue," said Dr. Jonathan Metzl of Vanderbilt University. He has studied the mass shooter mentality, citing shooters have many motivations. He insists making the country's latest mass shooting a mental health issue is misguided.

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/experts-say-theres-little-connection-between-mental-health-and-gun-violence/65-519511555

The good doctor went on to say: "To reduce the problem just to mental illness really does a disservice to our attempts to understand what happened."

Please don't bring this old, tired right-wing "guns for everyone" talking point to this Group. The "mental health" distraction is just another way of saying, "guns don't kill people, people kill people," which is utter bullshit. People with guns kill people.

[abqtommy]

3. I'll agree with this statement: "Most Americans with mental illness are not violent,"

said Alex Azar. However, it only takes one deranged gunman to ruin your day and mine. It's like
saying that "Most Americans do not support tRUMP." Get it?

[billh58]

4. Make asinine right-wing arguments

and get the boot. Get it?