Topic : 10/12 Homecoming Shooting

Dear Dr. Phil,

I was disappointed that you avoided your guess question. Mr Buss was about to discuss one point that wasn’t talked about during your October 12 shows.

I could feel that he was about to talk about gun control. It is so easy to get a gun in USA.

As you probably know in Canada we have been working on that issue for long time. You are listened by millions on people every day. It would have been great if you had spoken for firearms control. I am sure it would be a success.  So many studies show that firearms violence is declining with stricter controls on firearms.

Since 1989, firearm deaths have declined from 1,367 to 1,037 in 1997 the lowest number and rate in 28 years and the number of firearms homicide remains lower than the average of 200 per year during the 1990s. Criminology Professor Neil Boyd from Simon Fraser University has concluded that there is more evidence to support the efficacy of gun control legislation in reducing death and injury than there is for most other legislative interventions. But further improvements are possible.

The international experience with firearms regulation and comparative mortality statistics tend to reinforce the thesis that there is a link between access to firearms and firearm death in industrialized countries, although there are issues around uniform reporting and other variables that must be addressed.

For example, a review of 13 countries showed that there was a strong correlation between gun ownership and both homicide with a gun and overall homicide rates. In an analysis of 14 countries, the correlation between gun ownership and gun suicide was also significant, as was the correlation of gun ownership with overall suicide rates. No evidence was found of a compensation process whereby other means were substituted with firearms. (Killias, M. "International Correlations between Gun Ownership and Rate of Homicide and Suicide." Canadian Medical Association Journal. 1993;148 (10): 1721-5) 

These measures are contained in Bill C-68,  proclaimed on December 5, 1995.

• possession permits which are periodically renewed for ALL gun owners
• a cost-effective system to register all guns
• a total ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines controls on the sale of ammunition
• tougher restrictions on handguns In addition it promotes:
• strict safe storage requirements
• education countering the romance of guns and the myth of arming for self-protection
• a ban on replica firearms
• measures to reduce the illegal importation of guns
• effective implementation of the law deterrence and prevention in the justice system

Regards,

Manon

A crisis management book was shown on the show today and I have to comment.  No one has really stopped to take a really good look at what is going on in childrens lives today. 

When they come to school we look at the test results to see if the teachers are qualified but when do we go to the homes to see if the child is being fed at night.  As a teacher, I hear and see things but being one person it is really hard to take on the lives of 20+ FAMILIES because remember I am the person who can't teach them well enough so they can pass a standardized test.

This crisis management plan is a necessary tool but as a teacher, I am the one who must deal with the child who says, "I cannot sleep at night because people are shooting in my neighborhood" and the child who comes to school 30 minutes after lunchtime hungry because mommy would not wake up.  I cannot become the person who identifies the shooters.  In many rural schools where intentions are good but money is short, the guidance counselor is now the testing coordinator.  What does testing have to do with helping children deal with their emotions?

So what can we do to identify shooters and stop the screaming? Reduce class sizes so we can attempt to build the self esteem of ALL the potential shooters.  Six students per adult (teacher and assistant) is enough.  I was fortunate enough to have a class of 12 and I felt very satisfied when those kids left.  We were able to create friendships among the students without even trying and we were able to teach.

One of the teachers who was shoot this week said their school started with small class sizes and now they have 30 to 40 students in some classes.  Is there any one who cannot see how a child could get lost in the confusion?

Wake up people!! Young adults are a direct reflection of the pain and rage that exists in the world, in society, in families....why is anyone surprised when a young adult with a short-sighted immature mind expresses such violence. It is a reflection of the turmoil and pain that exists within them. The US has failed young people. Failed to educate them, failed to keep them safe, failed to provide resources for them to thrive...And then we wonder why they are so angry.

These are children! Yet they are faced with enormous pressure. If adult violence and depression is at an all time high, doesnt it stand to reason that youth violence would reflect that? Stop asking why (it aint rocket science!) and start addressing the who, what , when, and how much.

Who and what needs to be in place in order for young people to have a REAL RESOURCES to turn to? This country can raise money to help anyone, anywhere in the world. Don't our own children deserve the same level of effort to keep them safe? 

My only question is why was the availability of firearms not part of the discussion on the show. It was mentioned but Dr Phil did not persue it further. Not to say it is the solution but what if guns were not as readily available how many of these shoutings would have taken place and how serious would they have been. Would as many have died?

Please do not get me wrong we have had these shootings in Canada as well. If you want a gun you can get one here, but maybe not being readily available as they seem to have been in these cases may have saved lives. We in Canada always go by the rule that if it happens in the USA because of our population being 10% of the US we should have 10 % of the crime (and other things) as do the Americans and it seems like a rule that works, however not in crimes with guns by average citizens. I think we have 10% of the deaths due to guns in the so called  criminal eliment but not in the cases like Dr Phil was discussing

Allow me to reply to you in this manner. You need to read a book by John Lott called More Guns.Less Crime.

There are more than 30 of our great united states who allow their citizens to have concealed weapons permits.

And you are wrong. There is no reason why an honest citizen shouldn't be able to buy any kind of gun he or she wants. A lot of people have their own land and like to shoot these guns for kicks. There is nothing wrong with that. If there were a law to prevent it, the "animals" would still get their hands on them.

Those of us who carry our guns with us do not live in fear. That is what the gun eliminates.

If you don't like guns or don't want one, that's fine. Just leave the rest of us the hell alone.

I have taught High school students in Maryland for 37 years and am now retired.  People need to listen to the teachers, pay attention to the teachers, give the teachers all the resources they can for reaching students and there need to be more resources available for all school systems.  We cannot do all, be all for these children but we certainly try!  We frequently spend more time with the children than their parents and could give lots of information on needs of many students we see day in and day out!!!  Why do these shootings happen IN SCHOOLS?   Is it an issue with someone in the school, something that happened in the school or just a place where the student feels comfortable and safe enough to act out whatever his issue, problem, etc is???   The teacher's and schools in general need to be able to do real, meaningful things that will help some of these social problems, family issues, bullying issues, etc before they become larger issues but so often our hands are tied by "rights" and fears of being sued by parents if their child is disciplined or treated any differently than any one else.  NOT EVERYONE IS THE SAME AND THE SAME THINGS DO NOT WORK ON EACH CHILD!  Yes, there are bad schools and there are bad schools who give us all a bad name and I am disgusted every time I hear about some teacher that does something to jeopardize a student's natural growth and development process and uses students for their own gratification.   THEY ARE YOUR STUDENTS!!  THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS, NOT YOUR CHILDREN, NOT YOUR BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND!!!  BE A PROFESSIONAL AND STOP GIVING US ALL A BAD NAME!!    If Virginia Tech had been able to do something for the student who went on the rampage last spring, perhaps it would have been discovered that he needed to be hospitalized or in some kind of inpatient treatment program.  Shoulda woulda coulda is hindsight=to 20/20! 

These are children.  Adults need to be the parents and the professionals and be allowed to be so!! Adults need to do all they can so that the children grow up with values, skills, coping mechanisms, decision making skills, etc are fully developed!!!  How can they do that when their parents are unable to do it???

Well, I am rambling now so best quit while I'm ahead.  I just hate all the violence but the schools have so many issues that they CAN'T deal with because of "rights" that they escalate so easily into huge problems or death!!!  Stop using the schools to balance the budgets all over this country if you want quality schools and education!!  Test scores are the first thing criticized!  Can students learn better in a group of say 15 or in a group of 40???  You do the math!   Debnmickey!

Im 22 years old and from Australia.

In my life the only gun that I have seen are the real old style that are used on farms. Other than that Ive never seen the ones that make regular appearences on some - well most, movies. I am always shocked to hear about the gun violence that is on the television about shoot outs, yes we have some in australia but the majority come from other countries.

My heart goes out to those who were in one way or another affect by any of the shootings that happen. My main concern is when children get ahold of them and use then.

In Australia we have gun laws which I believe are protecting us, yes we do get the occasional person whom is shot.

As usual futher education in preventing gun violence would help or heavier laws and punishments for those involved with them. Guns and violence in general is a zero tolerance and should not be praised in movies or in life as a way of protection or how to gain respect.

dr. phil

                                  I just wanted to say that i fill sorry for this town. and i hope that they can  heal it is hard when you lose young aduilt like that.          i live in colorado and i now about payne and how its hard to cope with because of calumbine. But just let them know that there is hope we healed they can too.