It’s good to see that Philadelphia’s permit requirements to carry concealed firearms are working.
Also, a word of advice: avoid giving random strangers parenting lectures, or threatening to report them, in the absence of clear child endangerment.
It’s just not worth getting ambushed by thugs wielding AK-47s.
Reflections of a Rational Republican 
Also, a word of advice: avoid giving random strangers parenting lectures, or threatening to report them, in the absence of clear child endangerment.
I’m sure that inner city youth group is gainfully employed and earning honest man’s wages for an honest man’s labor. We clearly need to tax the able and willing to care for their obvious abuse at the hands of society.
If only taxes were higher, this problem could have been prevented…;-)
I disagree. Clearly this is a result of the deregulation during the Dubya reign.
Pennsylvania may be a “shall-issue” state, but somehow I doubt that the thugs in question bothered to apply for permits. Or acquire their weapons legally, for that matter.
Just another example of a horribly dysfunctional subculture within the United States, sadly.
I’m occasionally curious as to precisely what level of gun control would be necessary to prevent incidents of this nature. Controlling the legal sale of firearms, particularly in the assault rifle category, does offer some level of reduction to some kinds of gun violence; making it difficult for a troubled individual to get a weapon with a large magazine can mitigate the damage in the event that the worst comes to pass, after all.
But this?
I’m not sure. You would have to go considerably further, I expect, to the point where guns in general were sufficiently scarce as to make them precious assets for the criminal groups that could acquire them, and less likely to be used in random acts of violence. I doubt that gun control on that level would pass Constitutional muster if the attempt were made.
And then there remains the question of whether a crime would have happened in this incident whether there were guns available or not. Knives can kill quite effectively, after all.
Just depressing, really.
Plus, if the guy only had a knife he would have had to come in close, and someone probably would have died in this instance.
Re: “It’s good to see that Philadelphia’s permit requirements to carry concealed firearms are working.”
I’m curious. What are you thoughts on permits for concealed weapons and permitting?
I honestly don’t have a strong opinion either way. What I do know is that no amount of permitting or licensing requirements will deter criminals from acquiring weapons. That said, preventing people with criminal records or with mental health issues from acquiring weapons is a good thing. I just don’t know how to best implement a policy that would work well, without also harming law abiding citizens.
Do you realize that you had at least 4 people crazy enough to do this ? It’s not like the Norwegian gunman where you had one nut planning for months . Not even your typical terrorist cell killing for political reasons . 4 idiots did this on a whim to get revenge on a stranger . I don’t think even having a concealed weapon would have helped anyone on the bus .
Fortunately, the bus had multiple cameras to record these idiots, so they won’t be on the streets any much longer.
I wonder where they will trace those assault rifles back to. I wonder whether that woman will ever get another chance to spank her kid again . I wonder whether that guy will ever voice his displeasure with anyone in public again . This really is a free speech issue . I wonder whether any civil rights charges are pending . The victims were all black . Where is Rev. Al ? Where is Rev. Jesse ?
I’m curious about the assault rifle as well. Something tells me they will never be able to produce a bill of sale.
I guarantee the kids will now become wards of the state.
Not only did the guy express his displeasure with spanking, but also he threatened to report the woman to child protective services. Unfortunately, in today’s big brother society, some state government’s will actually take your children away. That is why whenever you fly, parents can never seem to control their kids. It’s not that they can’t. It’s because they cannot take effective action to discipline them in public without risk of losing them. To be honest, given that no one was harmed, i almost think the scare this guy got was well-deserved. People should be disciplining their children more, not less.
I doubt Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton are stupid enough to wade into this one. I certainly hope they prove me wrong.
“I doubt Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton are stupid enough to wade into this one. I certainly hope they prove me wrong.”
I agree! There hasn’t been enough of blaming this one on White Male Privilege yet.
I do not have a problem with the reverends coming to the aid of their own ethnic group. Just that they only show up when they can exploit a racial problem . Black on Black crime is just as serious as any other , but Jackson and Sharpton do not help the victims in a case like this . If you are a victim, you are a victim .
Good point.
The assailants were African-American as were many of the victims. Therefore, there is no chance the reverends show up. Unless, of course, the system convicts the assailants. In that case, the reverends may indeed appear.