New St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson: 'More Guns Is Never The Answer'

merryland

I am so impressed by new Chief Sam Dotson's calm, experienced, small-but-specific, gun use adaptation ideas. His seems such a rational approach. We know we must do something, for heaven's sake. Are the nay-sayers afraid of a "slippery slope" about bearing arms?

There is such a huge difference between our right to bear arms and ASSAULT RIFLES.... I'm trying to listen, but I don't get it. Please help our poor country, which is currently responsible for 85% of all gun deaths in the world -- I 'm not exaggerating, and I'm not a screaming liberal.

America can do better than this. Thank you, Chief Dotson. Please let me/us know if we can help to bring about a new way of thinking about these things. (I swear I'm not a "Liberal"!!!)

Thank you very much, sir. -- Marilyn Maguire, Kirkwood

jcollector16

@merryland there is no difference between the right to bear arms and the right to bear semi automatic rifles. Saying that is like saying you can't own a certain type of car because it has a spoiler on it. Don't buy into the term " assault weapon" it is a term used to create fear. The statement and belief that " we must do something" is an idea that leads to passing of legislations that take away freedoms and do not actually address what the real problem is. Also your statistic implies that private gun ownership causes this country to be responsible for 85% of world deaths, which is completely inaccurate and I urge you to actually research real data including the fact that within the u.s. more violent crime is committed with knives and other objects than guns, as well as the fact that rifles account for only about 1% of gun crime.

jcollector16

@merryland there is no difference between our right to bear arms and bearing rifles. Saying you can't have a military " styled" rifle is the same as saying you can't have a car because it has a spoiler on it. The argument that we " must do something" only promotes legislation that won't include any sort of logical discussion about what the real cause of the violence is.

b.vonbesser

I will be waiting for this pillar of virtue to announce that in keeping with his policy of guns = BAD, his entire department will be disposing of their guns and going about the city completely unarmed. I won't hold my breath. This "man" is a disgrace and an embarrassment.

davidccouper

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Brian Boyd

We have a fire department but I still keep a fire extinguisher at the ready.

Barry Bean

""I understand the Second Amendment, and I understand everyone's right, or their belief that they have a right to bear arms," he says. "It doesn't give them a right to use that weapon."" What?? I have the right to bear arms, but not to use them? Does that mean the 1st amendment guarantees me the right to hold opinions, but not express them? Perhaps I have the right to believe in God, but not the right to worship. Can someone please explain how the new cheif's logic works?

Bryan Carnes

less guns is not the answer either!

Barry Bean

By definition, the only time I would ever use a gun for self defense would be when there was no policeman available. Should I take the new Chief's comments to mean I'd be safer facing an armed criminal while I was unarmed and there were no police available to help? Could he explain how that works? FWIW, According to the USDOJ, Americans defend themselves with guns 2200 times each day. I bet those 2200 people feel a lot safer having successfuly avoided being victims.

Clyde Rhoads

"I understand the Second Amendment, and I understand everyone's right, or their belief that they have a right to bear arms,It doesn't give them a right to use that weapon." -Dotson By this, he would rather I be assaulted by a criminal than defend myself, my family or anyone else otherwise incapable of defending themselves? What if this was your family?

Chrystal Garcia

I agree. More guns is not the answer!

Timothy Casey

Then how about getting tough on illegal guns, you know, the ones that are used in the majority of gun-related crimes? How about dealing with Coronary Heart Disease, you know, the thing that kills 450,000 Americans annually. Maybe creating mentoring programs for troubled/neglected youth, you know, the kids who usually end up killing other kids. Nawwwww, we wouldn't want to address underlying problems in society, just restrict honest, tax paying citizens right to self-defense.... Pathetic

Joanna Franke Kleine

More guns = more gun deaths/violence. More gasoline = bigger fire. It's the SAME argument, and just common sense.

b.vonbesser

@Joanna Franke Kleine Except it is not. The areas in this country with the toughest gun control have the highest murder / violent crime rates.

Clyde Rhoads

Until I can comfortably carry an entire policeman in my pocket, I will carry their tool of defense. To keep law abiding citizens from carrying or using firearms in a lawful manner is rediculous.

Maria Sparks

I agree with him 100%! More guns are never the answer -- ever!

b.vonbesser

@Maria Sparks So if a couple of 200+ pound men break into your home at 2:00am with the intent to rape and kill you, you will simply accept it as your fate?

Lauren M Brace

The new police chief is already a huge improvement. Here's hoping he doesn't impede on the police on the streets ability to arrest criminals!

Ray Thomas

the more guns you take out of law abiding citizens hands the more you put into criminals hands

12judges

Ah yes...the classic good enough for me but not for thee line from a man who carries a gun, is surrounded by people carrying guns, and wouldn't ask or make himself or his officers give up their weapons if their lives depended on it because, of course, they do. Chief Dotson and his officers are not the first responders in a situation where my life and that of my family is in danger, I am. Chief Dotson or any other law enforcement official can't give me the slightest guarantee of safety, only my awareness, actions and preparation can do that. I have news for Chief Dotson, the 2nd Amendment most definitely gives me the right to own and use my weapons and to do so WITHOUT HIS APPROVAL. I am not going to rely on a false sense of security that the police can't provide so Chief Dotson and his officers can work in a world that doesn't exist.