Father of man killed in mall shooting says guns not the problem
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WEST LINN, Ore. – The father of the man shot and killed last month at Clackamas Town Center said Thursday he wants education instead of gun bans.
Ron Forsyth’s son, Steve, was killed in December at the mall when a gunman opened fire while working at his coaster business.
Ron Forsyth said the man who shot his son used a stolen gun and doesn’t think gun bans would keep people from using stolen weapons.
For Forsyth, the national debate on gun control is difficult, and even after his son’s death, he has no hatred for guns.
"Blaming a weapon for a death is like blaming a pencil for a misspelled word," he said at his son's dream home for his wife and two children, which is now for sale. "It's a tool, that's all. And as such, we should learn how to use it correctly."
Forsyth said he would like to see less violence on TV and in the movies as well as less killing in video games. He said education for kids is needed to make them less callous about life and death and to counteract the simulated computer killing kids do for entertainment.
"They sit at a console, they put on weight, they go diabetes early, and they kill things. And to me, that's sad," he said.
Forsyth would also like to see better background check information and protection for doctors who declare someone to be too mentally unstable to own a gun. Additionally, he said he'd like to see better storage for guns, locked boxes or safes so that people can access them in times of need but thieves can’t get into them.
Inside his son's home Thursday, Forsyth hoped for change, thought of his son's sense of humor, his loyalty and his life.
"He was a great kid. I'm very proud of him," he said. "I miss him. I miss him a lot."
Forsyth said a friend will try to keep his son's coaster business going to keep his entrepreneurial ideas alive.
If our federal government is not going to enforce the boarders and illegal immigration. Why should we the people and law enforcement enforce gun control?
Of course its a tool. But you dont use a sledge hammer to pound in a tack. Its an inappropriate tool. And as banning assault type weapons isnt the total answer, its part of it, along with education, better treatments and education about mental illness, more solid background checks, and record keeping, a criminal justice system revamp to keep real criminals in jail, elimination of lobbying in our government, reducing the fascination our culture has surrounding violence. All sorts of things play into this, but the guns one uses as tools on the farm, in the country and for personal protection and hunting do not need to include assault type weapons, nor do they need huge capacity magazines. Use some common sense.
I'm sorry for this man's loss at yet another gunman who shouldn't have been armed. Â No one should lose a child (adult or otherwise) to violence. Â But I respectfully disagree with him about banning assault rifles. Â If the gunman's friend didn't have an assault rifle for the gunman to steal, the gunman's killing power would have been greatly reduced (thankfully the gun had jammed, otherwise the number of dead and injured would have been higher).
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But I agree with him regarding the need for background checks, mental health screening, and safe storage of guns.
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As for the blame on violent TV and video games, I agree with him that this is an issue that we can do better with, but it isn't the cause of gun violence. Â Other countries around the world (including Canada) have the same games and watch the same shows without all the mass murders.
 @Baldr Odinson just remember the guy with the concealed weapons permit who RAN to the scene to help but didn't take the shot because he felt it wasn't secure.Â
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Those are the guys we need more of, Concealed weapons holders.
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More guns not less.Â
 @Baldr Odinson And if his friend instead owned a 357 or of sorts, do you believe this would not have taken place? You TRY to make yourself sound smart and educated, but really you just spew your ignorance and closed mind!
 @Baldr Odinson BLAH BLAH BLAH.....
Can you imagine this one man has more since than the whole White House Administration. I'm sorry for your loss sir. Why is it we have elected these dumb a** individuals to any office can't see the real problem. I'm not afraid to say I'm not highly educated, but I tell you I know what the problems are with the shootings. Criminals need to be kept in jail and HARSH punishment when they use a gun or knife in crimes. Mental case need to be monitored and no guns in household of these people. We need harsh punishment for Drug use and transport to sell. I know all of this cost money, but if our county is clean of all of this crap we wouldn't mind paying a little extra.
wow you mean mental health and education would be more helpful than banning one type of gun?who would have thought, I mean besides some one with a brain and common sense.
and my condolences to Mr Forsyth
Wisdom from an elder. Â If you want to know what is wrong, these types of guys are the go-to's. Â They have alot of rear view mirror to reflect in.Â