Parents of boy killed in U.S. appeal for gun control

[Ketou]

So true. The japanese media are notorious at showing one sided stories.

What is with this necessity to always be the victim?

[American Oyaji]

It still shouldnt have happened.

[Ketou]

I don't think anyone is disagreeing with that AO

[kamome]

Many people don't know (because these facts never made the news here in Japan) that after knocking on the door and getting no response, the young victim climbed the fence leading the the back yard, and peered into the window of the house causing the wife inside to panic, and as a result she went screaming to her husband who in turn grabbed his gun and waited for the intruder to appear. When the man with the gun shouted "freeze", the boy continued to advance, and was then shot.

The story as I remember it from various newsreports is completely different and less sympathetic to the homeowners. First, Hattori never climbed over a backyard fence. He approached the house from the front, which is when the wife screamed and called for her husband to "get the gun". Also, it was Halloween the night that Hattori was killed, so the homeowner should have expected to see more activity outside of his house than normal. Hattori was also dressed in a Halloween costume on his way to a party, which also should not raise suspicion on Halloween. Also, this took place in Louisiana, a state known for its racist past. There is quite a lot of speculation that race was behind why they made such a knee-jerk decision to grab a gun and shoot him. Had Hattori been white, they might not have been so rash to break out the munitions.

[kamome]

Had Hattori been white, they might not have been so rash to break out the munitions.

I could understand this speculation if he were black or hispanic, but most Americans generally don't consider Asians to be dangerous people.

Perhaps not, but for rednecks, it may just be an issue of white versus non-white.

Anyway, it was getting towards night time when Hattori approached the house. Plus it seemed like the shooter didn't leave himself enough time to make the distinction between Asian, Hispanic, or black due to the fading light and whatever make-up or costume he was wearing.

All of that speculation aside, I do agree that the Japanese media was biased in its reporting and the portrayal of that incident seemed to justify the stereotype of America as a county full of irresponsible gun-slingers.

[Blah Pete]

Two constants, guns and people have been around before the constitution that legalizes them. But the murder by gun rate didn`t seem to pick up until around the 60`s (someone correct me if I am wrong). I`ve heard that NY street gang members used to carry only knives, guns were only for Mafia types.

What changed peoples thinking to bring us to the mess we have now?
NRA is too strong to get laws changed so maybe better to work on peoples heads...

[American Oyaji]

The NRA has lots of powerful senators on their rolls.

I say f' em and take all the guns away. But then, the
criminals and the police would have guns. I'd say it's a start and people would pay a lot more attention to being nice to people instead of thinking they can be assholes all the time.

It has to start somewhere.

But I doubt it will ever happen. Not with the sitting president anyway.