Fast lane passes

Since we’re on the topic (and as a disclaimer, I have not read all of these comments) I’m going to put in my two cents. Yes, it’s true. No one NEEDS a gun. But at the same time, no one NEEDS alcohol, yet there are more alcohol related deaths than gun related deaths. Now this next part is what I’ve experienced in my hometown. A kid I went to high school (I wasn’t close with him or anything, just a sad story) with was riding with his drunk friend going to a party, and they wrecked. Long story short, the driver left the passenger to die (which he did) and went to the party anyways. He was sentenced to 6 years. Now apart from that, a man walked into our local gun shop and asked buy a “sniper rifle”. That was an instant red flag for the workers because “sniper rifles” and “assault rifles” are not types/brands of guns. Long story short, they asked him a bunch of questions and then did their usual background check and it turned out he was an illegal alien and was sent to jail. Where I live, collecting guns and shooting in open fields or ranges, is a way of life and how people bond. No one will quite understand that unless they live that lifestyle. What I’m trying to say here, is no matter what is legal or illegal, people will still kill others. There are background checks for guns, and occasionally a waiting period. You can’t buy them like buying a pack of gum. Bad people with acohol will kill people. Bad people with firearms will kill people. Make them both illegal, and bad people will still kill people. A gun is a tool. If you use it right, it can save your life, and it can be an enjoyable hobby. When a person has the thought and desires to kill another person, the focus shouldn’t go on guns. The focus should be on that a**hole who wants to murder.

I tried hard to find out how talk about fast lane passes suddenly became talk about gun control, with no success. Did the original commenter delete their posts or something?

Fastlane ---> President's Day sale ---> Politician joke ---> NRA punchline ----> Gun Control

More or less that. It's kinda how these things happen around here. One thing leads to another and your question about Chik-Fil-A turns into a heated debate on minority rights and then swerves into a somehow MORE heated debate on self-driving automobiles, or your Fastlane thread becomes a gun control dialogue.

We're all nuanced, complex individuals here. We have more views and interests than just coasters and flats, after all, and I for one don't mind the occasional thread divergence in the interests of talking about those things (and getting to know each other a little better in the process.) Especially in the offseason when on-topic discussion points can be fairly scarce.

CoasterKyle1121 said:

There are background checks for guns, and occasionally a waiting period. You can’t buy them like buying a pack of gum.

That's so cute. You realize this is not true, correct?

There are only background checks for federally licensed dealers. I could leave my home and purchase an assault rifle tomorrow with no background check (and so could you!).

This is only one piece of the larger problem.

I'm assuming from your post that you would be opposed to a gun being harder to purchase than a pack of gum, yes? If that's true, we agree on something.

So let me get this straight. Just so I understand. There are proven (research; I know it's a dirty word in the Trump era) methods to reduce the amount of gun-related violence in our schools in the form of of more restrictive gun policies. But because we all assume that there is just nothing we can do, then we should just do nothing? Because the would be killers will instead turn to butter knife attacks and homemade pipe bombs?

Here is some food for thought. As Australia was beginning to pass it's sweeping gun laws (that worked) guess who tried to step in and posture the public in an effort to stop the regulations? That's right! The NRA. Now what in god's name would the NRA be dong in Australia? Well they know for a fact that gun regulations work and hurt their bottom line. Which is pretty impressive:

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/01/nra-donald-trump-guns-fundraising/

Luckily for the people of Australia, they saw through the NRA's rhetoric and told them to get the %$$# out of their business. They haven't been back since. Just stop and ask yourself. Why is the NRA, as it stands today, literally one of the most insidious financially aggressive organizations when it comes to lobbying our politicians? This seems like a complete no-brainer to me as something all of us would be opposed to. They know for a fact that if tighter regulations are passed, it will hurt their bottom line. And we know (research!) for a fact that fewer guns in a society lead to fewer gun-related deaths.

But I digress. That said, buying an AR-15 in Ohio is just as easy to purchase as a pack of gum. But who cares? At least the United States can be first in something.

Kevinj said:

butter knife attacks?

Here is some food for thought.

Butter should be banned

We had an armed police officer when I was in high school. Actually 2. And I recently heard that they hired a third. Never have we had any kind of gun violence here. If you don’t want to arm the teachers, then put a police officer in the building.

Yes, all federally licensed dealers give background checks. There is no law that will prevent a private seller from selling a gun to someone without giving a background check. Drugs are sold all the time even though it’s illegal. And gun shows, fine, maybe they could have someone doing background checks. But to say that guns should be illegal, is a complete violation of the Constitution. Again, 9/10 people where I live own at least one gun. A lot of them are ARs too. Never have we thought about using them against anyone that’s not truly evil. Maybe they should reopen mental institutes and keep these psychos in there.

(Politics have completely destroyed our nation this past year. Not because of the election. Not because of President Trump. But because people can’t understand that we all will have different views and decide to get hostile about it. Let’s not let this discussion destroy the bond we have in Pointbuzz.)

Despite claiming to want to hear differing points of view, this has turned in to the typical-shout down, belittling of whom ever you disagree with by throwing internet ‘facts’ around to bolster a slanted position without ever addressing legitimate issues brought up that conflict with said agenda.

On a side note: don’t forget that if you have a platinum pass, you can buy a FL+ for the price of a regular FL. My opinion on FL, is if you can swing the price of the ticket go for it and enjoy the park as much as you can. If you get to the park often and don’t feel it’s worth it, then it’s completely understandable.

XD You know the conversation is way off topic when you have to say “side note” and then follow with Fast Lane information.

Wish they'd roll out the platinum perk of FL+ for FL price to more parks...

Pete said:

Back in the day when I went to school, schools were wide open with no security and guns were much easier to get.

Was it trivial to get an AK-47 (or whatever the contemporary assault rifle was back then)? That's not a loaded question - I'm honestly curious. Because the ease with which, say, an AR-15 can be obtained is a contributing factor in modern mass shootings. Maybe there would still be as many without them, but the fallout would be less.

XS NightClub said:

Despite claiming to want to hear differing points of view, this has turned in to the typical-shout down, belittling of whom ever you disagree with by throwing internet ‘facts’ around to bolster a slanted position without ever addressing legitimate issues brought up that conflict with said agenda.

You know, sometimes "internet 'facts'" are just facts.

ValravnCP said:

Butter should be banned

But, but, but, Toast.

Eh,

I've actually been careful to share actual research and data by experts in the field (which were then shared on sites like Vox and Motherjones and others). My opinion on the matter has been shaped largely by those facts, and by my relationships with people from other countries. I have yet to see refuting data or research being shared; just ideas and opinions based on what I would assume to be nothing more than personal experience and anecdotal evidence.

But, you know...sometimes those "internet facts" prove to be very inconvenient to one's opinion.

As has always been the case; you can't always predict and stop something horrific from happening. And it is also correct that if someone truly wanted to do something horrific, they would keep trying and keep trying.

And yet, we have before us an effective solution to blocking one of the most easily accessible methods of choice, and it's taking a bunch of millennials who just lived through hell on earth to get politicians actually talking.

But have no fear! The head of the NRA snake was quick to rise this morning to once again instill fear in the hearts and minds of the politicians they have purchased to make sure they remember where their vacation home in the Keys comes from.

Honestly, I wish there were Fast Lane passes to talk to politicians about anything.

Kevin, have you signed up for Commando Training yet?

Ready to protect my cul-de-sac from the invading tyrannical government at any time.

Nope, that’s not what our Dear Leader said this morning. You will have a concealed weapon (handgun I assume) and then go up against a kid half your age armed with a AR-15 with 30 round clips. Oh, and make sure there aren’t any friendly fire accidents or your career is over.

I never had a fast lane but will probably get one at kings island if it’s busy when I go in June. Hopefully late June weekdays aren’t too busy down there

I feel bad for the people just trying everything they can to talk about fast lane and just get ignored. You have my sympathies.

Let’s talk about coaster politics. Is pipe scream a roller coaster???

CoasterKyle1121 said:

.

Is pipe scream a roller coaster???

NO!!

djDaemon said:

Pete said:

Back in the day when I went to school, schools were wide open with no security and guns were much easier to get.

Was it trivial to get an AK-47 (or whatever the contemporary assault rifle was back then)? That's not a loaded question - I'm honestly curious. Because the ease with which, say, an AR-15 can be obtained is a contributing factor in modern mass shootings. Maybe there would still be as many without them, but the fallout would be less.

I really don't know, never was interested in buying a gun even today. But I do know that the first gun control act was passed in 1968 and then expanded in the early 90's. Before 1968 I'm pretty sure things were wide open with no controls at all. I think I even remember the local Army - Navy Surplus store displaying rifles in the window. Don't know if they were automatic weapons however.