So that we don't need to create a new thread each time and can refer back to the same misgivings, arguments, and insults for one another, here's one thread to unite them all. To start us off, today's is fairly minor, but the day is young. Only five people killed, and a few schoolchildren injured, in rural northern California rampage. On the mental health side, neighbors say they'd been trying to tell people this guy was acting crazy, but, with laws as they currently stand, we're helpless to intervene until someone does harm. For context, this shows the ramp-up and increasing body counts of mass shootings over the last many years (via the Economist). Spoilered for size and and discomfort. Spoiler
Lone wolf Mental health American culture Liberty over tyranny Good guys with guns Politicization Thoughts and prayers Chicago
Thank you for your thoughtful and comprehensive contribution. I think that wraps it up until the next event we can post here.
I don't think it's OP's intention at all, but this seems to minimize the gravity of each. The repeat arguments are less of a problem than the hypernormalization of each event imo.
7 people killed and at least one child injured. It is really depressing that this is the new normal..
I don't understand the "Chicago" argument at all. Is the argument supposed to be since Chicago have strict gun laws + gun crimes are rampant in certain areas of Chicago = gun control don't work? What about New York or LA than? These other 2 major cities also have strict and maybe even stricter gun laws than Chicago but they have some of the lowest gun crime rates, homicide rate etc for major US cities. It's not like as if more gun friendly cities in more gun friendly states somehow have lower gun related crime rates & homicide rates. NYC & LA have significantly lower homicide & run related crime rates than Houston, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, St Louis, Memphis, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Cleveland etc. This might shock some people, but some of these cities such as Milwaukee, Memphis, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, St Louis etc actually have worse homicide & gun shooting rates than Chicago. Also you can't explain the recent uptick in gun rate crime rates in Chicago simply as a result of their restrict gun laws. Chicago gun laws have actually became LESS strict in the last couple of years, not the other way around.
AR-15 gave me PTSD AR-15 Chainsaw Bayonet modifications Not all Muslims are terrorists Gun Control over liberty Bad guys with guns Politicization Thoughts and prayers are meaningless Texas
They're supposed to say it and then feel better - this is how the Chicago argument works. I believe it probably relives memories of the band or the musical..."Saturday - in the park - think it was the 4th of July" / "And All that jazz"
The fixation on Chicago's murder rate has nothing to do with anything other than it is Obama's hometown.
Also, neighboring Indiana has relaxed gun laws, but people fail to mention that Indianapolis, Gary, East Chicago, and South Bend all have high murder rates. Indiana is also where a bunch of Chicago guns come from.
We're not even off the first page and the topic has been muddled with side arguments about gun violence. If we are to reduce day to day gun violence, we need to reduce the amount of guns on the street. If we are to reduce mass shootings, we need to deal with mental health issues. Its the mentally ill people who are randomly mass killing people.
It's not normal in the world, and that's an extremely important point. It's a uniquely American thing. It's even more unique when you consider how relatively unprompted and relatively voluntary it is in comparison with other similar examples worldwide. That can't be lost.
I should've known you were a part of the star chamber. I've got a question for you Bob, is there a black person responsible for any of these mass killings that you are referring to? You idiots in here are so transparent. Y'all have fun with this.
This is the American Normal. This is where we live. and this is pretty much normal for us. Rocket River
Yes it is the American normal. But it is still the human abnormal, and (in this particular issue) much better circumstances have been achieved by more corrupt, more authoritarian, more murderous, less rich leaders elsewhere. But it will take more than people saying "well, this is what we are." The people who create these circumstances are more than willing to slit your throat to not change it. Meanwhile, you could be next. That could be your picture on the news as one of the victims. These people are doing typical everyday things in regular towns and cities. The one thing you don't have to fall victim to is the hypernormalization. Which precisely means: well, this is common so it's normal. It's not. It's not normal at all, especially for a rich society.
What do you want, exactly, from people here? I'm really not being flippant, just don't know from your reaction
