What Explains U.S. Mass Shootings?

[Revoltingest]

Is this supposed to be humorous, or are you just terminally ignorant about Brazil?

Perhaps you judge your own country more harshly because you live there.

 

[LuisDantas]

You seem quite developed.

That would be immaterial even if true. I am hardly representative of Brazilians.

Brazil suffers from crippling and criminal social disparities that often revolve around a bad need to convince ourselves that we are a sophisticated lot, even while going out of our way to avoid actually learning better than our often barbaric origins.

Come to think of it, we tend to look a lot like Trump supporters.

 

[Revoltingest]

The right wing wants everyone to carry an AK-47 or equivalent all the time. I know that's a bit of an exaggeration, but given that the NRA and the gun nuts response to any gun related killing is to advocate for more guns and less tracking of the insane and criminal, to advocate any steps is to be a moderate at least. (The NRA says that they don't advocate for that, but what the want changed would have the effect of more criminals and insane getting guns).

Oops, there goes detente.
I suggest seeking a more realistic understanding of the NRA.
Pick specific state policies to challenge.

 

[Revoltingest]

That would be immaterial even if true. I am hardly representative of Brazilians.

Brazil suffers from crippling and criminal social disparities that often revolve around a bad need to convince ourselves that we are a sophisticated lot, even while going out of our way to avoid actually learning better than our often barbaric origins.

Come to think of it, we tend to look a lot like Trump supporters.

Well, there you go....Brazil has problems similar to Americastan's, albeit different somewhat in magnitude & nature.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

They are not allowed Federal Funds if the Research can lead to advocating or promoting gun controls. Yes they can technically do research but with private funding or a very limited range. For example Donald Trump declared this last shooting a mental health issue which technically falls to the CDC, they will not be able to get funding because the data may lead to gun control for mental health patients.

You are clearly pushing a skewed view of the wording and just trying to push your political aims. At any rate academic America is more than suitable to do the research.

 

[leibowde84]

Quibbling!
I gave my judgement & my basis.
Others may disagree.

Alright. Well, according to what the term "developed country" actually means, Brazil is not one. But, you are free to make up your own definitions for words and such.

 

[LuisDantas]

Well, there you go....Brazil has problems similar to Americastan's, albeit different somewhat in magnitude & nature.

How similar is similar? At some point "somewhat different" breaks the worth of any comparisons.

Despite a bad craving for underestimating the differences between us and the USA, Brazilians have a significantly different culture and attitude.

We do not even have words for gentrification and jaywalking (edited to add: apparently there is a word for gentrification, but the concept is known by hardly any Brazilians). We stopped being a monarchy due to a backstabbing overnight coup not even 150 years ago. Our Republic has been overhauled at least five times since, and our Constitutions are traded for new texts just as often.

We saw developed countries on TV once, and we want to convince ourselves that we are among them. Half of our people are calling an impeachment a "coup", and the other half is laughing at them even while we have to share the same spaces and families.

Edited to add:

I suspect that the very widespread and very firmly rooted tendency of Brazilians to think of the State as a primary source of wealth and prosperity would be particularly difficult for most Americans to understand.

As a rule, Brazilians fear poverty and value wealth and are willing to concede most anything to attain it, mainly because there is such a deep, strong correlation here between basic dignity and wealth level. We are ashamed of very little except poverty, despite having multitudes of pitifully poor people.

 

[Nakosis]

What Explains U.S. Mass Shootings? International Comparisons Suggest an Answer

International studies pretty conclusively demonstrate that the sheer availability of guns is the decisive difference between the US and other nations in which mass shootings are significantly less frequent. Reduce the number of guns, reduce the number of mass shootings. It's that's obvious.

I suspect it is more about media coverage. It's a way to get notoriety . Someone who would otherwise have no impact on history will be remembered, talked about for a very long time. The bigger the number killed, the bigger the notoriety.

Limiting guns would make this more difficult, until some mass murder came up with a new means of mass killing. Then folks would copy it and try to improve on it.

If the goal is to kill as many folks as possible, without guns, they'd have to become more inventive. Poison the water supply. Finding a means to infect a large number of the population with a plague of some kind. Guns don't really take a lot of creativity.

As long as mass killings create international news, there are going to be folks out there seeking that kind of notoriety.

 

[Revoltingest]

Alright. Well, according to what the term "developed country" actually means, Brazil is not one. But, you are free to make up your own definitions for words and such.

I'm not redefining any words.
But I claim a different standard for "developed".
How long should we keep up this quibbling?
Isn't the real issue that gun violence is too high
here, & in many other places?

 

[suncowiam]

Felons & the feeble minded.
This short list could be added to, but those immediately came to mind.

Sometimes, gun ownership is prohibited if someone files a PPO against the owner.
This shouldn't be automatic, but could be a basis, depending upon circumstances.

Things never go well when a sentence starts out with "With all respect....".
Just kidding!
But such a judgement wouldn't be made using only internet posts.
When I got my CCW license back in the 80s, I was evaluated by
a board assembled for that purpose. It's doable.

It can be made quite objective.

Flattery will get you everywhere!

I'm OK with assessment being made according to objective standards.

But since ownership is a right, & one not likely to go away any time soon, I
prefer addressing legally possible methods of reducing gun (& other violence).

I favor more training. I see benefit in it.
But I admit bias because I had much more than most.

There should certainly be different kinds of training for hunting v self defense.

Btw, I favor more training for anything potentially dangerous, eg, driving on roads.

I agree, if we can make this more objective based then it would work out better for all. Over time, people change. I like to see periodic evaluations to ensure that people remain responsible.

 

[bobhikes]

You are clearly pushing a skewed view of the wording and just trying to push your political aims. At any rate academic America is more than suitable to do the research.

Without funding it will not be done. The CDC gives the funding to Academic America
Here's a more detailed Link for you. From the American Psychological research.

Gun violence research: History of the federal funding freeze

and another from Doctor's

https://www.thetrace.org/2016/04/cdc-gun-violence-research-ban-doctors-for-america/

 

[Revoltingest]

How similar is similar? At some point "somewhat different" breaks the worth of any comparisons.

Both countries have large segments of desperately poor people.

Despite a bad craving for underestimating the differences between us and the USA, Brazilians have a significantly different culture and attitude.

Underestimating?
You're reading something which isn't there.

We do not even have words for gentrification and jaywalking (edited to add: apparently there is a word for gentrification, but the concept is known by hardly any Brazilians). We stopped being a monarchy due to a backstabbing overnight coup not even 150 years ago. Our Republic has been overhauled at least five times since, and our Constitutions are traded for new texts just as often.

We saw developed countries on TV once, and we want to convince ourselves that we are among them. Half of our people are calling an impeachment a "coup", and the other half is laughing at them even while we have to share the same spaces and families.

OK then.

 

[Revoltingest]

I agree, if we can make this more objective based then it would work out better for all. Over time, people change. I like to see periodic evaluations to ensure that people remain responsible.

Sounds good to me.
Gun ownership is a constitutional right, but rights can be limited
with reasonable requirements where there's compelling benefit.

 

[LuisDantas]

Underestimating?
You're reading something which isn't there.

I did not mean you. I meant Brazilians. We suffer from a strong tendency to underestimate our differences from Americans.

 

[Revoltingest]

I did not mean you. I meant Brazilians. We suffer from a strong tendency to underestimate our differences from Americans.

OK.

Do you see any factors for gun violence to add to my list?

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Without funding it will not be done. The CDC gives the funding to Academic America
Here's a more detailed Link for you. From the American Psychological research.

Gun violence research: History of the federal funding freeze

and another from Doctor's

https://www.thetrace.org/2016/04/cdc-gun-violence-research-ban-doctors-for-america/

Not interested.

 

[bobhikes]

Not interested.

Not suprised

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Those are a lot of words to say next to nothing.
Anti-fascism and anti-nazism rely on some backbone.

Gun control would prevent Fascists and Nazis from carrying out whatever gun crimes you think they want to carry out since they wouldn't be allowed to have guns like handguns and semiautos (those need to be banned outright). They wouldn't be allowed to open carry at demonstrations, either (if I had my way). So there's no reason to AFA to be stockpiling weapons. And if you're talking about fighting the government in case Fascist take that over, well, that's a pipe dream. So what's your point?

 

[Stanyon]

What measures are you in favor of?

There is no need for further measures, the current firearms laws are sufficient but this recent case in Texas makes it pretty clear that there was a severe breakdown in communications. If the Texas shooters past crimes were properly reported there was no way he could have legally purchased a firearm according to laws that were already on the books for years. I know a friend that had to retake an alcohol class to get his drivers license renewed this year and the DUI he had was from 26 years ago in another state. I'd say if a DUI was important enough to keep on file from 26 years ago and shared nationally, certainly domestic abuse and felonies should be important enough to be also, both of which would have denied the shooter the possibility of legally purchasing a weapon. If I could change anything it would be better reporting and communication between law enforcement agencies and the military in regards to those who have criminal records.

here is a link to the 2014 ATF reference guide, I highly recommend this to anyone who believes that guns are not heavily regulated:
Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide - 2014 Edition (ATF P 5300.4) | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

 

[esmith]

All gun and ammunition purchases should be monitored and tracked. So when someone starts stockpiling ammo it sets off some red flags. Ammunition itself should have identifying marks, just like guns have serial numbers. A psychological evaluation should be required for all related purchases. The fact is, if we started to gather more data on who is buying guns, how much they are buying and what the psychological evaluation tells us we can start identifying red flags for this. There is also no reason for one person to own enough arms to equip a small army.

I would place the emoji for laughing-my-***-off, but don't think it would be well received.