What Explains U.S. Mass Shootings?

[Scott C.]

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.

The availibility of guns might make it easier to pull off mass murder, but why do more people want to kill today than wanted to kill yesterday? That's a sign of something more disturbing than the existence of guns.

 

[esmith]

Your response suggests to me that you missed my point.

I'm not arguing for a magical land where nobody ever gets searched; I'm saying that arbitrary searches are a constraint on liberty, so if you're arguing for the right to carry firearms on the grounds of "freedom," then it's important to point out that in many important ways, I'm freer than you are because your society is more armed than mine.

You have to go deal with intrusive, arbitrary searches more often than I do (again: I'm not saying I never deal with them, only that you deal with them much more).

You're also more likely to be killed by a police officer in a traffic stop than I am... because your cops have to be more ready to deal with a driver with a gun.

If I get cut off on the highway, I can flip the guy the bird with near-perfect certainty that he won't try to shoot me in response.

There are all sorts of ways that I'm more free than you are because of the differences in our nations' gun policies.

Well opinions are opinions and everyone has one.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Well opinions are opinions and everyone has one.

What's your opinion? Do weapon searches make you feel more free?

When you see a convenience store clerk working in a literal cage of Plexiglas, do you say to yourself "ah - there's true freedom!"

 

[esmith]

The problem is that most pro gun people will not have that discussion. Just as the NRA will not have that discussion.

As a Life Member of the NRA I'm willing to have a discussion. The only requirement is the inclusion of generalities into the discussion.would not be looked at in a favorable way.

 

[Koldo]

I disagree about Brazil.
Criminy, they hosted the Olympics last year.
They even have a space program.

Just to give some perspective....
If you were to come over here at the city that hosted the Olympics, literally just after you left the airport you would be looking at a slum where 100.000 people live. Right next you. A wall has been built to block some of the view.

 

[esmith]

What's your opinion? Do weapon searches make you feel more free?

When you see a convenience store clerk working in a literal cage of Plexiglas, do you say to yourself "ah - there's true freedom!"

Never been through a weapon search except at the airport and court houses.
To your other point about the clerk all I see is that the owner is taking precautions to keep his or her employees safe from criminals.

 

[Stevicus]

Americans can put a man on the moon, and yet you doubt we're smart enough to reduce the number of guns in our society if we had the political will to do so. How funny.

Putting a man on the Moon is ancient history. We aren't what we used to be. Things have gone terribly downhill since those bright days.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Never been through a weapon search except at the airport and court houses.

Don't get out much, I guess.

To your other point about the clerk all I see is that the owner is taking precautions to keep his or her employees safe from criminals.

... because the criminals are more likely to be armed with deadly weapons when you're in an armed society.

 

[esmith]

Don't get out much, I guess.

Why do you say that. None of the events we have around here have any screening that I'm aware of. This is a open carry state and concealed carry state without licensing.

... because the criminals are more likely to be armed with deadly weapons when you're in an armed society.

Well now, you admit the problem is with the criminals not the law abiding citizens, congratulations you have seen the light.

 

[Notanumber]

Not only do I not have a problem with his fighting of terrorism, I think probably all of us here feel the same way as well. But what some of us also believe is that he should not have tried to get legislation passed that would stop any Muslim from emigrating to the States, much like he pushed during the campaign and what he tried to get passed at first when pres. The judges looked at what he proposed, matched it to what he had said previously, and they basically had ruled against him.

BTW, why did you bring this up here when this is not at all what's being discussed, nor does it relate in any way to justify as a "side-bar"? Maybe stick to the topic.

Mr Trump was trying to avoid the mess in which the UK finds itself. We have all those returning Jihadists to contend with as well.

The senior Home Office official refused to confirm whether any former Channel subjects had gone on to commit terror offences, following a series of Isis-linked attacks carried out by jihadis who had been reported to authorities and were “known” to security services.

Nine-year-old boy who stood up in class and declared allegiance to Isis among thousands of children referred to Prevent programme

 

[Revoltingest]

A lot of things were different back then. Including the guns.

That's why so many want to amend the 2nd Amendment.

 

[Revoltingest]

So the presence of metal detectors - which is a consequence of your country's gun policies - is a constraint on your liberty.

You think?
But it's a minor one.

 

[Revoltingest]

Just to give some perspective....
If you were to come over here at the city that hosted the Olympics, literally just after you left the airport you would be looking at a slum where 100.000 people live. Right next you. A wall has been built to block some of the view.

They're a good example of how even developed countries can still have poverty.

 

[Koldo]

They're a good example of how even developed countries can still have poverty.

Considering how much poverty there is around here, in what sense is Brazil a developed country ?

 

[Revoltingest]

Considering how much poverty there is around here, in what sense is Brazil a developed country ?

Your saying "here" makes me think you live in Brazil.
If you do, I'm judging by what I read about the place.

 

[Deeje]

One can't always identify the wrong people.

The "wrong people" are masquerading as your neighbors.

It's just a partial solution to work harder to keep guns out of the wrong hands.

But the "wrong hands" look like yours. How can you tell? If gun obsessed morons are selling their guns privately to other gun obsessed morons, then tell me how that can be accomplished without taking them off everyone? The problem is too big now....there are no easy solution.

In Australia, if you have no reason to own a gun, you can't legally have one. Most of us don't want one and never did. We don't walk down our streets wondering who's 'packin' and if someone has ticked them off enough to just shoot someone at random because they needed to let off steam.

Here's one government employee who should work harder at this....
After Night of Drinking, F.B.I. Supervisor Wakes to Find a Woman Stole His Gun

I wonder how many times that would happen? Shows you one of the benefits of sexual morality, doesn't it?

Besides, it's illegal to take away guns from everyone.

Pity....the powers that people think they may be fighting, could be living next door. It isn't terrorists that Americans need to fear....it is apparently their fellow citizens or their own government......one can only ask..."what's wrong with that picture?" What if the other fellow's "guns" are bigger than yours?

With these guys, its the muscle between their ears that would worry me.

How can you not see what other nations are seeing? There is a certain kind of 'blindness' among your population in this issue. We can only wonder why? Some of you seem so....normal.

What about a swap? This for this....? Wouldn't it be more fun?

 

[Revoltingest]

The "wrong people" are masquerading as your neighbors.



But the "wrong hands" look like yours. How can you tell? If gun obsessed morons are selling their guns privately to other gun obsessed morons, then tell me how that can be accomplished without taking them off everyone? The problem is too big now....there are no easy solution.

As I said, felons, the incompetent, the untrained, & the mentally unsuitable could be denied guns.

In Australia, if you have no reason to own a gun, you can't legally have one. Most of us don't want one and never did. We don't walk down our streets wondering who's 'packin' and if someone has ticked them off enough to just shoot someone at random because they needed to let off steam.

I wonder how many times that would happen? Shows you one of the benefits of sexual morality, doesn't it?

No solution is 100% problem free.

Pity....the powers that people think they may be fighting, could be living next door. It isn't terrorists that Americans need to fear....it is apparently their fellow citizens or their own government......one can only ask..."what's wrong with that picture?" What if the other fellow's "guns" are bigger than yours?

With these guys, its the muscle between their ears that would worry me.

How can you not see what other nations are seeing? There is a certain kind of 'blindness' among your population in this issue. We can only wonder why? Some of you seem so....normal.

What about a swap? This for this....? Wouldn't it be more fun?

Do I detect prejudice....the stereotype that muscular men are unintelligent?
Fie! Fie! Apostacy!

 

[Underhill]

As a Life Member of the NRA I'm willing to have a discussion. The only requirement is the inclusion of generalities into the discussion.would not be looked at in a favorable way.

It is hard to discuss why no action, or even discussion of action, has happened without generalities.

 

[Underhill]

IMO, we need to be more strict about driving privileges. I tend to agree with Japan that drunken driving should be punished with fines, jail time, and a suspension of license. If it were up to me, just one DUI charge would be a suspension of at least a few years, mandatory and minimum.

I don't know about the rest of the country, but NYS is extremely tough on drunk driving.

New York DUI & DWI Laws & Enforcement | DMV.org

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

You think?
But it's a minor one.

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
- Benjamin Franklin

And the worst part is that you aren't even giving up your liberty for actual safety; only the illusion of safety.