The U.S.A. Mass Shootings Thread

[paulguitar]

kowalski655 said:

S17Thumper said:

Squadrone Rosso said:

One American had the guts to say it as it is at the news conference.

Beto O'Rourke who is the Dem candidate against Abbott at the next election (however they work over there)

And the GOP were all "Now is not the time"!
If not now, when?

And 'how dare you politicize this?'

[HM-2]

g4ry13 said:

captain_cynic said:

g4ry13 said:

captain_cynic said:

julian987R said:

Does anyone not have a gun over there? this statistic is quite shocking. I knew it was high, but blimey?!

I think the issue with that statistic is that some people own 30+ guns, so making up for dozens of adults who don't own one.

As I've said before... If black or latino communities started arming up for defence, we'll see the those who hold 2A in such high esteem show it the same lack of respect as we see for 1A when the wrong type of people try to exercise it.

Do they not already?

46% of non-hispanic white people live in a gun household vs 35% for non-white according to this: https://www.statista.com/statistics/623356/gun-own...

And you'll find that they're already portrayed as "gangbangers and criminals".

No comment.

White people owning guns aren't portrayed as gun-toting hicks?

Be careful, you'll have someone's eye out with that whataboutism.

Also, I'm not quite sure how quoting figures that indicate that firearm ownership is drastically lower amongst minority groups supports your initial point.

[eharding]

HD Adam said:

eharding said:

I was disappointed to find that the NRA annual meeting is being held at the George R. Brown Convention Center, sited slap bang in the middle of Houston, which interferes somewhat for my request that divine intervention send a massive meteorite to wipe the venue and those within it off the face of the earth during Trump's speech, as this would sadly cause an unacceptable amount of damage in the surrounding area.

I hope not either. I live there now.

You might want to be out of town on Friday, just in case my divine intervention cancellation request didn't get through.

[Super Sonic]

Those poor children. Their poor families. My heart is breaking.

[g4ry13]

HM-2 said:

g4ry13 said:

captain_cynic said:

g4ry13 said:

captain_cynic said:

julian987R said:

Does anyone not have a gun over there? this statistic is quite shocking. I knew it was high, but blimey?!

I think the issue with that statistic is that some people own 30+ guns, so making up for dozens of adults who don't own one.

As I've said before... If black or latino communities started arming up for defence, we'll see the those who hold 2A in such high esteem show it the same lack of respect as we see for 1A when the wrong type of people try to exercise it.

Do they not already?

46% of non-hispanic white people live in a gun household vs 35% for non-white according to this: https://www.statista.com/statistics/623356/gun-own...

And you'll find that they're already portrayed as "gangbangers and criminals".

No comment.

White people owning guns aren't portrayed as gun-toting hicks?

Be careful, you'll have someone's eye out with that whataboutism.

Also, I'm not quite sure how quoting figures that indicate that firearm ownership is drastically lower amongst minority groups supports your initial point.

According to statista it isn't 'drastically lower'.

The bottom line is that the majority of people in the USA don't own a gun.

[Blib]

g4ry13 said:

According to statista it isn't 'drastically lower'.

The bottom line is that the majority of people in the USA don't own a gun.

The bottom line is actually that a helluva lot of Americans get shot every year.

[rscott]

Some fairly scathing responses to a Texas Republican Congressman (Tony Gonzales) on Twitter.

[rscott]

Fairly decent summary here - https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-... - with information about one of the guns used. A $2,000 DDM4 AR15 type rifle, with a $700 sight added.

[DeejRC]

My main problem with the arguments around this is I think the polarisation between “gun” problem or “people” problem is that it misses the society problem!

Ok, so I get that guns don’t shoot people, people shoot people. But people don’t shoot kids, pre teen kids. Who shoots pre teen kids??! This isn’t adult on adult violence here, this is just barely adult on kid violence.

This isn’t a gun issue or a people issue for me, it’s a “there is something rotten in the state of Denmark” issue. What the hell is happening in a society where it is now becoming priced in that there will be a school shooting??! That is bonkers insane to me, absolutely bonkers.

America needs a long hard conversation with itself. And not a pleasant one.

[jdw100]

S17Thumper said:

Steady on there…

I have 40+ watches.

Friend has 50 fishing rods. Another has 15 or so classic cars.

My cycling nut neighbour has at least ten 1980's racing bikes plus his normal bikes.

I think the above photo is just the result of collecting...a hobby.

I very doubt they intend to use all of those, keeping them loaded in the house for fear of the dreaded HOME INVASION!!!!

HOME INVASION!!!!

[wisbech]

DeejRC said:

My main problem with the arguments around this is I think the polarisation between “gun” problem or “people” problem is that it misses the society problem!

Ok, so I get that guns don’t shoot people, people shoot people. But people don’t shoot kids, pre teen kids. Who shoots pre teen kids??! This isn’t adult on adult violence here, this is just barely adult on kid violence.

This isn’t a gun issue or a people issue for me, it’s a “there is something rotten in the state of Denmark” issue. What the hell is happening in a society where it is now becoming priced in that there will be a school shooting??! That is bonkers insane to me, absolutely bonkers.

America needs a long hard conversation with itself. And not a pleasant one.

Eh - we almost certainly have the same underlying issues here. It's looking like the shooter was badly bullied, unstable family life etc. We all knew that 'psycho' at school. Difference is that in the UK, there's the NHS that can give support to badly trouble teenagers, and teenage phantasies of revenge remain just that, phantasies, due to the inability of screwed up 18 years olds to buy guns. We have knife violence, screwed up teenagers acting out their phantasies of revenge/ honour/ whatever, but it is pretty hard to kill more than one or two people at a time that way.

See recent killing of 12 year old Ava in Liverpool by a 14 year old kid

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-615...

[Boozy]

There’s laws here from the right pushing to make it harder to have an abortion but make it easier to own a gun.

[Byker28i]

wisbech said:

DeejRC said:

My main problem with the arguments around this is I think the polarisation between “gun” problem or “people” problem is that it misses the society problem!

Ok, so I get that guns don’t shoot people, people shoot people. But people don’t shoot kids, pre teen kids. Who shoots pre teen kids??! This isn’t adult on adult violence here, this is just barely adult on kid violence.

This isn’t a gun issue or a people issue for me, it’s a “there is something rotten in the state of Denmark” issue. What the hell is happening in a society where it is now becoming priced in that there will be a school shooting??! That is bonkers insane to me, absolutely bonkers.

America needs a long hard conversation with itself. And not a pleasant one.

Eh - we almost certainly have the same underlying issues here. It's looking like the shooter was badly bullied, unstable family life etc. We all knew that 'psycho' at school. Difference is that in the UK, there's the NHS that can give support to badly trouble teenagers, and teenage phantasies of revenge remain just that, phantasies, due to the inability of screwed up 18 years olds to buy guns. We have knife violence, screwed up teenagers acting out their phantasies of revenge/ honour/ whatever, but it is pretty hard to kill more than one or two people at a time that way.

See recent killing of 12 year old Ava in Liverpool by a 14 year old kid

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-615...

The difference is that after Hungerford in 1987 the UK tightened gun laws
https://aoav.org.uk/2014/hungerford-1987/

Then after the 1996 Dunblane school attack the UK acted and enforced strict gun laws, and we've had no school shootings since. That banned most handguns for private shooters, semi auto ban, strict registration for shotguns etc. It included a buyback scheme to encourage weapons to be handed over, which were alrady known about because they were registered.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-1996-du...

In Australia after a Tasmania shooting with an AR-15, Australia enforcd strict gun laws, mandatory licencing and registration, a ban on auto and semi auto weapons, a buy back scheme. No mass shootings since
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/15/it-t...

So there's plenty of examples of what can be done


Uvalde: AR-15
Buffalo: AR-15
Boulder: AR-15
Orlando: AR-15
Parkland: AR-15
Las Vegas: AR-15
Aurora, CO: AR-15
Sandy Hook: AR-15
Waffle House: AR-15
San Bernardino: AR-15
Midland/Odessa: AR-15
Poway synagogue: AR-15
Sutherland Springs: AR-15
Tree of Life Synagogue: AR-15
https://twitter.com/adamcbest/status/1529296898317...

Edited by Byker28i on Thursday 26th May 06:21

[Byker28i]

Imagine being told they think your kids is amongst those killed, but they need DNA because they were so mutilated they can't identify them
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/texas-school-shoo...

Then Gov Abbott dressed up like he was law enforcement for his press conference, having only just passed laws that allowed the 18 year old to buy guns
Beto o'Rorke called it out exactly right
https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/25/beto-orour...

[DeejRC]

I’m sorry, but I *dont* see the same underlying issues here or elsewhere. We have knife crime yes…but it’s invariably turf/gang/manor related st.

This is very different stuff. This is of the level where, ok ban guns, etc, but the same ppl who will do these attacks will now look at different mediums. Walk into school with home made bombs/grenades/cocktails, or machetes, etc. This stuff won’t stop if you just ban guns. THAT to me is the bigger issue and I find that bonkers in a society. There is a deeper issue inside American society at the moment than just 2A that is a lot darker. I’m no gun lover, I don’t own or overly wish to own a gun, even as a farmer with a reasonably legitimate reason to should I decide, they aren’t my thing at all. I quite like the suggestion from some of making the ammo out there stunningly expensive for semi and automatic weapons. Daft that they are easily available to buy. But it doesn’t change my worry.

[Byker28i]

GOP Ronny Jackson says it’s “unfortunate” that the media is going to focus on guns, since the real cause of school shootings is rap music and video games.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1529500709607157761

[rscott]

Juvenile arrested near his school in Dallas, with an AR15 in his car.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wfaa.com/amp/arti...

[anonymous-user]

DeejRC said:

I’m sorry, but I *dont* see the same underlying issues here or elsewhere. We have knife crime yes…but it’s invariably turf/gang/manor related st.

This is very different stuff. This is of the level where, ok ban guns, etc, but the same ppl who will do these attacks will now look at different mediums. Walk into school with home made bombs/grenades/cocktails, or machetes, etc. This stuff won’t stop if you just ban guns. THAT to me is the bigger issue and I find that bonkers in a society. There is a deeper issue inside American society at the moment than just 2A that is a lot darker. I’m no gun lover, I don’t own or overly wish to own a gun, even as a farmer with a reasonably legitimate reason to should I decide, they aren’t my thing at all. I quite like the suggestion from some of making the ammo out there stunningly expensive for semi and automatic weapons. Daft that they are easily available to buy. But it doesn’t change my worry.

That’s kind of the point though. Those sick fks who want to shoot kids in school will still exist. They probably still exist here in the UK. The difference though is all of the alternative methods you list of killing kids are either much less efficient or much harder to achieve than walking into Walmart and buying an assault rifle or taking one of the 10 your dad owns. Bomb making takes skill, preparation and research, by which point there’s a high chance you’ve been caught or calmed down enough to not do it. Or if they haven’t, hopefully killed far fewer people as they’re reloading their shotgun or having to get within knife attack distance of each victim.

I get it. Guns don’t kill people. Sick people kill people. So why give those sick people easy access to guns?

[bigandclever]

jdw100 said:

S17Thumper said:

Steady on there…

I have 40+ watches.

Friend has 50 fishing rods. Another has 15 or so classic cars.

My cycling nut neighbour has at least ten 1980's racing bikes plus his normal bikes.

I think the above photo is just the result of collecting...a hobby.

I very doubt they intend to use all of those, keeping them loaded in the house for fear of the dreaded HOME INVASION!!!!

HOME INVASION!!!!

Thread swerve, but yes ..

a bit of searching said:

Joel, Lynne, Paige and Joshua (44, 43, 5 and 11 years old) – Austin, Texas
(They don’t want to show their last name – The firearm you see in the photo are just 80% of the whole collection)
Both Joel and Lynne were born and raised in Austin, Texas.
They met 14 years ago and they have been together since then. They define themselves
“compulsive buyer and serial collectors”.
Joel collects watches, motorbikes, RC cars and various other things. Lynne collects mostly jewels
and guns. More than 90% of the guns present in their house belong to her.
“I love guns and I love to shot them every day. I can’t stop buying them. I am not sure about the
exact number but I probably have more the 170 firearms. I think from the moment I bought the
first one I then kept buying around 5-6 guns every month and I think I’ll keep buying them with
the same rhythm in the future.” She says laughing. “I also love to customize them and make
every piece unique. This is also why I have never been able to sell any of my guns”.
Lynne and Joel have two children, Joshua and Paige.
“Joshua is 11 now. He started to shoot guns when he was 6. Now he has his own gun, which he
built by himself. He’s really proud of that. He has made it by assembling pieces that he have
chosen from an online catalog. Sometimes we also let Paige shot some guns, but she’s still too
small to be able to handle one alone”, she says.
Lynne and Joel run a business together, they are dealers for luxury watches and jewels.

It’s a photo from a series called The Ameriguns, more of which you can see here if you’re into gun fetishism.

https://www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com/en/short...

[andyA700]

wisbech said:

DeejRC said:

My main problem with the arguments around this is I think the polarisation between “gun” problem or “people” problem is that it misses the society problem!

Ok, so I get that guns don’t shoot people, people shoot people. But people don’t shoot kids, pre teen kids. Who shoots pre teen kids??! This isn’t adult on adult violence here, this is just barely adult on kid violence.

This isn’t a gun issue or a people issue for me, it’s a “there is something rotten in the state of Denmark” issue. What the hell is happening in a society where it is now becoming priced in that there will be a school shooting??! That is bonkers insane to me, absolutely bonkers.

America needs a long hard conversation with itself. And not a pleasant one.

Eh - we almost certainly have the same underlying issues here. It's looking like the shooter was badly bullied, unstable family life etc. We all knew that 'psycho' at school. Difference is that in the UK, there's the NHS that can give support to badly trouble teenagers, and teenage phantasies of revenge remain just that, phantasies, due to the inability of screwed up 18 years olds to buy guns. We have knife violence, screwed up teenagers acting out their phantasies of revenge/ honour/ whatever, but it is pretty hard to kill more than one or two people at a time that way.

See recent killing of 12 year old Ava in Liverpool by a 14 year old kid

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-615...

Here we go, another person comparing one tragic knife murder, which happened six months ago in the UK, with the totally phsycotic gun situation in the US.
Words fail me - slow handclap mate.
Comparison time - from 2003-2011, around 4,800 coalition troops were killed in the Iraq conflict.
Last year, around 40,000 people were killed by guns in the US.