The U.S.A. Mass Shootings Thread

[Scobblelotcher]

dvs_dave said:

Gary C said:

red_slr said:

Can you now see why the vast majority of US gun owners oppose restrictions on rifles?

.

No, not really.

apart from the belief that more guns makes you safer ?

Well yes, that is actually the case.

You’re around half as likely to be the victim of a violent crime in the US than you are in the UK.

However the victim of a violent crime in the US is more likely to be murdered.

That’s pretty difficult to define for many reasons. It’s widely accepted that both countries report crimes in very different ways.

The definition of a violent crime in the U.K. is a catch all that includes many charges many of which don’t actually involve violence, whereas in the US it’s only used for the most serious of offences.

This is definitely an Apples and Oranges comparison although I’m not suggesting the U.K. is better or worse in comparison.

[Ructions]

A 14-YEAR-old boy shot and killed all five members of his family in the US state of Alabama and then called police and confessed to the crime.

Three of the victims were found dead at the scene, a house in Elkmont, Alabama, and the other two died later after being airlifted to a regional hospital.

“The 14-year-old caller was interviewed and confessed to shooting all five members of his family in the residence,” Limestone County sheriff said on Twitter.

“He is currently assisting investigators in locating the weapon, a 9mm handgun that he said he tossed nearby,” it said.

[Gargamel]

Ructions said:

A 14-YEAR-old boy shot and killed all five members of his family in the US state of Alabama and then called police and confessed to the crime.

Three of the victims were found dead at the scene, a house in Elkmont, Alabama, and the other two died later after being airlifted to a regional hospital.

“The 14-year-old caller was interviewed and confessed to shooting all five members of his family in the residence,” Limestone County sheriff said on Twitter.

“He is currently assisting investigators in locating the weapon, a 9mm handgun that he said he tossed nearby,” it said.

He asked the Judge to go easy on him when sentencing him, as he is an orphan.

[Ructions]

Gargamel said:

Ructions said:

A 14-YEAR-old boy shot and killed all five members of his family in the US state of Alabama and then called police and confessed to the crime.

Three of the victims were found dead at the scene, a house in Elkmont, Alabama, and the other two died later after being airlifted to a regional hospital.

“The 14-year-old caller was interviewed and confessed to shooting all five members of his family in the residence,” Limestone County sheriff said on Twitter.

“He is currently assisting investigators in locating the weapon, a 9mm handgun that he said he tossed nearby,” it said.

He asked the Judge to go easy on him when sentencing him, as he is an orphan.

Confiscate his video games and he won’t do it again.

Elsewhere in Alabama a 17 year old was charged with nine counts of attempted murder after a shooting at a high school football game.

[Gameface]

Home of the brave...

[Last Visit]

Ructions said:

Gargamel said:

Ructions said:

A 14-YEAR-old boy shot and killed all five members of his family in the US state of Alabama and then called police and confessed to the crime.

Three of the victims were found dead at the scene, a house in Elkmont, Alabama, and the other two died later after being airlifted to a regional hospital.

“The 14-year-old caller was interviewed and confessed to shooting all five members of his family in the residence,” Limestone County sheriff said on Twitter.

“He is currently assisting investigators in locating the weapon, a 9mm handgun that he said he tossed nearby,” it said.

He asked the Judge to go easy on him when sentencing him, as he is an orphan.

Confiscate his video games and he won’t do it again.

Elsewhere in Alabama a 17 year old was charged with nine counts of attempted murder after a shooting at a high school football game.

All in a day's stride for the US of A!

[dvs_dave]

Scobblelotcher said:

dvs_dave said:

Gary C said:

red_slr said:

Can you now see why the vast majority of US gun owners oppose restrictions on rifles?

.

No, not really.

apart from the belief that more guns makes you safer ?

Well yes, that is actually the case.

You’re around half as likely to be the victim of a violent crime in the US than you are in the UK.

However the victim of a violent crime in the US is more likely to be murdered.

That’s pretty difficult to define for many reasons. It’s widely accepted that both countries report crimes in very different ways.

The definition of a violent crime in the U.K. is a catch all that includes many charges many of which don’t actually involve violence, whereas in the US it’s only used for the most serious of offences.

This is definitely an Apples and Oranges comparison although I’m not suggesting the U.K. is better or worse in comparison.

Of course, and it’s a can of worms. But here’s at least some attempt to normalise the rate. It’s based off fact checking a popular social media exaggerated claim (which is of course proven incorrect), but the fundamental data is there to show an approximate double the risk in the U.K. Whilst not 100% accurate, it’s not going to be far from the truth, which is the key, wether we like it or not.

https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statement...

[Scobblelotcher]

dvs_dave said:

Scobblelotcher said:

dvs_dave said:

Gary C said:

red_slr said:

Can you now see why the vast majority of US gun owners oppose restrictions on rifles?

.

No, not really.

apart from the belief that more guns makes you safer ?

Well yes, that is actually the case.

You’re around half as likely to be the victim of a violent crime in the US than you are in the UK.

However the victim of a violent crime in the US is more likely to be murdered.

That’s pretty difficult to define for many reasons. It’s widely accepted that both countries report crimes in very different ways.

The definition of a violent crime in the U.K. is a catch all that includes many charges many of which don’t actually involve violence, whereas in the US it’s only used for the most serious of offences.

This is definitely an Apples and Oranges comparison although I’m not suggesting the U.K. is better or worse in comparison.

Of course, and it’s a can of worms. But here’s at least some attempt to normalise the rate. It’s based off fact checking a popular social media exaggerated claim (which is of course proven incorrect), but the fundamental data is there to show an approximate double the risk in the U.K. Whilst not 100% accurate, it’s not going to be far from the truth, which is the key, wether we like it or not.

https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statement...

While I broadly agree with the sentiment I disagree with double the risk.

Here is a far more well researched article on the subject (with references - lots of them!)
https://dispellingthemythukvsusguns.wordpress.com/

[Gary C]

dvs_dave said:

Gary C said:

red_slr said:

Can you now see why the vast majority of US gun owners oppose restrictions on rifles?

.

No, not really.

apart from the belief that more guns makes you safer ?

Well yes, that is actually the case.

You’re around half as likely to be the victim of a violent crime in the US than you are in the UK.

However the victim of a violent crime in the US is more likely to be murdered.

Oh, well. Thats all right then.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Halb]

Byker28i said:

Bret Stephens two years ago wrote a piece on the issues with the second amendment argument, which still is valid today

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/opinion/guns-se...

Nice article.

[dvs_dave]

Gary C said:

dvs_dave said:

Gary C said:

red_slr said:

Can you now see why the vast majority of US gun owners oppose restrictions on rifles?

.

No, not really.

apart from the belief that more guns makes you safer ?

Well yes, that is actually the case.

You’re around half as likely to be the victim of a violent crime in the US than you are in the UK.

However the victim of a violent crime in the US is more likely to be murdered.

Oh, well. Thats all right then.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Faux outrage aside.....no one is saying it is

Edited by dvs_dave on Tuesday 3rd September 20:07

[Byker28i]

They are designing new schools to take into account active shooters,
Michigan, where a new school is being built with curved walls and hiding places – specifically designed to deter active shooters.


https://twitter.com/NBCNightlyNews/status/11690479...

Which is all well and good unless the shooter is/was a student there?

[Shakermaker]

Byker28i said:

They are designing new schools to take into account active shooters,
Michigan, where a new school is being built with curved walls and hiding places – specifically designed to deter active shooters.


https://twitter.com/NBCNightlyNews/status/11690479...

Which is all well and good unless the shooter is/was a student there?

Yeah but how many times have disgruntled teens with authority problems and an access to weapons ever gone back to exact revenge on those they deem to have wronged them?

• edit to add

Aside from my flippant comment, are there any unintended consequences to these designs?

Sure, if there was an active shooter, I'd want somewhere to hide, definitely.

but in the possibly more likely scenario of say, a fire and needing to evacuate, how easily "searchable" will these bolt holes be for the fire service to check quickly to ensure noone is left on premises?

Edited by Shakermaker on Wednesday 4th September 15:50

[AJL308]

paulguitar said:

ferrisbueller said:

Must be a fluke.

How about Australia since Port Arthur?

Crikey, looks like just one. It's almost as if having tough gun legislation appears to have some kind of link to fewer gun-related deaths!

It's mostly cultural though. Mass/spree shootings are a relatively new phenomenon.

[Condi]

AJL308 said:

It's mostly cultural though. Mass/spree shootings are a relatively new phenomenon.

Most cultures wouldn't put up with 1 mass shooting, let alone 1 a month.

[AJL308]

Condi said:

AJL308 said:

It's mostly cultural though. Mass/spree shootings are a relatively new phenomenon.

Most cultures wouldn't put up with 1 mass shooting, let alone 1 a month.

Doesn't negate my point.

[Dynamic Space Wizard]

Byker28i said:

They are designing new schools to take into account active shooters,
Michigan, where a new school is being built with curved walls and hiding places – specifically designed to deter active shooters.


https://twitter.com/NBCNightlyNews/status/11690479...

Which is all well and good unless the shooter is/was a student there?

The shooter will just hide in the hiding place and shoot everyone who walks past

[TheRainMaker]

Condi said:

AJL308 said:

It's mostly cultural though. Mass/spree shootings are a relatively new phenomenon.

Most cultures wouldn't put up with 1 mass shooting, let alone 1 a month.

It's more than one a day atm.

[A Winner Is You]

Dynamic Space Wizard said:

Byker28i said:

They are designing new schools to take into account active shooters,
Michigan, where a new school is being built with curved walls and hiding places – specifically designed to deter active shooters.


https://twitter.com/NBCNightlyNews/status/11690479...

Which is all well and good unless the shooter is/was a student there?

The shooter will just hide in the hiding place and shoot everyone who walks past

Well obviously the solution is to design a school with gun racks under every desk. All the good guys have guns = no more shootings.

[Condi]

AJL308 said:

Condi said:

AJL308 said:

It's mostly cultural though. Mass/spree shootings are a relatively new phenomenon.

Most cultures wouldn't put up with 1 mass shooting, let alone 1 a month.

Doesn't negate my point.

Not saying it does, but 'culture' is born from the values and the tolerance or promotion of those values from the citizens and their government.

The fact that it has been tolerated long enough to become part of the 'culture' reflects poorly on America and the American people.