My 2 cents is it's all of the above, and more... mental illness and drug crises (the problem-drugs here in the US are far worse than cannabis), economic hardship, violence glorified in media, and too-easy access to assault rifles. And yes - I know rifles are not responsible for most of the shootings, but that might be the first step towards common ground on this contentious issue. I would personally like to see a reduction in gun culture overall, but I doubt that is possible as long as Hollywood, TV shows, and games depict guns as the main solution to problems.
But Marian - the only thing you mentioned on your list not freely available anywhere else not actually a war zone is the guns. Yet nowhere else has as many mass shootings. Across the US you've had 60+ this YEAR... and it's the middle of FEBRUARY. Everyone watches your violent movies and TV shows (me included). Everyone plays violent video games (me included). So... Why is the US *SO* exceptional? I think that's the question that needs to be answered.........
Personally, the first thing I'd do is repeal the 2nd Amendment.
You wouldn’t have to repeal the 2nd Amendment, just strictly interpret it like they like to do on other issues. They can have the guns available in the 1700s and only if they’re used while a member of a well-regulated militia.
@CyberKitten - Repealing the 2nd amendment would gather up all the guns from law-abiding citizens who keep them locked up in their gun safes and take them out of Walmarts. I am curious though how one would go about gathering all the guns that criminals and gang members have stockpiled/hidden - and without doing that, would we really be making a dent in gun violence? Maybe... I'm just not convinced...
One of the problems in the US is we are not starting with a blank slate like countries that don't have as much of a gun culture. We have to work with the situation as it is. Understand that a lot of good people are very scared right now with all the actual crime going on, criminals being released the next day back onto streets, etc, which is why many people own guns. I'm in favor of more regulation and reform but we have to be careful how it's enacted or it will pour oil on an already burning fire.
@ V V: I understand the existence of the 2nd in the context of the late 18th century. But in the early 21st? It seems.... bizarre to say the least. A citizens militia alongside a modern Armed Force? Beyond silly.
@ Marian: Repeal of the 2nd wouldn't mean an automatic gathering up of guns - just the removal of the *right* to have them. It'd make the removal of guns from certain individuals and the prevention of them obtaining any more (legally) far easier. Of course there's no single 'silver bullet' fix for your gun problem (which some people of course don't see AS a problem). Any solutions would have to address a whole host of issues and would probably take generations to have the desired effect. You are not going to have an overnight solution. But just because the problem is huge doesn't mean that nothing can be done or even attempted because it won't solve everything all at once. Even something is better than nothing. Maybe a good start is enforcing the laws that already exist and eliminating known loopholes. Research WHY the problem exists. Come up with ideas that address the problem - and then slowly solve it....
@CyberKitten - I'm undecided on the repealing of the amendment, but I do agree with you on the last sentences you wrote. Andrew Yang had some interesting and creative ideas on this when he was running for president. As with so many of his ideas, I wish more people had paid attention to him. We're in a very bad pattern right now of "status quo" ....
When we accepted that the rights of children to live is less important than the right to own guns, I knew nothing would ever change. After Sandy Hook and all those babies being murdered, it did not make one bit of difference. It's disgusting and I hate this stupid country.
Agreed. After Sandy Hook I knew that no future shooting would make any difference no matter who or how many died. These things don't magically just exist. They happen for reasons. Find out what causes them - and STOP it. It probably won't be simple, easy or straightforward but I doubt VERY much if its impossible - unless of course you don't *try* to fix it.
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My 2 cents is it's all of the above, and more... mental illness and drug crises (the problem-drugs here in the US are far worse than cannabis), economic hardship, violence glorified in media, and too-easy access to assault rifles. And yes - I know rifles are not responsible for most of the shootings, but that might be the first step towards common ground on this contentious issue. I would personally like to see a reduction in gun culture overall, but I doubt that is possible as long as Hollywood, TV shows, and games depict guns as the main solution to problems.
But Marian - the only thing you mentioned on your list not freely available anywhere else not actually a war zone is the guns. Yet nowhere else has as many mass shootings. Across the US you've had 60+ this YEAR... and it's the middle of FEBRUARY. Everyone watches your violent movies and TV shows (me included). Everyone plays violent video games (me included). So... Why is the US *SO* exceptional? I think that's the question that needs to be answered.........
Personally, the first thing I'd do is repeal the 2nd Amendment.
You wouldn’t have to repeal the 2nd Amendment, just strictly interpret it like they like to do on other issues. They can have the guns available in the 1700s and only if they’re used while a member of a well-regulated militia.
@CyberKitten - Repealing the 2nd amendment would gather up all the guns from law-abiding citizens who keep them locked up in their gun safes and take them out of Walmarts. I am curious though how one would go about gathering all the guns that criminals and gang members have stockpiled/hidden - and without doing that, would we really be making a dent in gun violence? Maybe... I'm just not convinced...
One of the problems in the US is we are not starting with a blank slate like countries that don't have as much of a gun culture. We have to work with the situation as it is. Understand that a lot of good people are very scared right now with all the actual crime going on, criminals being released the next day back onto streets, etc, which is why many people own guns. I'm in favor of more regulation and reform but we have to be careful how it's enacted or it will pour oil on an already burning fire.
@ V V: I understand the existence of the 2nd in the context of the late 18th century. But in the early 21st? It seems.... bizarre to say the least. A citizens militia alongside a modern Armed Force? Beyond silly.
@ Marian: Repeal of the 2nd wouldn't mean an automatic gathering up of guns - just the removal of the *right* to have them. It'd make the removal of guns from certain individuals and the prevention of them obtaining any more (legally) far easier. Of course there's no single 'silver bullet' fix for your gun problem (which some people of course don't see AS a problem). Any solutions would have to address a whole host of issues and would probably take generations to have the desired effect. You are not going to have an overnight solution. But just because the problem is huge doesn't mean that nothing can be done or even attempted because it won't solve everything all at once. Even something is better than nothing. Maybe a good start is enforcing the laws that already exist and eliminating known loopholes. Research WHY the problem exists. Come up with ideas that address the problem - and then slowly solve it....
Well said.
@CyberKitten - I'm undecided on the repealing of the amendment, but I do agree with you on the last sentences you wrote. Andrew Yang had some interesting and creative ideas on this when he was running for president. As with so many of his ideas, I wish more people had paid attention to him. We're in a very bad pattern right now of "status quo" ....
When we accepted that the rights of children to live is less important than the right to own guns, I knew nothing would ever change. After Sandy Hook and all those babies being murdered, it did not make one bit of difference. It's disgusting and I hate this stupid country.
Agreed. After Sandy Hook I knew that no future shooting would make any difference no matter who or how many died. These things don't magically just exist. They happen for reasons. Find out what causes them - and STOP it. It probably won't be simple, easy or straightforward but I doubt VERY much if its impossible - unless of course you don't *try* to fix it.
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