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Post by seat6 on Mar 25, 2021 19:32:36 GMT -4
If I’m ever caught up in a mass shooting (and since I go to the grocery store, spa, mall, movie theater, and work there’s a chance of that happening) and I end up on TV I swear to God I won’t offer any platitudes like, “I never thought it could happen here! We’re just a quiet neighborhood with wonderful families!”
I’m going to say, “Of course it happened here. It’s a Thursday in America. And check your stats, Mr. Reporter Guy. We had three mass shootings in this city last year.”
And for those of you who live in countries with sane gun regulations, yes, many Americans, myself included, always look for the nearest exits or hiding places when entering a public space.
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Post by Neurochick on Mar 25, 2021 20:02:24 GMT -4
To neurochick’s point, why were the people of New Zealand and its legislature willing to do something about it and the United States thinks “thoughts and prayers” is the proper response? I don't know, it's like there's this weird level of fear in the US that doesn't really exist in other places, which is why folks here feel they need to arm themselves. |
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Deleted
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Nov 28, 2024 12:55:09 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2021 21:06:51 GMT -4
Self appointed Captain of Team Doomed here with my version of "thoughts and prayers": if nothing changed after Sandy Hook, it never will. We have to have this pearl-clutching performance art after every one of these mass murders that something has to change but if dead kindergartners didn't sway anybody then nothing will. YMMV, of course. I can twist my personal opinions into pretzels. I can understand wanting a handgun for personal protection (even though statistically they are used on friends and family rather than bogeyman intruders, but I digress). I can understand farmers needing rifles to protect livestock. But keeping assault weapons legal using the "well regulated militia" language is just sick. I know I am usually Team Optimism but I am with you on this, if Sandy Hook didn't change hearts and minds - nothing will. |
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Post by ladyboy on Mar 25, 2021 21:50:13 GMT -4
To neurochick’s point, why were the people of New Zealand and its legislature willing to do something about it and the United States thinks “thoughts and prayers” is the proper response? I don't know, it's like there's this weird level of fear in the US that doesn't really exist in other places, which is why folks here feel they need to arm themselves. When I’m at my parents and fox is on 24 hours a day, they present the world as a super scary place. And it’s right outside your door!! The baddies! Are coming! And they have it all on an endless loop all day long, with no other viewpoint, so it becomes the reality. Just hate and fear, fear and hate. Of COURSE you need guns. |
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Post by kostgard on Mar 25, 2021 22:06:26 GMT -4
I don't know, it's like there's this weird level of fear in the US that doesn't really exist in other places, which is why folks here feel they need to arm themselves. When I’m at my parents and fox is on 24 hours a day, they present the world as a super scary place. And it’s right outside your door!! The baddies! Are coming! And they have it all on an endless loop all day long, with no other viewpoint, so it becomes the reality. Just hate and fear, fear and hate. Of COURSE you need guns. This is why I partially blame Fox News. They know that keeping their audience scared is a good way to get high ratings. America has also always had a problem with the idea of “rugged individualism” and the cowboy myth. While that has some benefits, it doesn’t exactly encourage empathy for your fellow man (none of this, “I should give up this toy even though I really like it because too many people are getting hurt.” It’s “You can pry it from my cold dead hands! I don’t care that your kid got murdered in school or grandma got shot at the grocery store! This is my goddam RIGHT! And somehow it outweigh’s your right to LIFE and liberty”). Stir in greed, corruption, and toxic masculinity, and you’ve got a huge mess. I keep thinking about when Australia had a mass shooting and banned assault weapons. A lot of people were mad. Politicians from rural/conservative areas knew that if they voted for the ban they’d get voted out in the next election. But many of them did it anyway because they thought it was the right thing to do. And some of them did lose their seats. How often do you see an American politician all, “I know I will lose my seat for this. But I have to do it. It’s the moral thing to do.” Just about never. You see that sort of bravery from people who we’re planning on retiring anyway. |
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Deleted
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Nov 28, 2024 12:55:09 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2021 23:27:33 GMT -4
Adam Kinzinger. He knows that going against Trump put his seat in jeopardy. But he is still doing it.
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Post by tabby on Mar 26, 2021 10:59:46 GMT -4
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Post by scarlet on Mar 26, 2021 11:11:56 GMT -4
Self appointed Captain of Team Doomed here with my version of "thoughts and prayers": if nothing changed after Sandy Hook, it never will. We have to have this pearl-clutching performance art after every one of these mass murders that something has to change but if dead kindergartners didn't sway anybody then nothing will. YMMV, of course. This was written in 2015 and I think about it every time another asshole with an assault weapon "has a bad day" and decides to take it out on the world: |
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alpierce
Blueblood
Posts: 1,144
Mar 7, 2005 13:40:30 GMT -4
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Post by alpierce on Mar 26, 2021 11:46:28 GMT -4
Self appointed Captain of Team Doomed here with my version of "thoughts and prayers": if nothing changed after Sandy Hook, it never will. We have to have this pearl-clutching performance art after every one of these mass murders that something has to change but if dead kindergartners didn't sway anybody then nothing will. YMMV, of course. This was written in 2015 and I think about it every time another asshole with an assault weapon "has a bad day" and decides to take it out on the world: Unfortunately I have to agree. Dems need win the war on messaging, on which they are simply horrible at. This is a bigger ask then most people realize because most Dems think facts are god. If that were true, Reagan never would have become president. Another thing dems don't realize is that even when you present a FACT to a republican (assuming, of course, they accepted it as a fact. This has about as much chance of happening as you winning 6 consecutive lottery draws with consecutive #'s), they simply don't care. In my view, even though they don't openly state it, they want to be able to kill people with automatic weapons that they simply don't want around. Some people love to point out to me that not all republicans are racist. I'd love to see some proof of it. But I haven't yet. |
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Post by mojogirl on Mar 26, 2021 18:53:28 GMT -4
If I’m ever caught up in a mass shooting (and since I go to the grocery store, spa, mall, movie theater, and work there’s a chance of that happening) and I end up on TV I swear to God I won’t offer any platitudes like, “I never thought it could happen here! We’re just a quiet neighborhood with wonderful families!” I’m going to say, “Of course it happened here. It’s a Thursday in America. And check your stats, Mr. Reporter Guy. We had three mass shootings in this city last year.” And for those of you who live in countries with sane gun regulations, yes, many Americans, myself included, always look for the nearest exits or hiding places when entering a public space. is the one I always think about - her son was at the Vegas mass shooting and survived, then was killed at the Borderline club shooting just over a year later. It makes me cry to watch, because she looks a lot like my mom did when I was in my early 20's, and she's wearing a Disneyland sweatshirt which my mom totally would have been doing as well. ETA: And she said she didn't want your thoughts and prayers, she wants gun control. |
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