Today's Senseless Violence

Just came from an AA meeting….didn’t hear anyone say this!

 

If a population cannot be responsible with something dangerous then that population loses the right to own that dangerous thing. Everyone pays the price across the board.

 

We’re already paying the price anyway. Almost all kids killed worldwide by guns die in America. It’s the leading cause of death for kids. Animals have the instinct to protect their young at all costs, but way too many Americans protect their gun fetish over all else

 

Louisiana teenager shot by neighbor as she played hide-and-seek

 

The Children of gun violence

Half of Those Under 40 Have Witnessed a Shooting in Chicago at an Average Age of 14 Years Old

 

“In a country where it feels like any conflict can escalate from heated words to mass murder in an instant, it’s not surprising that most people will just look the other way...It only takes one person to move from a freeze state and provide support based on consent, solidarity and recognizing the inherent dignity of the person who is experiencing a crisis.”

How To Help De-Escalate Bad Situations When You're In Public

 

That link you provided is excellent. As once a psychiaric nurse, I've helped defuse, or done so on my own, quite a few tense situations. That article is worth a read. Frankly, it's sort of a "common sense" thing. Tricky to do when emotions are rampant, but it can be done.

 

And...."Chicago’s gun laws are among the most restrictive in the United States"!

 

GUN MANUFACTURER: Hey . I know what--lets start making some of those weapons of war available to the public.

BOARD MEMBER: Pfft--are you crazy? Nobody would buy weapons like those!

GM: You been living in a cave , boy? People in the US love their guns, especially the bigger and more deadly they are.

BM: Man, you can't hunt with em'---they'd blow game all to hell--the ammo is expensive and I just believe there's no use for example--the AK 47

GM: Man, that's exactly what the people want! There'd be HUGE BUCKS in marketing those!! Let's get it started .

BM: I don't know, man--there seems to be a lot of--uh--angry people and turbulence in the country--plus what about the percentage of citizens that--shall we say--don't have both oars in the water?

GM: Oh c'mon man---fuck em'--there are enough police to stop any nuts from going off on people. You're too damn sensitive and needlessly worried.

BM: Yeah maybe so. OK--let's do it and see what happens. What about carry permits?

GM: There you go again! Man, that's being taken care of---we're spending the big bucks lobbying republicans to get in office and a couple have already promised to do away concealed carry permits--relax, man--it's happening.

BM: Well, I suppose if what you say is anywhere close to the truth-----but does that mean any old joe can -----

GM: Relax boy--get ready to start counting the money that gonna'make you a millionaire many time over!!

BM: Yeah well---guess I could pay off that third vacation home up in Vermont.

GM"Now there ya' go---you're with the program. Let's go to the range--I got something I wanna' show ya'.

 

Ratcheting down gun violence and deaths is going to be a very long and arduous task. And it’s still getting worse as the right continues the headlong plunge into anarchy and mayhem. The US needs widespread concrete action….the alternative is too horrible to contemplate. Some days I despair that the GOP and it’s minions simply don’t give a shit about anyone.

 

You know, people read BS sentences like this and actually believe them..... "BM: Man, you can't hunt with em'---they'd blow game all to hell--the ammo is expensive and I just believe there's no use for example--the AR 15." ......

When in fact, the AR15 is chambered for .223 cal. which is relatively inexpensive and what's termed as a varmint cartridge. I certainly wouldn't use anything that small and ineffective on Deer....Geeeeezzzzzhhhhhh!

I'm sure there's some hotshots out there, that do and thinking that they're so good, that they can make a head shot every time. In actuality they fail miserably with the poor animal then bleeding profusely and running for miles before dying a slow death.

Interesting that the people are most against certain weapons, know the least about them.

Why the AR15 being a weapon of choice for the insane is for another story and one that wouldn't interest you..

 

Well, I'm interested! Come on, what's your take on the matter?

 

Don't worry friend--my family and I have plenty of guns. We went through extensive background checks. We shoot only targets--nothing living. We have 223s.

 

Well then you should know that a .223 doesn't blow anything all to hell and the bullet itself doesn't have the grain and shocking power for large game.
Thing is, people who don't have a clue believe this thing to be some sort of a cannon and there's enough hype about it out there, all ready.
If you really want people to get up and listen to whatever your argument is, you must first sound like you have some knowledge of the machine.

 

Well, firstly, It became popular with the government adopting it as the official NATO rifle and shortly after the onset of the Viet Nam war.

Then for every manufacture cloning the thing and for making it look even more deadly.

Crazies love mean looking weapons, it seems.

As for the rifle itself, there's not many owners as a whole that actually have an original Colt AR15 and again, the only thing that makes it different from any other semi-auto (and they are not machine guns, either) rifle is it's mean looks. Well, maybe for having a shorter barrel than most, that would have some benefits but there are many others that pretty much work the same way and I do mean many.

The AR also uses a light weight high velocity cartridge, so the carrying of a lot of ammo, doesn't weight one down so much.

When speaking of dependably though, one might choose an AK 47 semi-auto clone of which many of our soldiers and marines chose to use instead, in the early days of Viet Nam, that belonged to the other side. But, AR-15 rifles are lighter and have a higher rate of accuracy than the AK-47, even though the AK-47 is considerably cheaper and more dependable in comparison.

And finally with so many shooters using the AR, that's the first thing that comes to the mind of the copy cats after watching the news. In fact if there were no news of these horrific incidences, there would be less shootings. Just too many out there, that want the headlines and the fame, for themselves.

OK, all this is nothing but trivia, except for Mechanical Engineers and gun nuts.

As for me, I like certain models for their historical significance and seldom fire them.
And some have never been fired, but like the next guy, I would just as soon be ready if and when, push comes to shove.

 

Being from the UK and not particularly wanting to wade in to another country's emotive issues; I am quite dismayed for the several thousand people of the US whom I've met over 20yrs and whom I still know, despite their stance on gun ownership. . And I still (mostly) like them.

Even those I have disagreed with - on politics and weaponry - we still get along, though, to be truthful, with less interest on my part.
Professionally trained in a variety of weapons; it's not which weapon someone has but why they feel the need to have a weapon. That may seem naive but, really, is it?
Most in the public who own them have little to no professional training. I don't discount those who paid for guidance but who gave such guidance?
What did they actually pay for?
How would they know if they were suitably trained, or not.
How many of them have considered that they are paying for something that they have already been conditioned to think they need when clearly, they don't and are merely being exploited and paying for their own exploitation?
And if they were ever to 'need' such weaponry, there's a heck of a lot more they need to know beyond using it, that I shouldn't and shan't mention here (or anywhere publicly).
Not knowing such stuff would make their position futile - absolutely futile - regardless of their weapon.

To improve my learning;
Am I correct to believe that some hold weapons in case the Government 'let's them down'? (for the want of a better expression).
Is there some who hold them so they can fend off something they are annoyed about?
Perhaps they've lost faith in Law Enforcement and want to take out someone such as burglar?


I expect, there's not just one answer to that but I'd like to know more, to try to get a better handle on it.
Why? Because I have a thought.
(Yep, I know, my siblings have said that's usually my first mistake but, hey ho. lol)

Firstly; if a civilian weapon holder has such a weapon as to fight against (what they dislike) in government forces/policy, they wouldn't stand a chance.
Their weapon would be more a sign of who the govt agencies should take out, than who's going to fight.

Secondly; If they want their weapon for vermin control or such-like, they need nothing so big as an AR15. Nothing bigger than an M1 carbine should be needed. Yeh, that may seem like piffle for some but it's all that would be needed in most instances. What about bears? Well, yes there's different types types but, I know an 84yr old woman who just shooos them away (brown bears) and others, she let's them do their thing - they're not around for long. She's an amazing woman. More metaphorical balls than many so-called 'men'.

Thirdly; If they want to protect their own property, if they need any weapon, they would need nothing more than a shot gun unless those attacking are equipped with other stuff - and they could be, I suppose though I think, that's not about ownership but permission to own.

More importantly; I would suggest, is proper checks on who can access or obtain such weaponry.
Checks in the UK revolve (sorry about the pun) around necessity. Farmers for vermin mostly, they can qualify. Others with properly authenticated/adjudged needs too.
None without such needs and none with medical issues that might make such permission unwise.

As for some guy going to the shops with what could be described as a bazooka, FFS, take him away and give him the counselling he needs. Yes, 'he'; its usually men with such OTT equipment.

That's my view from across the pond. Don't shoot me down, please. lol I'd like to know more because it's an anathema to us in a largely gun-free society (except for illegal weaponry).

 

In 2019 a guy armed with an AR-15 opened fire on a crowd in Dayton, Ohio. He was shot and killed by police in 32 seconds. In those 32 seconds, he shot 26 people.
There is absolutely no legitimate excuse for a citizen of a modern civilized society to have that degree of lethality at their fingertips.

I'm sick to death of living in a country where the best idea anyone can come up with is teaching Tactical Combat Casualty Care to third graders.

It has come to this. Should HB 1147 pass, Texas eight-year-olds would be taught how to apply compression bandages and chest seals to the gaping, bloody wounds of their friends and teachers in the event of another mass shooting that many assume to be inevitable.

Texas schools proactively send parents DNA kits to identify their kids’ mangled bodies after the next shooting.

This is the best America can offer their own children.
Seriously; fuck this place!