For being so opposed to gun control, I can't help but notice that Republicans seem to be in charge of most of deadliest states.

Oh, and people should probably stay the fuck out of Mexico.

Your map excludes suicides, so we can disregard that for now.

And Republicans are actively stoking social tensions and are also thoroughly disinterested in tackling poverty, so my point stands.

And besides, if, say, the 26 people killed at Sandy Hook only accounted for a small number of deaths, does that negate the idea they might still be alive if the shooter hadn't been able to purchase the weapon used? (Or, more accurately in this case, stolen it from his mother if she hadn't been able to purchase it?)

We lose our shit on guns, when over 100k die from ODing, and no one gives a shit. When 250k lose their lives yearly to medical malpractice, and people don't bat an eye. Really, the outrage is fueled by that which creates violence as well. Media. "If it bleeds it leads".

Gun Control? Really? Illinois has it in buckets, and yet Chicago is getting close to Haiti with the number of shootings.

Mexico has incredible levels of gun control. To what avail? You have to address root causes, not slap a bandaid on a boo boo on the arm when the patient is having a cardiac arrest.

"And we outlaw the shit out of drugs, don't we? Tight controls for painkillers, and holding Big Pharma accountable for over-prescribing the shit out of Oxy. Hell, I can't even walk into a CVS and buy Sudafed without showing an ID!"

I can go downtown here and score fentanyl on nearly every street corner.

I believe it starts with decent education. (old codger mode engaged): When I was in school, firearm safety classes were available as well as shooting teams. I don't know why this actually went away, but it could be tied to the NRA coup of 1977, long past when I graduated.

I don't know where, but I have an idea about the current cult/s around guns began.

1. Economics/Societal Pressure-Meltdown. I happily assign this to the stagnation of wages, cutbacks on public services etc. of the Reagan era, and continuing ever since no matter what administration, and I would on the main exempt Biden's Administration from this. I find bunches of people out in right wing gun culture worshipping Reagan, even though he is the father of modern "gun control", but since his initial actions were pointed at the Black Panthers/Scary Negroes, they ignore it.


2. Rap culture with its glorification of money and violence in its iteration of Gangsta Culture. You can tie this into the influences from Jamaican Culture melded with #1.


3. The abolition of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 (Reagan again) opening the way for hate mongers to go unchallenged, helping to rupture the social fabric even further with such personalities as Rush Limbaugh et al. Although far right radio wasn't a new thing, it grew in influence during the 1980's on. Spouting venom to frustrated people watching their wages disappearing, and their social norms/expectations melt away became very lucrative. The shenanigans of Limbaugh, Jones and crew have done much to radicalize the frustrations of conservative folks, and don't get me started on Fox & Newsmax, and now for fuck sake the NY Times.


4. The Media. As stated earlier, "If it bleeds, it leads". Just like the media fuckfest with DJT all the time, the constant focus on violence begets violence. It doesn't stop it, it encourages it. Fear is a great device to drive sales and public opinion



As an example, I see a weird fear of Muslims on most rightwing sites. I mean people absolutely froth at the mouth, forgetting/never understanding that we stuck our fucking foot into that morass known as the Middle East intentionally for oil, etc.


5. The Cult of Meal Team Six: The militarization of political dissent. This has been growing leaps and bounds since the 1980's. It really kicks into gear after the fuck up in Waco, and at the Nazi Compounds in Idaho. I can lay lots of this at the feet of Clinton, but I am sure I would read squeals of no no no no no no! from some of ya. Throw in some old fashion capitalism from gun companies and there ya are!


I could quote crime stats and gun ownership stats until the cows come home. In my mind it gets down to MONEY. The media, the politicians, the gun manufacturers etc. The average gun owner will never be in the headlines. The crisis is a deep one, back to the roots of this country if truth be told. Addressing that will be another matter.

Last edited by DmtDusty (2024-08-04 16:41:15)