One set of parents from every US kindergarten class most likely will have to bury their child

[Anonymous]

I hadn't realized quite how much more dangerous the US is than any other developed country.

This article in the FT makes clear that the chance of a five-year old dying before reaching the age of 40 is four times higher in the US than in comparator countries (UK, Canada, Germany etc). One in 25 US 5 year olds won't make it to 40, vs 1 in 100 in other countries.

This isn't just about guns, though that is part of it, but also about traffic deaths, overdoses etc.

When you think about it, it is pretty extraordinary that Americans tolerate this. I think many people on DCUM are pretty pro-gun control, and think of themselves as the good guys. But look at the fuss about the bike lanes on Connecticut or Old Georgetown. You are just as tolerant of young people dying, when the necessary changes to avoid it would force you to make any changes.

https://www.ft.com/content/653bbb26-8a22-4db3-b43d-c34a0b774303

[Anonymous]

I would certainly love to see gun control measures passed but I worry the most about traffic safety. We are a car-obsessed country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would certainly love to see gun control measures passed but I worry the most about traffic safety. We are a car-obsessed country.

That's a mistake, as gun deaths have now passed traffic deaths as the biggest cause of death for kids. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/12/14/magazine/gun-violence-children-data-statistics.html

[Anonymous]

Teen overdoses are the big threat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would certainly love to see gun control measures passed but I worry the most about traffic safety. We are a car-obsessed country.

That's a mistake, as gun deaths have now passed traffic deaths as the biggest cause of death for kids. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/12/14/magazine/gun-violence-children-data-statistics.html

If you look at the data, the biggest increase is in gun homicides among Black teens. Tripled since 2013.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teen overdoses are the big threat.

Doubled in one year from 2019-2020. Continues to rise by at least 20% year over year since then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would certainly love to see gun control measures passed but I worry the most about traffic safety. We are a car-obsessed country.

That's a mistake, as gun deaths have now passed traffic deaths as the biggest cause of death for kids. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/12/14/magazine/gun-violence-children-data-statistics.html

We should care about both. Countries that have taken dramatic steps to reduce one have usually also taken dramatic steps to reduce the other. Often around the same time in history. Countries like the Netherlands were motivated to totally redesign their transportation infrastructure back in the 70s because of the number of children being killed in traffic accidents, and they also passed strict gun control laws around the same time. It's a reflection of a culture that highly values the safety and welfare of children.

These countries also do things like give money to all families so they can feed and clothe their kids regardless off income (Finland) or provide extensive post-natal care and parental leaves and subsidized childcare, and this is done largely to benefit kids, not parents (though it does benefit parents). The idea is that children deserve the best possible start in life. And this stuff isn't restricted to Scandinavia. You see more child-centric policies in Africa, Asia, the Mid-East, than you do in the US. Often these policies are portrayed as feminist or pro-women, but that's not how they are conceptualized elsewhere. They are pro-child.

Americans do not value children. We do not value their lives, their education, their happiness. Our individualistic culture extends even to children. It's like a cult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would certainly love to see gun control measures passed but I worry the most about traffic safety. We are a car-obsessed country.

That's a mistake, as gun deaths have now passed traffic deaths as the biggest cause of death for kids. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/12/14/magazine/gun-violence-children-data-statistics.html

If you look at the data, the biggest increase is in gun homicides among Black teens. Tripled since 2013.

Yes, and let's look at Chicago a city which has the most draconian gun control laws, yet experiences the highest incidence of gun violence, especially in the black community. So yes, gun control is a great topic to spout off about but does it really work? Are we then going to take away all the knives and sharp objects? If an evil person, and that's who the nashville shooter women was, wants to cause harm and use physical violence they will find a way. I think it's much better to properly secure our buildings and stop declaring these places as gun free zones which only encourages people like the nashville shooter. She knew it was low on security and she could get in there easily. JFC, let's be smart and protect our children with the technology and knowledge and man power we have, it's easier then you might think. And if society would stop demonizing every single cop as a horrible person our children could find some comfort in their presence. We need to be smarter and pro active, this constant cry about taking legal guns away from legal gun owners is never going to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would certainly love to see gun control measures passed but I worry the most about traffic safety. We are a car-obsessed country.

That's a mistake, as gun deaths have now passed traffic deaths as the biggest cause of death for kids. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/12/14/magazine/gun-violence-children-data-statistics.html

If you look at the data, the biggest increase is in gun homicides among Black teens. Tripled since 2013.

What are you saying? It’s just black teens so who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would certainly love to see gun control measures passed but I worry the most about traffic safety. We are a car-obsessed country.

Automobile deaths are going down due to technology and regulations.

It will continue to go down.

Gun deaths are rising due to lack of safety and regulations.

It will continue to go up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would certainly love to see gun control measures passed but I worry the most about traffic safety. We are a car-obsessed country.

That's a mistake, as gun deaths have now passed traffic deaths as the biggest cause of death for kids. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/12/14/magazine/gun-violence-children-data-statistics.html

We should care about both. Countries that have taken dramatic steps to reduce one have usually also taken dramatic steps to reduce the other. Often around the same time in history. Countries like the Netherlands were motivated to totally redesign their transportation infrastructure back in the 70s because of the number of children being killed in traffic accidents, and they also passed strict gun control laws around the same time. It's a reflection of a culture that highly values the safety and welfare of children.

These countries also do things like give money to all families so they can feed and clothe their kids regardless off income (Finland) or provide extensive post-natal care and parental leaves and subsidized childcare, and this is done largely to benefit kids, not parents (though it does benefit parents). The idea is that children deserve the best possible start in life. And this stuff isn't restricted to Scandinavia. You see more child-centric policies in Africa, Asia, the Mid-East, than you do in the US. Often these policies are portrayed as feminist or pro-women, but that's not how they are conceptualized elsewhere. They are pro-child.

Americans do not value children. We do not value their lives, their education, their happiness. Our individualistic culture extends even to children. It's like a cult.

Scandinavian counties are not the be all , end all of nirvana. I know from experience. I have an idea, don't have children you can't afford to support, that what DH and I did when planning our family. We knew our income potential and its' limits and although both of us would have loved a large family it was two and done for us. It's what we both knew we could comfortably afford and support without depending on handouts from the government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would certainly love to see gun control measures passed but I worry the most about traffic safety. We are a car-obsessed country.

That's a mistake, as gun deaths have now passed traffic deaths as the biggest cause of death for kids. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/12/14/magazine/gun-violence-children-data-statistics.html

If you look at the data, the biggest increase is in gun homicides among Black teens. Tripled since 2013.

Yes, and let's look at Chicago a city which has the most draconian gun control laws, yet experiences the highest incidence of gun violence, especially in the black community. So yes, gun control is a great topic to spout off about but does it really work? Are we then going to take away all the knives and sharp objects? If an evil person, and that's who the nashville shooter women was, wants to cause harm and use physical violence they will find a way. I think it's much better to properly secure our buildings and stop declaring these places as gun free zones which only encourages people like the nashville shooter. She knew it was low on security and she could get in there easily. JFC, let's be smart and protect our children with the technology and knowledge and man power we have, it's easier than you might think. And if society would stop demonizing every single cop as a horrible person our children could find some comfort in their presence. We need to be smarter and pro active, this constant cry about taking legal guns away from legal gun owners is never going to work.

Yea, it works. Look what happened during the years of the assault weapons ban.

Of course a better option would be just to confiscate all the guns. My own preference would be to do that. Door to door, take them by force if need be. Make legends in their own minds test that gumption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would certainly love to see gun control measures passed but I worry the most about traffic safety. We are a car-obsessed country.

That's a mistake, as gun deaths have now passed traffic deaths as the biggest cause of death for kids. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/12/14/magazine/gun-violence-children-data-statistics.html

If you look at the data, the biggest increase is in gun homicides among Black teens. Tripled since 2013.

What are you saying? It’s just black teens so who cares?

Maybe they’re saying that’s the place to target reductions in violence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would certainly love to see gun control measures passed but I worry the most about traffic safety. We are a car-obsessed country.

That's a mistake, as gun deaths have now passed traffic deaths as the biggest cause of death for kids. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/12/14/magazine/gun-violence-children-data-statistics.html

If you look at the data, the biggest increase is in gun homicides among Black teens. Tripled since 2013.

Yes, and let's look at Chicago a city which has the most draconian gun control laws, yet experiences the highest incidence of gun violence, especially in the black community. So yes, gun control is a great topic to spout off about but does it really work? Are we then going to take away all the knives and sharp objects? If an evil person, and that's who the nashville shooter women was, wants to cause harm and use physical violence they will find a way. I think it's much better to properly secure our buildings and stop declaring these places as gun free zones which only encourages people like the nashville shooter. She knew it was low on security and she could get in there easily. JFC, let's be smart and protect our children with the technology and knowledge and man power we have, it's easier then you might think. And if society would stop demonizing every single cop as a horrible person our children could find some comfort in their presence. We need to be smarter and pro active, this constant cry about taking legal guns away from legal gun owners is never going to work.

Maybe they should be more strict about who can buy a gun, and have strict licensing and insurance requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would certainly love to see gun control measures passed but I worry the most about traffic safety. We are a car-obsessed country.

+1. My husband was hit while walking to the subway last week by an SUV likely going around 20 MPH. The culprit was a crazy mom bringing her son to middle school. She had total visibility, but I assume was busy doing something else. My husband is 6'1 and 185 and he broke bones in his back and needed staples in his head. I keep thinking what if he was a kid or what if he was a smaller adult. Our cities are really built for driving in a way that many other cities are not. I also feel law our traffic laws favor cars over pedestrians and bikers to a large extent. You can basically kill someone and as long as you don't flee the scene you're fine.