Another gunman, another elementary school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can I do TODAY to move the needle so that this does not happen again? Write someone? Who?!

Nobody here wants to do a single thing new to protect child safety at school unless it's a form of gun control law (that may never become law).

So, in the meantime, a sure way to prevent our kids from being shot at school is to not attend school. Can home school. If all kids were home schooled, there would be zero school shootings.

Does your solution also include not going to church, or to a grocery store, or a movie theater, or a nightclub, or a country concert?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There have always been a lot of guns in the US and access hasn't changed much. If anything, access is more regulated than it was 50+ years ago. Yet we have many many more mass shootings. What variable changed? Is it social media? Different expectations for kids? Lack of mental health instituations- particularly residential ones?

Pre 1970s it wasn't all that hard to have someone committed to mental institution if they were unstable. Now, not only it that extremely difficult to do, there are very very few even left.

I think the mass shootings need to be addressed from both angles. Stricter gun lines/more regulation but also more mental health resources. And by resources I mean institutions. All the "therapy" in the world isn't enough.

Firearms today are more powerful and more efficient than in the 1970s. Less recoil, lighter, able to dispense bigger rounds more quickly, higher quality production processes, etc. Further, the gun industry has "democratized" - there are more manufacturers tpday than in the 1970s. The equipment to produce firearms is not that expensive relative to the 1970s. It's easier to do more damage more quickly in 2022 compared to the 1970s.

The internet has vastly lowered the bar for acquiring a firearm. You can chat with someone online and do a private transaction in a parking lot that same day.

The internet has also allowed gun hobbyists (and legit psychopaths) to find each other online and inspire one another. The internet and social media has led to an arms race among gun hobbyist to acquire ever more powerful firearms as a point of pride. The manufacturers have popped up to meet demand and to figure out how to circumvent gun laws. It's a cultural ecosystem where all the players involved feed off each others' enthusiasm for firearms.

Finally, the US has a toxic culture. No social trust, solidarity, or empathy for fellow Americans. Adding guns to this culture is just a recipe for violence.

I honestly think the most effective gun legislation would be to ban ownership for anyone under the age of 25 who is not active duty military, national guard, or police. Vast majority of gun crimes - excluding domestic violence - are committed by men under the age of 25. This group is also responsible for most gun suicides.

Also, tons of money started going into 2a lobbying and marketing.

Instead of selling guns primarily for recreation/hunting, they started pushing guns for "safety, security, protection", shaping the gun culture away from hunting to military cosplay.

This is a good point. Though the 2A wasn't made to ensure people are able to hunt. It was made so people always are able to protect their family/property and prevent against government tyranny. Though the government tyranny with your home rifles or even ARs is a moot point now since modern military weaponry is so far more advanced. But I do agree there has been heavy lobbying to convince people they have this high need to have a gun and protect themselves

You did not have an individual right to a firearm under 2A until the Heller decision of 2008. The current reading of 2A hasn’t even been around for 20 years.

That’s how brainwashed we are as a society by the NRA.

Even the Heller decision states that the right is not unlimited, should not extend to felons or the mentally ill, and should involve restrictions on “dangerous or unusual weapons.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There have always been a lot of guns in the US and access hasn't changed much. If anything, access is more regulated than it was 50+ years ago. Yet we have many many more mass shootings. What variable changed? Is it social media? Different expectations for kids? Lack of mental health instituations- particularly residential ones?

Pre 1970s it wasn't all that hard to have someone committed to mental institution if they were unstable. Now, not only it that extremely difficult to do, there are very very few even left.

I think the mass shootings need to be addressed from both angles. Stricter gun lines/more regulation but also more mental health resources. And by resources I mean institutions. All the "therapy" in the world isn't enough.

Firearms today are more powerful and more efficient than in the 1970s. Less recoil, lighter, able to dispense bigger rounds more quickly, higher quality production processes, etc. Further, the gun industry has "democratized" - there are more manufacturers tpday than in the 1970s. The equipment to produce firearms is not that expensive relative to the 1970s. It's easier to do more damage more quickly in 2022 compared to the 1970s.

The internet has vastly lowered the bar for acquiring a firearm. You can chat with someone online and do a private transaction in a parking lot that same day.

The internet has also allowed gun hobbyists (and legit psychopaths) to find each other online and inspire one another. The internet and social media has led to an arms race among gun hobbyist to acquire ever more powerful firearms as a point of pride. The manufacturers have popped up to meet demand and to figure out how to circumvent gun laws. It's a cultural ecosystem where all the players involved feed off each others' enthusiasm for firearms.

Finally, the US has a toxic culture. No social trust, solidarity, or empathy for fellow Americans. Adding guns to this culture is just a recipe for violence.

I honestly think the most effective gun legislation would be to ban ownership for anyone under the age of 25 who is not active duty military, national guard, or police. Vast majority of gun crimes - excluding domestic violence - are committed by men under the age of 25. This group is also responsible for most gun suicides.

I think that is not a bad idea. You are right, they are usually teens or early 20s. But that doesn't stop them from proxy access through their parents.

Then let's start charging parents with criminal negligence. There are so many easy answers here.

Isn't that happening in the Michigan case?

Either way, this guy was 18...so I don't think charging the parents would apply here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can I do TODAY to move the needle so that this does not happen again? Write someone? Who?!

Nobody here wants to do a single thing new to protect child safety at school unless it's a form of gun control law (that may never become law).

So, in the meantime, a sure way to prevent our kids from being shot at school is to not attend school. Can home school. If all kids were home schooled, there would be zero school shootings.

Another alternative - home school boys only. Since 1989, every mass shooting at school (K-12) has been perpetrated by a male.

FCPS budget is $3.3 billion / 90,000 families maybe? (180k students) = roughly $36,700 per family. Just pay people to home school. $36,700/year. We can make it tax free. That's $3,000/month per family after tax to not work and keep your would be killers home.

The recent shooting and Sandy Hook were perpetrated by intruders that weren’t students at the school.

[Anonymous]

Can we all just agree that Easy Access to Assault Weapons has NOTHING, nothing AT ALL, to do with mass shootings.

Sending Thoughts-n-Prayers(tm) to all present (and future!) victims! We're holding you in the light! Vote Republican if you love mass shootings!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can I do TODAY to move the needle so that this does not happen again? Write someone? Who?!

Nobody here wants to do a single thing new to protect child safety at school unless it's a form of gun control law (that may never become law).

So, in the meantime, a sure way to prevent our kids from being shot at school is to not attend school. Can home school. If all kids were home schooled, there would be zero school shootings.

Does your solution also include not going to church, or to a grocery store, or a movie theater, or a nightclub, or a country concert?

I'm talking about stopping school shootings. The topic of this specific thread was a school shooting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can I do TODAY to move the needle so that this does not happen again? Write someone? Who?!

Nobody here wants to do a single thing new to protect child safety at school unless it's a form of gun control law (that may never become law).

So, in the meantime, a sure way to prevent our kids from being shot at school is to not attend school. Can home school. If all kids were home schooled, there would be zero school shootings.

Another alternative - home school boys only. Since 1989, every mass shooting at school (K-12) has been perpetrated by a male.

FCPS budget is $3.3 billion / 90,000 families maybe? (180k students) = roughly $36,700 per family. Just pay people to home school. $36,700/year. We can make it tax free. That's $3,000/month per family after tax to not work and keep your would be killers home.

The recent shooting and Sandy Hook were perpetrated by intruders that weren’t students at the school.

Why weren't doors locked? Our FCPS E.S. had double set of entry doors, locked. Needed to buzz to gain access by administrator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can I do TODAY to move the needle so that this does not happen again? Write someone? Who?!

Nobody here wants to do a single thing new to protect child safety at school unless it's a form of gun control law (that may never become law).

So, in the meantime, a sure way to prevent our kids from being shot at school is to not attend school. Can home school. If all kids were home schooled, there would be zero school shootings.

Nothing is stopping us from increasing school security.

Everyone agrees on that.

Why not start there? We could start that today.

[Anonymous]

I'm all for stricter gun laws, but that's only part of the solution -- and frankly -- the easier part of the solution. For starters, we need to step up and clamp down on the rampant cyberbullying that takes place -- cyberbullying that causes too many kids to kill themselves or to kill innocent people. We also need to boycott Hollywood and its glorification of violence -- a glorification that enriches media (i.e. film, TV and music) executives while putting the idea into young people's minds that it's okay or cool to go on shooting rampages. Finally, we need to find ways that support and strengthen families. No, I'm not talking about "traditional family values" or anything like that. I'm talking about an environment in which young people have healthy adult parents or mentors who instill them a sense of self-worth or confidence -- a sense of purpose in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can I do TODAY to move the needle so that this does not happen again? Write someone? Who?!

Nobody here wants to do a single thing new to protect child safety at school unless it's a form of gun control law (that may never become law).

So, in the meantime, a sure way to prevent our kids from being shot at school is to not attend school. Can home school. If all kids were home schooled, there would be zero school shootings.

Nothing is stopping us from increasing school security.

Everyone agrees on that.

Why not start there? We could start that today.

No, they don't. They falsely believe it's a zero sum game- that if you are pro gun bans, you must oppose added school security measures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm all for stricter gun laws, but that's only part of the solution -- and frankly -- the easier part of the solution. For starters, we need to step up and clamp down on the rampant cyberbullying that takes place -- cyberbullying that causes too many kids to kill themselves or to kill innocent people. We also need to boycott Hollywood and its glorification of violence -- a glorification that enriches media (i.e. film, TV and music) executives while putting the idea into young people's minds that it's okay or cool to go on shooting rampages. Finally, we need to find ways that support and strengthen families. No, I'm not talking about "traditional family values" or anything like that. I'm talking about an environment in which young people have healthy adult parents or mentors who instill them a sense of self-worth or confidence -- a sense of purpose in life.

No it's not "easier" because people keep voting Republicans into office who won't pass common sense gun laws. These Republican members of Congress are indebted to the NRA.
And, in case it hasn't dawned on you, Republicans are also not willing to pay for mental heath care, community efforts to end cyber-bullying, or social programs to help struggling parents.

We can't do what you suggest until Republicans are voted out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It's too much.

A tranche of gun lobby-supported soul-less people support killing 45K people a year. That's the number of Americans killed by gunfire every year.

It does not reflect the views of the majority of the population. But because we have a system of lobbies and the ability to fundraise political campaigns by taking the money from rich corporations, lawmakers are CORRUPTED by greedy and murderous gun manufacturers.

We need to restrict lobbying in this country. We need to go after the ones who make the guns, and the ones who sell the guns, and the ones who take money from both these businesses to block legislation in congress so they can raise enough to stay in power by keeping their campaigns afloat.

The will of the people is being circumvented by corporations. The health of the people is being crushed by legislators who prefer getting paid to do nothing rather than stand on their own two feet and do something.

Enough.

This. The Citizens United decision was one of the worst things that could have happened to America. Our democracy is really just facade because we know our politics is beholden to corporations with money and not the people. Corporations as people under the constitution is absolute garbage. The majority of this country is actually sane and wants gun control (even many gun owners themselves), but we can’t get it because the gun manufacturers will spend whatever is necessary to fight it.

I don’t even know how anyone who works for the gun lobby can put their head on their pillow at night and sleep soundly after innocent people are slaughtered routinely in this country. Their salaries are paid with the blood of children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm all for stricter gun laws, but that's only part of the solution -- and frankly -- the easier part of the solution. For starters, we need to step up and clamp down on the rampant cyberbullying that takes place -- cyberbullying that causes too many kids to kill themselves or to kill innocent people. We also need to boycott Hollywood and its glorification of violence -- a glorification that enriches media (i.e. film, TV and music) executives while putting the idea into young people's minds that it's okay or cool to go on shooting rampages. Finally, we need to find ways that support and strengthen families. No, I'm not talking about "traditional family values" or anything like that. I'm talking about an environment in which young people have healthy adult parents or mentors who instill them a sense of self-worth or confidence -- a sense of purpose in life.

Agree.

We know the shooter was from a broken home and a troubled background.

Why can’t algorithms detect that instead of all the marketing BS pushed by TikTok and Instagram?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But we do have gun laws, and criminals and mentally ill people break them. Keeping guns out of the hands of law abiding, sane citizens will not fix the problem. Crack down on real criminals would be one way to get started. But instead, we're doing the complete opposite.

Good guys with guns are not stopping the bad guys with guns. The gun culture in this country is the problem and the lax regulations are a symptom. It all needs to change.

In this case, the good guys with guns killed the gunman. Why there was not one resource officer at the actual school is a whole other issue. How did he get in?

One resource officer against a mentally unstable shooter with ARs? Who do you think is going to survive that one?

Multiple law enforcement officers did everything they possibly could today and what is the death toll still up to?
“Officers and Border Patrol agents placed themselves between the shooter and the children, multiple people told The Washington Post.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/05/24/school-shooting-uvalde-texas-updates/

What if no one had been there? We may never be able to save all lives, but we shouldn't stop trying to save some lives.

Banning guns will save tens of thousands of lives. Not one or two.

Just like banning illegal drugs??
We’re currently up to 100,000 killings a year from illegal drug abuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm all for stricter gun laws, but that's only part of the solution -- and frankly -- the easier part of the solution. For starters, we need to step up and clamp down on the rampant cyberbullying that takes place -- cyberbullying that causes too many kids to kill themselves or to kill innocent people. We also need to boycott Hollywood and its glorification of violence -- a glorification that enriches media (i.e. film, TV and music) executives while putting the idea into young people's minds that it's okay or cool to go on shooting rampages. Finally, we need to find ways that support and strengthen families. No, I'm not talking about "traditional family values" or anything like that. I'm talking about an environment in which young people have healthy adult parents or mentors who instill them a sense of self-worth or confidence -- a sense of purpose in life.

Agree.

We know the shooter was from a broken home and a troubled background.

Why can’t algorithms detect that instead of all the marketing BS pushed by TikTok and Instagram?

I used to work for a company that did and there were indeed a lower number of killings that year.