Don't blame me, I voted for the other guy. (Politics General)

@neutralgrey
And a Ballistic Mask

@neutralgrey
I’m honestly torn between saving up on protective gear, versus accepting my early death because my life situation is utter shit.

Out of curiosity, what percentage of global mass shootings since the start of the pandemic have taken place in the US?

@Wiimeiser
From Wikipedia:
“The United States has had the most mass shootings of any country. In one 2017 study published in Time magazine by criminologist Adam Lankford, it was estimated that 31% of public mass shootings occur in the US, although it has only 5% of the world’s population. The study concludes that ‘The United States and other nations with high firearm ownership rates may be particularly susceptible to future public mass shootings, even if they are relatively peaceful or mentally healthy according to other national indicators.’

Despite the fact that the global COVID-19 pandemic reduced public gatherings from March 2020 onward, the amount of mass shootings increased significantly over that period. It ‘even doubled in July 2020 compared to a year earlier.’”

It’s worth noting that a “mass shooting” is defined as a shooting where there are four or more casualties, according to the FBI. In other words, it doesn’t take much for a shooting to become a mass shooting.

that’s actually correct. The vast majority of mass shootings are performed with handguns as well. there where 38,000 gun deaths in 2016, 2/3 of which where suicides. There are 5x more deaths by knives than by rifles. and nearly all mass public shootings occurred in gun free zones.

@YourPalContrail
I know you’re trying to make that sound like “guns aren’t that big of a problem!”, but it honestly just highlights how absolutely fucked up the US is with all its violence and murder, its desperation and barbarism, its lack of value for life or mental health.

Oooh, nice edit to mention the “gun free zones”*! Totally not the usual conservative talking point, straight out of Tucker’s handy handbook for how to own the libs.

I think there is truth to that. we need a better culture around human life and mental health care.

also I didn’t get that from tucker. if you want to talk about it calm down and stop implying I’m some right winger

A “gun free zone” is not a magic solution, just a regulation. It keeps the number of firearms in the vicinity down because, for the most part, people will abide by the law. Not everyone will, but that’s true of any law and regulation. I’ve always hated the logic of “shootings happen in gun free zones so we shouldn’t have gun free zones”. Drunk drivers happen, should we get rid of impaired driving laws?

It’s a deterrent that can stop crimes of sudden passion. Will it stop a determined mass shooter? No. But will it stop two men from shooting each other if they get into an argument and don’t have their guns? Most likely.

Question, do you believe that guns should be allowed in schools? A school is, by definition, a “gun free zone”.

I mean I wasn’t trying to push any policy prescription in thst post it was more of “it’s just the facts ma’am”

though SROs should be armed at schools perhaps more numerous.

@Goku Black
It’s still an unsettling thought for us Europeans that so many US denizens have the means to bring harm to several people before they can be subdued, to the point it is that regular an occurence.

I ain’t saying that things like that never happen in Europe, but certainly not to such a scale.

@YourPalContrail
And gun discipline. Pro-guns people who like to point out how many Swiss citizens are gun owners conveniently forget that military service is still compulsory over there and, as such, they’ve been extensively drilled on gun safety protocols (not to mention their longstanding tradition of hunting and sport shooting).
As such, Switzerland has around 200 gun-related deaths a year, with homicides accounting for less than 10% of that number (something in the order of 1 per million inhabitants, which is 50 times less a rate than the US).

@Ereiam
I had that one up my sleeve but yes. gun ownership in the United States is a right and I personally think training is an acceptable prerequisite especially for CCW.

That would be strongly implied by the “A well regulated Militia” part of the 2nd amendment, but even mentioning that part will flag you as a dirty commie gun-grabber.

@YourPalContrail
Frankly, I find the very sense of entitlement baked into the concept to be part of the problem - such that my desire to see the Second Amendment utterly and forever destroyed would only somewhat lessen if I was presented with convincing proof that guns somehow made America a safer place.

@YourPalContrail
Having to go through training for a year or two after reaching 18 before being legally allowed to hold a gun in a way to fire it wouldn’t be a bad idea.

@Meanlucario
True. Another pro-gun argument is the whataboutism about cars, because deaths in traffic accidents happen. Yet you can’t operate a car without getting a driving license (and you have to demonstrate that you know how to drive safely for that), so why should people be allowed to handle a gun without being licensed to do so as well?

@Ereiam
Because humanity was build on egos and stupidity.

@Ereiam
Back in 2016, most Libertarian candidates bristled at even a license to drive.

It’s also very cultural issue. We aren’t generally brought up in a manner that vilifies everyone else, we aren’t sold the idea that if we don’t have a gun, some guy will break in and murder our family. Or even in a less extreme sense that we are in a constant battle against everyone else academically or work wise.

the term “communists” has been used to death by the right. try talking to actual tankies or nasbols and you’ll want to drive your head through a wall.

@YourPalContrail
It’s because they think the Red Scare is still going on.

@Vivace
Doesn’t surprise me, given how libertarians seem to have a very “we want freedom from responsibility and consequences too” attitude.

@Ereiam
So they are trying to mimic the republicans?

I think it’s more rhetorical laziness. kinda like those idiots who label anything right of center as fascists. I’m sure there are some true believers but I think the majority want to score points as cheaply as possible.

@YourPalContrail
So like the Red Scare.