I'm watching BBC now and they are asking, "Why doesn't America do more to restrict guns?" and "Why doesn't America do more to address mental health issues?" *sigh*
I'm watching BBC now and they are asking, "Why doesn't America do more to restrict guns?" and "Why doesn't America do more to address mental health issues?" *sigh*
Let us know if BBC comes up with any useful answers.
I admit I haven't read the rest of this thread (I just can't) but I did have a moment with my MIL that I was amazed by. I told her about the shooting because she lives in a bubble, we talked about it briefly (mainly, why? How? The unanswerables) and I said, well basically statistics and we have the most lax gun laws in the world. She is a huge huge NRA supporter, and she said, "well yes, but I don't want to give up my guns." And I said "well your selfishness is causing the deaths of multiple people every day." And she said, "Yes." Holy shit!
I was amazed she admitted it! Will it change her opinions? I highly doubt it, but maybe it will get her to see that her beliefs and actions directly impact the lives of others.
Wow! What good are her guns doing her? Does she carry everywhere so she can be a "good guy with a gun"? That is the part I'm not really sure about. I definitely hear people say if we got rid of all guns "well then all the law abiding citizens will not have guns but criminals can still get them" but for the "I don't want to give up my guns" people, what is their reasoning? The ones I know have lofty and semi patriotic/semi treasonous visions of fighting a future, hypothetical tyrannical government.
The other question I have is... how do we deal with the second amendment?? I'm pro no guns, but that isn't actually constitutional. What's the end game of the increased gun control fans? Enforce what we have and slap on greater restrictions? Is there another country we should model this on?
I really just don't know what I realistically want to happen (because ideally all guns would go away) and I would love to hear other people's thoughts.
I admit I haven't read the rest of this thread (I just can't) but I did have a moment with my MIL that I was amazed by. I told her about the shooting because she lives in a bubble, we talked about it briefly (mainly, why? How? The unanswerables) and I said, well basically statistics and we have the most lax gun laws in the world. She is a huge huge NRA supporter, and she said, "well yes, but I don't want to give up my guns." And I said "well your selfishness is causing the deaths of multiple people every day." And she said, "Yes." Holy shit!
I was amazed she admitted it! Will it change her opinions? I highly doubt it, but maybe it will get her to see that her beliefs and actions directly impact the lives of others.
Wow! What good are her guns doing her? Does she carry everywhere so she can be a "good guy with a gun"? That is the part I'm not really sure about. I definitely hear people say if we got rid of all guns "well then all the law abiding citizens will not have guns but criminals can still get them" but for the "I don't want to give up my guns" people, what is their reasoning? The ones I know have lofty and semi patriotic/semi treasonous visions of fighting a future, hypothetical tyrannical government.
The other question I have is... how do we deal with the second amendment?? I'm pro no guns, but that isn't actually constitutional. What's the end game of the increased gun control fans? Enforce what we have and slap on greater restrictions? Is there another country we should model this on?
I really just don't know what I realistically want to happen (because ideally all guns would go away) and I would love to hear other people's thoughts.
Nope, her guns are back in Michigan, locked in a gun safe. She does follow good gun safety rules, so that's good, but she herself wonders how exactly it helps her to have her guns and ammo in different locked cabinets if there is a bad guy. They live in BFE Michigan, so it would take a cop a good 30 min maybe to get to them. Still, we know what statistics say about your own guns being used against you.
I I wish I had answers. I don't think zero guns will ever work, but I wish we could at least start down the path of discussion without it being shut down immediately. (Acknowledging that it does look like untreated mental illness issues appear to be at play in this case)
I admit I will be curious about the media discussion of mental illness considering he was a black man. The race war angle will dominate coverage, I'm sure.
#BlackLivesMatter seriously has had to come out and say that they do not condone killing white people in retaliation for black shootings. OMFG.
Also, did you see that the reporter had just moved in with one of the evening anchors? I saw his twitter and it was heartbreaking. The photog was engaged to the morning show producer as well.
The news is having an "all black guys look alike" problem in regards to the photos being used of the shooter. I know this is mentioned upthread, but I thought I'd hit the issue again.
Another Roanoker checking in. Such incredibly sad news. While I didn't know any of the victims personally, they were friends of friends and frankly this is just heartbreaking news for the entire area. There are so many devestating and terrible details about this shooting that continue to emerge.
I will say that the good will coming out from the community in support of the victims, their families, and WDBJ7 is amazing. My heart is certainly with all of them.
So it has been 24 hours. Is it too early to ask the victim's families if they forgive the shooter? Because that has been asked of every black family in recent shootings and I haven't seen one journalist even think to ask that of anyone. And I gotta say the difference in respect for the families pisses me the fuck off. More than the question itself.
I just had a lightbulb moment. In reading the fb comments made about this shooting I noticed that something was different, but couldn't put my finger on it. In almost every instance where they showed the shooter's picture the comments were along the lines of "stop showing this criminal, focus on the families".
So it has been 24 hours. Is it too early to ask the victim's families if they forgive the shooter? Because that has been asked of every black family in recent shootings and I haven't seen one journalist even think to ask that of anyone. And I gotta say the difference in respect for the families pisses me the fuck off. More than the question itself.
So it has been 24 hours. Is it too early to ask the victim's families if they forgive the shooter? Because that has been asked of every black family in recent shootings and I haven't seen one journalist even think to ask that of anyone. And I gotta say the difference in respect for the families pisses me the fuck off. More than the question itself.
this seriously happens? what the fuck? i've never heard this.
Alison Parker's father is talking about gun control and the NRA and urging journalists to "shame" the politicians for not doing more to prevent things like this from happening. He specifically mentioned Sandy Hook and Colorado. I'm in awe that he is trying to put his grief aside and try to get something good to come from this.
Alison Parker's father is talking about gun control and the NRA and urging journalists to "shame" the politicians for not doing more to prevent things like this from happening. He specifically mentioned Sandy Hook and Colorado. I'm in awe that he is trying to put his grief aside and try to get something good to come from this.
Richard Martinez, father of one of the Santa Barbara victims, similarly became active in the cause. Unfortunately, he was almost immediately attacked online and threatened with violence offline. As if losing a child in such a horrific manner isn't bad enough.
Alison Parker's father is talking about gun control and the NRA and urging journalists to "shame" the politicians for not doing more to prevent things like this from happening. He specifically mentioned Sandy Hook and Colorado. I'm in awe that he is trying to put his grief aside and try to get something good to come from this.
Richard Martinez, father of one of the Santa Barbara victims, similarly became active in the cause. Unfortunately, he was almost immediately attacked online and threatened with violence offline. As if losing a child in such a horrific manner isn't bad enough.
He actually said that he doesn't own a gun but recognizes that if he aggressively pursues this, and he intends to, that he probably will need to get one. A sin and a shame, but obviously, he is right that taking up this cause may put his life in danger.
This article, about one of the Sandy Hook families trying channel their grief into something productive, to get gun control measures passed - and having to watch it fail - is one of the saddest things I've ever read.