From my perspective, it seems that the rights of the few (NRA etc) out weigh the rights of the many, the people of the US. There are too many shootings, and for what?
There have been only 274 days this year. The shootings are captured in this calendar, drawn from the the Mass Shooting Tracker. The tracker draws some criticism because its definition is broader than the FBI's definition, which requires three or more people to be killed by gunfire. But the broader definition is nonetheless a useful one, because it captures many high-profile instances of violence — like the Lafayette theater shootings — that don't meet the FBI's criteria.
… And of course, there's the broader universe of nearly 10,000 people killed and 20,000 wounded in nearly 40,000 gun violence incidents so far this year.
Read more at the Washington Post
When it comes to gun massacres, the United States is tragically exceptional: There are more public mass shootings in the United States than in any other country in the world, according to a new study. …
The 90 U.S. mass shootings are nearly a third of the 292 such attacks globally for that period. While the U.S. has 5% of the world's population, it had 31% of all public mass shootings. …
What's behind all these mass slayings in the United States?
- The copycat phenomenon …
- Is desire for fame a factor? …
Read more at CNN
And that brings me to the latest tragedy at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg,Oregon this morning.
At the last update this evening, there are 10 dead and 7 wounded. Little is known about the shooter but more will unfold in the coming days.
It’s hard to know what’s sicker. The latest rampage and mass murder of innocents by a gun-wielding killer, or the knee-jerk reactions by Republican presidential candidates tweeting their sympathies after spending their political lives opposing gun control? …
Ex-Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who supports vigilante “Stand Your Ground” laws and carrying concealed weapons, tweeted, “Praying for Umpqua Community College, the victims, and families impacted by this senseless tragedy.” …
Read more comments from Republican presidential candidates in Alternet.
And these tweets from politicians who would rather tweet platitudes than address the issues by tightening gun regulations.
Speaker John Boehner ✔@SpeakerBoehner
Prayers for the victims, families, students, & faculty at Umpqua Community College, & the community of Roseburg, Oregon.
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and all those affected by this terrible tragedy at Umpqua Community College in Oregon.
This is on us. Silence from Congress has become quiet endorsement of those whose minds unhinge and veer toward mass violence.
Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat from Conneticut has the correct idea. Read further comments at The Huffington Post
Listen to part of Mr Obama's speech at The Huffington Post where he says:
"We are collectively answerable to those families who lose their loved ones because of our inaction,"
Please keep the victims and their families, and the people of Roseburg, Oregon in your thoughts and/or prayers. There is an online book of condolences where you can leave words of sympathy and support.
15 Responses to “Under the Gun”
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"When will we learn that too many people have died? When will we ever learn" RIP victims and prayers to the families and a pledge to do what I can to get elected leaders to do their job and protect our people–gunshots are now the #1 cause of death for those under 26 years old–a change in the past couple years that never should have been allowed to happen. Thanks Lynn
This is TOO MUCH! It has to stop! And it has to stop NOW! The way that Congress goes about doing business around these massacres is totally ridiculous! They act like their platitudes of sympathy is ALL they need to do! They need to ACT AND ACT NOW!!! DO SOMETHING! Pass laws that prevent this kind of heartless behavior!!!
My condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and wounded! They will never be the same! And this nation will never be the same. We need for it to CHANGE, though! Change for the better and less guns in EVERY person's hands!
Thanks for the link for the condolences book. I will be visiting that link, for sure!
If the NRA were really a gun safety organization (which it once was, and within my lifetime, although just barely) it would be leading the nation in writing sensible rules regarding who should have guns and where and how they should be kept. Yes, I know, the Constitution says it is a right, but any right can be lost – look at the right not to be locked up. However, the NRA today is merely a political shill for the makers and sellers of guns and ammo. The people of the United States arenot to be protected in their book.
Yup–their corporations underwrite so much instead of membership fees that the members' voices were silenced much like what Citizens United has done to campaign funding and politics.
I totally agree with you, Joanne.
If the NRA ran the tobacco industry, their solution for lung cancer would be “MORE CIGARETTES”!
I agree with you and this Australian comedian makes similar sense:
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/25/1373205/-Australian-comedian-tries-to-make-sense-of-American-gun-laws-nailed-it?detail=emailclassic
I read all the articles, and it makes my heart hurt. Too many killed by a deranged gunman. Too many politicians who mouth their condolences, but do nothing. It is past time for an overhaul on gun control, and helping the mentally ill instead of turning them out on the street in the hopes they will take their meds. which started under Reagan. This is a sad commentary on our country.
Every time I hear about these mass shootings, I feel terrible for the victims and their family and friends and all who got caught-up in the traumatic event. But I'm also sad to notice that with each new incident I'm hardened a bit, and with the rate of mass shootings going up, despite the FBI's "redefinition" of what a mass shooting is, I'm finding it harder not to be callous.
However, it isn't about mass shootings only, is it? "[] nearly 10,000 people killed and 20,000 wounded in nearly 40,000 gun violence incidents so far this year." Yes, America has deluded people who are copy cats and yes, America has extreme attention seekers craving their moment of fame – as appeared to be the case in Roseburg, but when are Americans going to admit to themselves it is a cultural and sociological problem: America is a violent nation with far too many guns about, the combination of which literally deadly and, with the one reinforcing the other in a vicious circle, spiraling out of control. The reaction to mass shootings has been to buy even more guns "to defend", just as the IRA is propagating, and with that all types of incidents where guns were involved keep increasing at an accelerating rate.
Unless Americans are willing to face these facts instead of making them worse with legislation allowing open-carry, concealed-carry even in bars and churches, "stand your ground", no background checks and what have you and drastically limit the ownership of guns, like the Australians have done, thinks will only get worse.
As an afterthought: The FBI is not doing the American people a favor by upping the number of people who have to be killed to four before calling it a mass shooting. The copycat or attention and fame seeker will now only kill even more people to get himself a headline in the news.
I agree with the above comments. Sadly, all so true, when will it STOP?
Pithy summary of the Rethuglican stand on Gun Control:
You got that right, unfortunately…
There are many organizations out there, in cyber-space, advocating better and tougher laws regarding gun controls. Join them and help pass laws by doing whatever you can: signing petitions, donations, joining gun control groups, support politicians who are for gun control. Remove those politicians who are supported by the NRA out of office.
Give the NRA the boot, the finger as it no longer about gun safety but about supporting gun manufacturers. Let us put the NRA out of business. Let us start by labeling it, the NRA, as a terrorist organization which it really is nowadays.
90% + of the general population want better and more control laws passed.
Yes, USA leads the world in mass shootings of its civilians. USA is # 1. USA has that distinction, unfortunately…
One of the petitions addressing gun violence:
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/51013/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=17423
Petition signed. Thanks jla.