Prayers Are Not Enough…
ENOUGH ALREADY!!!
"Now is not the time to talk about it…"
This is what we hear from half of our elected leaders when the subject of sensible gun regulation (not a gun ban) is brought up.., and unfortunately it is usually the topic of discussion after one of the many - MANY mass shootings that take place in America. It is brushed aside for another day, even after a bunch of school children were gunned down in cold blood.
It's no secret gun violence in America is out to control… Given the latest mass shooting in Las Vegas, hearing the continuous automatic firing of the weapon(s) bearing down on the innocent lives gathered for a night of fun and music, it's hard to ignore the facts. Normally, Im not a big fan of statistics.., to me they lack the human element, the people that don't die but are forever haunted by the death of a loved one.., or the images that will forever be burned into their memory of the person right next to them being shot in the face and killed.
But in this case.., the statistics speak volumes…
No other developed country has a "hard-on" for guns like America.., we have 6x the amount of gun deaths (homicides) than Canada, 7x more than Sweden and 16x more than Germany… Americans make up 4.4% of the worlds population yet almost half of the guns owned by civilians worldwide are owned by Americans. In 2015 there were more mass shootings in America than there are days in the year. Since the massacre of 20 children at Sandy Hook in 2012 there have been 1,518 mass shootings accounting for 1,715 deaths.
And regardless of what the GOP says.., states with more guns have more gun deaths and that's not just a USA thing, other developed countries with more guns have more gun deaths, too. Plus, the states with more guns have many more suicides. Even police officers are more likely to be killed doing their job in states with more guns.
Even though most Americans support measures to restrict guns.., still nothing gets done. Nobody wants to take all your guns away (that's just paranoid meathead thinking)… But most Americans do support: background checks, bans on assault weapons, high capacity ammunition clips.., and more common sense restrictions to try and keep the killing to a minimum when it does happen -- and it will happen.
If you want and chose to own a gun for personal protection, to protect your family, to go hunting, for target practice (sport) -- nobody wants to take that from you. But if you want to own military style weapons, then go join the damn military, they do not belong in your house, in your privately owned possession, on the streets, or in the hands of the mentally ill.
That massacre in Las Vegas killing almost 60 people, is worse than any one day than our 16 year war in Afghanistan -- right in out backyard more people were killed than in a war zone, by an American! When do we take our heads out of our asses.., and realize -- more guns don't make us safer.., the numbers don't lie. On average one child dies every week from a gun accident. A woman is shot every 16 hours by her partner. There are almost double the amount gun shops, than there are freaking coffee shops. And it costs us 229 billion dollars, while leaving out a slew of other indirect costs, like long term care, mental health issues, legal proceedings, extra security after one of our many mass shootings. That is just monetarily, I thinks we all know the human cost...
The Right To Bear Arms Is Bullshit
Just to be clear.., and before the gun nuts start freaking out -- I grew up around guns, both legal and illegal. I've had guns stuck in my face (not a lot of fun), I myself never chose to carry a gun but most of the people I grew up with did… Plus, here in NYC if you are caught with a concealed weapon you are going to jail for 3 1/2 years no questions asked -- can you say Plaxico Burress, famous football or not, you are going away.
Now, Im not going to go into a whole drawn out interpretation or explanation of the Second Amendment.., but in no way does it say that individuals have the right to buy or own guns in any capacity they choose, free of regulation. It pertains to a trained and disciplined body of politic (i.e. militia). There is nothing in the constitution or any of the amendments that tries to curtail gun ownership, but there is nothing that guarantees individual gun ownership, either.
Another big phrase uttered by gun lovers is: “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” Once again, BULLSHIT. The sophistication of weaponry has turned the tides of civilizations dating back to Attila the Hun and the bow-n-arrow. The greater the killing power of weapons, more people die. Look, even if we banned guns completely -- people would still die from violent altercations.., but that is no argument (not an intelligent one), for societies to be overflowing with not just guns, but military-style assault weapons that can easily be modified to get the most amount of killing done in the shortest period of time.
Nobody is trying to ban guns.., it is safe to say. But weapons that can cause such mass destruction do not belong on the streets. What will it take for America to actually have the balls to stand up for what is right -- common freaking sense gun regulation, that's all. How many more mass shootings do we have to witness, before we as a country act like responsible adults. We ALL know there is no reason for anyone to own military-style weapons, yet gun stores can't even keep them in stock, they sell like hot-cakes.
Already, just two days after biggest mass shooting in America, stocks of gun manufactures have risen.., and I would imagine sales have been better than normal… This gun culture, that is America, is afraid that stricter regulations may be implemented, so they rush out to buy as many as they can… Are we that fearful as a people, that we need to own so many damn guns… I was raised in one of the toughest neighborhoods in NYC.., and the real tough guys, the guys you looked up too, always said -- "the bigger your gun, the smaller your pecker!"
"If not now.., when…"
REFERENCE:
http://www.gunviolencearchive.org
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/10/mass-shootings-increasing-harvard-research
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hicrc/firearms-research/guns-and-death
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2015.302749
http://lawsonline.com/LegalTopics/SecondAmendment/interpreting-the-second-amendment.shtm
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Meh, I don't care.
The right to self defense is free or it's not, the appeals to emotion and popularity, and appeal from authority notwithstanding.
This information is readily available for many countries, but here is a sample comparing two countries' violent crime rates, including the stats on the much feared and reviled guns.
source
This ruse that 'less guns equals less violence' has been well and truly refuted time and again. More guns does indeed equal more GUN violence, but it also decreases other violent crimes by allowing the law abiding to protect themselves against criminals who will use knives, clubs, broken bottles, rocks, et cetera . It also decreases other violence, as the weak can protect themselves against those who do not abide by the laws.
I don't approve of these posts, but I would never let the 'consensus' define what my natural rights are.
The majority of any consensus are ignorant and mostly unintelligent. If I let the 'consensus' define my natural rights, or how I defend myself and my rights, I would already be dead.
Unfollowed.
To unfollow a person for one of their opinions or one of there stands I do not get. He had post and links and things you valued before, but now that he has an opinion different than yours equates to an unfollow, no wonder the United States political system is so screwed up. If we can not stand for a person to have core beliefs different than ours then we as a nation are doomed. Pick your next presidential choice based on his/her ONE belief you have in common with them, = Stupidity.
I deal with people with different opinions than mine all of the time. The ones I unfollow are the ones who allow themselves to succumb to emotion and cease to reason. I don't have time for people who are willfully ignorant, and continue spreading lies. If someone expresses an interest in violating individual natural rights, they are to be convinced with reason and logic, or they are to be avoided as best I can. If they persist, they are to be defended against.
Lies like the ones promoted here are the ones that lead to defenseless victims.
Voting is useless, and so is the political system.
That is what is nice about steemit, we choose. We can try to see things someone else's way, we can try to educate them to our views, or we can enter into a discussion about how we can re-consolidate our differing opinions. And then yes we have the option of washing our hands of it all and walking away.
The truth is in the perception of the one viewing it, the truth is not the same for everyone. When it is all broken down, there honestly is only one true truth, and it is not the truth you, or I or him, or her see, all truth is open for interpretation except for one, and that is Things Change.
I have not stated opinions, only facts. If someone persists in promoting lies that violate individual natural rights, they are dangerous. I need not associate with them.
I see that you are a moral relativist. The truth of natural rights is not up for interpretation. Physics operate the same way no matter what misguided people believe.
Thanks I think, all though to be honest I don't really know what that means. I only know one truth, and that is that things change. I don't know if you are right or if @macksby is right.
Statistic and charts and all the graphs in the world can be made to support what ever side the statisticians wants to prevail. Do to many people die from guns? Yes. Do to many people die because of drunk drivers? yes. Do to many people die from medical mistakes? Yes. People die, people kill people. Does the method really matter in the end, a person died.
Then in this matter, what does it matter. It is the politicians that are going to make the call, you've abdicated out of the system, (or so it seems), so for you I do not see what @macksby opinion makes in the matter to you.
Then you have misunderstood. Please look into natural law. I would also recommend the Trivium, and the Quadrivium.
I can pop up as many stats as you that say the opposite... And what's wrong with a shot gun for protection, instead of a military-style assault weapon..?
"Unfollowed" right back at ya!
It is unlikely that you will be able to refute actual facts.
What's wrong with the right to self defense, by all means possible, including the means brought against the law abiding by the criminals among us? A shotgun will never be sufficient to defend oneself from a criminal using a rifle. If you think so, then you might look into the abilities of the individual weapons, but I suspect you will not, and will continue spreading this misinformation.
I didn't start on Steemit to be followed by those who wish to violate my rights by promoting lies, good riddance to bad rubbish.
That suits me just fine... Im not on Steemit to be followed by the ignorant, so it works out for both of us. Have a good life!
May you find an acceptance of the truth someday.
Let's try to be kind to one another in those time of hardship primarily caused by governments which are trying to disempower us more every day.
If you can please do so.
Look, I don't trust the gov't as much as the next guy (or gal) on here.., but ignoring that the gun culture in America is out of control doesn't do any of us any good.
I suppose these are ALL conspiracies:
Still showing off your success at misinterpreting statistics and still not addressing my points. This is either manipulation, or you truly don't understand the context of the argument in which you are engaged.
HAHAHA!!!
So, is that an admission of trolling?
how can I be trolling my own post...
When you said you "could pop up as many stats as you that say the opposite" I'm not sure you were referring to the statement above but if you were, the statistics you provided don't invalidate the above statement.
I don't question your statistics. I've already saw some of them and I'm pretty knowledgeable on the topic.
Let's try to converse in an uplifting manner toward one another.
Whether or not the stats @lifeworship provided are true which I think they are, doesn't mean that more gun regulations are always a bad thing.
I've already shared some of my position of gun regulation in a comment I made on one of @lukestokes post here.
Here's an excerpt of a longer conversation I had with Luke.
Here's a little peek at how well law abiding citizens do protecting themselves with a gun --
And while I appreciate your time and input.., when someone accuses me of spreading lies, I will respond to them as I see fit. Cheers
I'm not sure if you think I accused you of spreading lies but I didn't.
No, but you seem to be defending the person that did...
I'm not sure what you are trying to argue with the video.
People with lower level of training with firearm usually perform at a lower level than people with better training.
I haven't argued against this.
It's simple.... What Im trying to is -- more guns are not the answer.
Perhaps making weapons accessible to people is deliberate.This world is led by bad guys who care only about controlling and making money.Their last concern is the safety of citizens.Yesterday we saw the whole world solidarity with the victims in Las Vegas.But there are many victims every day in Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Burma and other countries.But no one cares about them.I am against war, murder and armament.Regardless of sex, race and religion.In the latter, the people are the victims of these gangs
That's definitely a possibility @mounirzaza07.., they could be hoping we just kill each other. And how great would a world without any arms be.., too bad we have not evolved that far, yet!
This statistic doesn't exactly sound like "Mass Shootings". I would expect that a "Mass" shooting includes 2 or more deaths each? Simple math would conclude that 1715/1518 is barely more than 1 death per incident. Not that any single one of those deaths are insignificant, I just feel like those statistics are flawed.
Regulations are great, but in the case of this Vegas shooting, there is no proposed legislation that would have prevented this occurrence from happening.
Now, Banning Assault Rifles is the only "proposed" law that may have POSSIBLY prevented this incident. Which is also a law that will never be passed, so let's all please take a few deep breaths, calm down, and take a realistic view at things.
Argument of why banning Assault Weapons will never happen:
-- You'll hear most of the arguments around the lack of being able to properly defend ourselves from / oppose a tyrannical government ... slightly weak argument, but not terribly far off-base ... people are followers, it could happen (examples: Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini).
-- Just look at Cryptocurrencies ... easy to get them even when there are regulations preventing certain individuals from obtaining it, eh?
So Here Goes:
-- If you have a mental illness (or history of one), I'm sorry, you will not be allowed to own a weapon (safety first).
-- If you were Convicted of a Felony (misdemeanors we can probably consider case-by-case), I'm sorry, you will not be allowed to own a weapon (you lost that right the moment that you broke a significant law).
I'm sure there's more, but I'm pretty tired of the gun conversation TBH. Not enough people know how to use common sense and teach anyone who is handling a weapon ALL of the Dangers of a Weapon, and WHEN it is Appropriate to Use one.
Your arguments are the same crap we keep hearing... Why do we have any laws then.., people break the all kinds of laws all the time. And stats could be skewed.., because the NRA has pressured our weak politicians into passing some kind of "law" that prohibits gun violence research. Any sane, reasonable adult knows there is no need for assault-styled weapons to be owned privately, unless maybe you happen to live in a war zone. We have to register our cars, why not guns. And guns are by no means anything like cryptocurrencies, c'mon.
It's great to read your thoughts on this issue! Looks like you did your research and you provided References which is a good thing.
I just read an article on the subject.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/i-used-to-think-gun-control-was-the-answer-my-research-told-me-otherwise/2017/10/03/d33edca6-a851-11e7-92d1-58c702d2d975_story.html
Seems to have some good ideas for possible ways forward toward solutions at the end. Hopefully some things will be done to deal with gun violence.
Thanks @kenny-crane... I'll give that article a look when I get in later. It's hard to grasp why nothing has been done already, though.
Perhaps if they only allowed single shot weapons (as they were when the amendment was written), then the death count would be lower?
Having said that, the Las Vegas shooting was planned. Planned shootings will continue to happen with illegal weapons and illegal ammunition. But, if large caliber and large magazine and automatic weapons become illegal, then maybe it would become more obvious when someone is planning something horrible.
I couldn't agree more, let the gun lovers own as many muskets as they want... And yes, bad things will happen, there is no way to avoid it.., but common sense can't be ignored.
Statistic can say what a person want them to say.
Is that number derived per 100,000 population or is it based on total population? I don't know.
From a google web site:
Canada population: 35,141,542 (36th) 2013
United States : 321 million (3rd) ------- does it really mean anything that the united states has almost ten times the population of canada, not really.
When you look at crime stats around the world, I know it seems that we have a big problem with gun deaths in the US, but even so with some of the other death stats and crime stats from US and other countries, really guns are not the problem. Criminals are the problem, and the definition of criminal is the problem. A guy selling cigarettes on a street corner is not a criminal. A guy growing a little pot to help his PTSD is not a criminal. The criminals are in a lot of cases the judicial system. Locking up non-violent offenders and making room for them by letting violent offenders out early. Its not the guns its the politicians, and criminal justice system.