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mahnmutAn unprecedented campaign of disarmament has taken place across Serbia, following last week's double shooting spree that sparked protests and calls for tighter controls on violent content in media outlets:
https://www.euronews.com/2023/05/11/serbs-surrender-8500-weapons-in-disarmament-campaign-after-double-shooting-spree
Woah.
Imagine this in the US after mass shootings.
To put this into perspective, Serbia has 6.5 million people, the US 340 million. The Serbs returned 8,500 illegal or legal weapons in just 1 week. That would be about 500,000 illegal or legal weapons returned US-wide in the week after a mass killing.
I'd completely understand you if you now told me this would never happen in the US, ever. That would be too extreme even if a mass shooting took place in the halls of Congress which at this point I do see coming some day.
One'd hope the US at least comes to its senses and comes with with some kind of gun control that makes sense but you'll forgive me if I won't hold my breath.
https://www.euronews.com/2023/05/11/serbs-surrender-8500-weapons-in-disarmament-campaign-after-double-shooting-spree
Woah.
Imagine this in the US after mass shootings.
To put this into perspective, Serbia has 6.5 million people, the US 340 million. The Serbs returned 8,500 illegal or legal weapons in just 1 week. That would be about 500,000 illegal or legal weapons returned US-wide in the week after a mass killing.
I'd completely understand you if you now told me this would never happen in the US, ever. That would be too extreme even if a mass shooting took place in the halls of Congress which at this point I do see coming some day.
One'd hope the US at least comes to its senses and comes with with some kind of gun control that makes sense but you'll forgive me if I won't hold my breath.
luzribeiroArm teachers and have the cops implement the curriculum is a red state wet dream:
Texas attorney general calls for teachers to be armed after massacre in Uvalde
It boggles the mind that the solution to mass shootings is to turn them into shoot outs.
Reminds me of the old African idea of sleeding with a virgin to cure AIDS. The cure just spreads the disease.
There has to be a better way of doing this. After all, these things don't happen in any other civilized country on the planet, and none of them need to have military security at their schools. Someone's obviously doing something very wrong.
Hmmm, wonder what that could be?
Texas attorney general calls for teachers to be armed after massacre in Uvalde
It boggles the mind that the solution to mass shootings is to turn them into shoot outs.
Reminds me of the old African idea of sleeding with a virgin to cure AIDS. The cure just spreads the disease.
There has to be a better way of doing this. After all, these things don't happen in any other civilized country on the planet, and none of them need to have military security at their schools. Someone's obviously doing something very wrong.
Hmmm, wonder what that could be?
On topic (maps). Open carry
6/12/21 20:39luzribeiroSchool shootings allowed in all states...
This map shows US state laws regulating the open and concealed carry of guns in the US.
Source: http://ow.ly/oxN450H2IRy
I bet that makes Americans feel very proud, patriotic and safe of course.
Some observations.
Strange. It looks like Russia. It behaves like Russia. It has guns like Russia. But has the USA map shape.
There must be a lot of wild and dangerous animals in the US that so many guns are needed.
You'd think that Florida would have been less California and more Texas in this way but nah.
Guns are cheaper than a psychiatrist, that explains a lot.
And a question. So is America such a violent society because it has guns, or does it have guns because it is such a violent society?
This map shows US state laws regulating the open and concealed carry of guns in the US.
Source: http://ow.ly/oxN450H2IRy
I bet that makes Americans feel very proud, patriotic and safe of course.
Some observations.
Strange. It looks like Russia. It behaves like Russia. It has guns like Russia. But has the USA map shape.
There must be a lot of wild and dangerous animals in the US that so many guns are needed.
You'd think that Florida would have been less California and more Texas in this way but nah.
Guns are cheaper than a psychiatrist, that explains a lot.
And a question. So is America such a violent society because it has guns, or does it have guns because it is such a violent society?
Good guy with a gun
29/11/21 20:46kiaaThe NRA/GOP push for open carry without license or registration or training coupled with red state legislatures lowering the bar for self-defense = greater threat to the public at large:
The Kenosha shooting was the inevitable result after decades of the NRA’s twisted self-defense rhetoric
If you're going to have open carry in order for the citizenry to protect themselves and others from the bad guys with guns, then why not license them. First, there needs to be a minimum age. You don't need teen aged boys with high powered rifles loose in public and unsupervised. Second, it's common sense to require some tests to make sure that they are competent and know how to use their weapons safely.
You know, like we do with cars. You need a driver's license to operate one legally, and for good reason.
Yes, yes, I've heard of the Second Amendment. The Supreme Court has already allowed the infringement of the right to keep and bear arms. You already can't walk into a mall with a sword and a hand grenade. That infringes your right to keep and bear arms, but no one seems to care.
( Read more... )
The Kenosha shooting was the inevitable result after decades of the NRA’s twisted self-defense rhetoric
If you're going to have open carry in order for the citizenry to protect themselves and others from the bad guys with guns, then why not license them. First, there needs to be a minimum age. You don't need teen aged boys with high powered rifles loose in public and unsupervised. Second, it's common sense to require some tests to make sure that they are competent and know how to use their weapons safely.
You know, like we do with cars. You need a driver's license to operate one legally, and for good reason.
Yes, yes, I've heard of the Second Amendment. The Supreme Court has already allowed the infringement of the right to keep and bear arms. You already can't walk into a mall with a sword and a hand grenade. That infringes your right to keep and bear arms, but no one seems to care.
( Read more... )
mahnmut
Here's an alternative story. The sheep observe other barns, where wolf-like creatures called "dogs" live alongside sheep without attacking them.
Instead of asking the other sheep how they've achieved this, our sheep give themselves sharper teeth in hope of stopping our wolves from attacking them.
Result: more sheep end up being eaten by wolves in our barn.
All that violence
5/8/19 09:56luzribeiro"Hatred has no place in our country", Trump said in the wake of the two mass shootings (were they #195341 and #195342 for the US already?)
Hmmm. Interesting. Well, if you do believe hatred has no place in your country, STOP FUCKING SPREADING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!
The guy who shot all those (mostly brown) people in El Paso explicitly wrote in his manifesto that he was following the example of the Christchurch shooter in New Zealand, who was a sick racist trying to "cleanse" the place from migrants. This one was subscribing to a particularly vile conspiracy that's been circulating the Internet as of late, claiming the black, brown and generally non-white people are going to "replace" whites as the dominant race. So he acted upon his beliefs.
A previous recent shooter had also cited Christchurch as his inspiration.
Are we not noticing a pattern here yet?
By the way, where was Trump after Daton? The same place where he was now after El Paso. Nowhere to be seen for half a day. And where did he put the blame for the violence? As one might have easily expected. Nowhere near where it really is. He blamed it on mental issues. No word about loose gun control, no word about the racial hatred HE HAS HELPED SPREAD.
This is only going to get worse, folks.
Hmmm. Interesting. Well, if you do believe hatred has no place in your country, STOP FUCKING SPREADING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!
The guy who shot all those (mostly brown) people in El Paso explicitly wrote in his manifesto that he was following the example of the Christchurch shooter in New Zealand, who was a sick racist trying to "cleanse" the place from migrants. This one was subscribing to a particularly vile conspiracy that's been circulating the Internet as of late, claiming the black, brown and generally non-white people are going to "replace" whites as the dominant race. So he acted upon his beliefs.
A previous recent shooter had also cited Christchurch as his inspiration.
Are we not noticing a pattern here yet?
By the way, where was Trump after Daton? The same place where he was now after El Paso. Nowhere to be seen for half a day. And where did he put the blame for the violence? As one might have easily expected. Nowhere near where it really is. He blamed it on mental issues. No word about loose gun control, no word about the racial hatred HE HAS HELPED SPREAD.
This is only going to get worse, folks.
A thought experiment
11/7/19 13:50mahnmutNothing riles up the conservative base like this.
What if the Census asked about firearms ownership?
( A hypothetical questionnaire )
This made me crack up "Would your concern rise to such a level that you might refuse to fill out the long form Census questionnaire or even lie on the form to protect your privacy?"
Doing such a concern fren!
I can just see 'ol Clem looking fearfully at the census form... dabbing sweat from his brow as his eyes dart back and forth from the paper to his gun safe.
Should he answer truthfully!? Will the census police come and investigate? Would they ever find out? Of course they would, them government folks... they have ways of finding out.
Hand trembling, he touches his #2 pencil to the paper. Unable to control his fear-induced tremors Clem presses too hard and the tip of the pencil snaps leaving an ugly scar on the pristine white form. "Sheeeeeet", he cries out as he clutches his pearls. Now they will know for sure! They will come for him! He just knows it. The census police will know! They probably already do.
But wait... what is that noise!? A nearly imperceptible rattle of the door handle. They’re already here!!!
The horror! The abject horror!!!!
What if the Census asked about firearms ownership?
( A hypothetical questionnaire )
This made me crack up "Would your concern rise to such a level that you might refuse to fill out the long form Census questionnaire or even lie on the form to protect your privacy?"
Doing such a concern fren!
I can just see 'ol Clem looking fearfully at the census form... dabbing sweat from his brow as his eyes dart back and forth from the paper to his gun safe.
Should he answer truthfully!? Will the census police come and investigate? Would they ever find out? Of course they would, them government folks... they have ways of finding out.
Hand trembling, he touches his #2 pencil to the paper. Unable to control his fear-induced tremors Clem presses too hard and the tip of the pencil snaps leaving an ugly scar on the pristine white form. "Sheeeeeet", he cries out as he clutches his pearls. Now they will know for sure! They will come for him! He just knows it. The census police will know! They probably already do.
But wait... what is that noise!? A nearly imperceptible rattle of the door handle. They’re already here!!!
The horror! The abject horror!!!!
But is it constitutional?
7/5/19 17:00fridiBooker calls for requiring licenses for all gun owners
"Sen. Cory Booker is rolling out a sweeping gun control agenda that includes requiring licenses for all gun owners, as well as more standard proposals such as conducting universal background checks and banning assault weapons.
The 14-part plan unveiled Monday is part of what Booker said was a “personal fight” to combat a gun violence "epidemic," and it amounts to one of the most aggressive gun control proposals from a 2020 Democrat.
The core tenet of the New Jersey senator’s proposal is a federal gun licensing program that would require among other things a comprehensive FBI background check and proof of completion of a gun safety course. After a license is approved, holders “could freely purchase and own firearms” for the five-year duration of their license “with regular, automatic checks to flag non-compliance with license terms” and the possibility of renewal after five years."
I'd say as a state matter, it is probably constitutional. I do not believe it is within the purview of the federal government, however, any more than drivers' licenses are.
There's also this one problem: bad guys are still not going to register their guns. But then again, I guess it depends on your definition of bad guys. Maybe Booker is not going after the "Bad Guys" but the crazies.
That said, I am not 100% against this plan other than a license would be to show competence to own, ie showing that you take the safety courses etc. There should be no fee for this license, and there needs to be a due process. If we were to give up all attempts at banning shit, I'd compromise for a "compentency" license. not a "purchase license"... Your thoughts?
"Sen. Cory Booker is rolling out a sweeping gun control agenda that includes requiring licenses for all gun owners, as well as more standard proposals such as conducting universal background checks and banning assault weapons.
The 14-part plan unveiled Monday is part of what Booker said was a “personal fight” to combat a gun violence "epidemic," and it amounts to one of the most aggressive gun control proposals from a 2020 Democrat.
The core tenet of the New Jersey senator’s proposal is a federal gun licensing program that would require among other things a comprehensive FBI background check and proof of completion of a gun safety course. After a license is approved, holders “could freely purchase and own firearms” for the five-year duration of their license “with regular, automatic checks to flag non-compliance with license terms” and the possibility of renewal after five years."
I'd say as a state matter, it is probably constitutional. I do not believe it is within the purview of the federal government, however, any more than drivers' licenses are.
There's also this one problem: bad guys are still not going to register their guns. But then again, I guess it depends on your definition of bad guys. Maybe Booker is not going after the "Bad Guys" but the crazies.
That said, I am not 100% against this plan other than a license would be to show competence to own, ie showing that you take the safety courses etc. There should be no fee for this license, and there needs to be a due process. If we were to give up all attempts at banning shit, I'd compromise for a "compentency" license. not a "purchase license"... Your thoughts?
Charts & Maps, 'n stuff
6/3/18 13:26mahnmutI know I'm probably gonna cause yet another shitstorm by bringing this up now, as this subject is among the Unholy Triad of no-no topics (along with Abortion and Race), but still. It's Charts & Graphs month, and I recently came across this, so I thought, what the hell! Let's have another go, shall we.
Interesting overview here of America's gun violence... question? Issue? Problem? Er...., thing? I don't know if you'd recognize it as a problem at this point, I've heard all sorts of things about it after all. It's a cultural thing, mostly (says one group). It's not as bad as it used to be (as if that's supposed to be a consolation). The current laws are just fine, we need better enforcement. And also: YOU'LL PRY MY GUNS FROM MY COLD DEAD FINGERS DAMMIT! America aw hell yea. You know, those sort of argument.
Oh, and also: Guns don't kill people. Bad people with guns kill people. We've heard that.
( So let us look at the data then )
Interesting overview here of America's gun violence... question? Issue? Problem? Er...., thing? I don't know if you'd recognize it as a problem at this point, I've heard all sorts of things about it after all. It's a cultural thing, mostly (says one group). It's not as bad as it used to be (as if that's supposed to be a consolation). The current laws are just fine, we need better enforcement. And also: YOU'LL PRY MY GUNS FROM MY COLD DEAD FINGERS DAMMIT! America aw hell yea. You know, those sort of argument.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9371435/firearm_homicide_deaths.png){kind=link}
Oh, and also: Guns don't kill people. Bad people with guns kill people. We've heard that.
( So let us look at the data then )
The biter bit....
24/2/18 16:12johnny9fingersAfter many years of funding various politicians of both major political parties in the States, and enquiring about the voting records of Senators and Congresspersons it seems that the NRA is finally getting a taste of its own medicine:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/23/us-companies-nra-best-western-wyndham
So... I have to ask, after the NRA, a pressure group with charitable status, has used the tactic of buying politicians and has upheld a frankly essentialist interpretation of the Second Amendment; is this poetic justice, or a quick sop to the victims and victim's families, after which all will continue as before?
Will this start a movement, or just fizzle out?
I'd love it to be the beginning of change for US gun laws, but I realise I'm being an over-empathic snowflake parent with small children in a different country who doesn't want to see kids killed randomly any more than is absolutely accidental, which gun-killings aren't. Responsible folk in charge of guns is one thing; the whole damn population with them is another. Maybe if folk have signed up to a well-maintained militia which is overseen for compliance, in accordance with the broader idea in the Bill of Rights (well regulated, after all) a gun is required.
Getting that interpretation through SCOTUS would take some doing. Especially as the Dems screwed the pooch with appointments to SCOTUS after the Republicans refused to endorse 44's nominee, whilst awaiting the victory of 45. That was a huge gamble unless they had better information about the voting public than the rest of us, but it is one that has really paid off.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/23/us-companies-nra-best-western-wyndham
So... I have to ask, after the NRA, a pressure group with charitable status, has used the tactic of buying politicians and has upheld a frankly essentialist interpretation of the Second Amendment; is this poetic justice, or a quick sop to the victims and victim's families, after which all will continue as before?
Will this start a movement, or just fizzle out?
I'd love it to be the beginning of change for US gun laws, but I realise I'm being an over-empathic snowflake parent with small children in a different country who doesn't want to see kids killed randomly any more than is absolutely accidental, which gun-killings aren't. Responsible folk in charge of guns is one thing; the whole damn population with them is another. Maybe if folk have signed up to a well-maintained militia which is overseen for compliance, in accordance with the broader idea in the Bill of Rights (well regulated, after all) a gun is required.
Getting that interpretation through SCOTUS would take some doing. Especially as the Dems screwed the pooch with appointments to SCOTUS after the Republicans refused to endorse 44's nominee, whilst awaiting the victory of 45. That was a huge gamble unless they had better information about the voting public than the rest of us, but it is one that has really paid off.
Does not compute...
18/2/18 00:22luzribeiro
Trump Signs Bill Revoking Obama-Era Gun Checks for People With Mental Illnesses
And this, in the wake of yet another mass shooting at a school (I know, I know, "now is not the right time to discuss this").
Trump blamed the tragedy on "a mental health problem", a tactic straight out of the gun lobby's playbook. But then he went on to remove the background checks on mental health.
Actually he started making it easier for mentally ill people to get guns as early as February 2017, when he undid a relevant regulation, so now the Social Security Administration is no longer required to submit the names of certain mentally disabled beneficiaries to a federal agency that conducts gun background checks.
Does not compute. Like nothing the Asshole-In-Chief does.
But of course, it's STILL not the time to talk about these things. And never will be.
All hail the gun god
20/11/17 21:15luzribeiroJust a bunch of snippets and cartoons. The hand-waving I leave to our resident 2nd Amendment worshipers (you know who you are).
Don't forget, ANOTHER mass sacrifice was made to the national god the other day (and it has become the norm to such an extent that it was barely even noticed). Which of course calls for the requisite "thoughts and prayers".
As well as "now is NOT the time......." (Well, I did wait a few days after the event, but I'm not sure it's ever enough).
( Read more... )
Don't forget, ANOTHER mass sacrifice was made to the national god the other day (and it has become the norm to such an extent that it was barely even noticed). Which of course calls for the requisite "thoughts and prayers".
As well as "now is NOT the time......." (Well, I did wait a few days after the event, but I'm not sure it's ever enough).
( Read more... )
Speaking of gun culture:
6/10/17 12:50garoteRipped from the headlines this morning, for your Friday WTF-ness!
Roseburg father, son accused of shooting up truck that crashed into their front yard.
Now that is American!!!
In other Oregon news:
Gov. Kate Brown aims to further restrict gun ownership, and the effort to repeal new Oregon gun control law falls flat.
So ... The state seems to be dragging it's knuckles in the right direction.
Roseburg father, son accused of shooting up truck that crashed into their front yard.
"During his interview with deputies, Smith said he could still fix Sanderson's fence."
Now that is American!!!
In other Oregon news:
Gov. Kate Brown aims to further restrict gun ownership, and the effort to repeal new Oregon gun control law falls flat.
So ... The state seems to be dragging it's knuckles in the right direction.
luzribeiroIf you think that mansplaining about "not assault weapons" and "assault weapons" in light of today's events in Las Vegas is going to be helpful in discussing the huge gun violence problem the USA has, you are the problem.
50+ dead, 400+ taken to hospitals.
Save us all the wisdom you need to share about the bullshit you believe.
This is how these guys handle everything - by dragging us out into the weeds of the mansplains rather than actually addressing the issues.
Don't be a dick.
50+ dead, 400+ taken to hospitals.
Save us all the wisdom you need to share about the bullshit you believe.
This is how these guys handle everything - by dragging us out into the weeds of the mansplains rather than actually addressing the issues.
Don't be a dick.
Ambiguity kills (maybe)
11/8/16 12:09![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
dreamville-bg.livejournal.comMost of us may've already heard of the latest scandal (crafted scandal? tempest in a teacup?) where Trump made some remarks about Hillary Clinton intending to stomp upon the precious rights of gun-toting 2nd Amendment fanboys and fangirls. The problem arose from the ambiguity of his words (typical for him), where he made some insinuations, which then in turn went on to be heavily spinned by both opponents and supporters alike. The words:
“If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks,” he said, adding: “Although the second amendment people – maybe there is, I don’t know.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/09/trump-gun-owners-clinton-judges-second-amendment
( The two sides of this squabble )
“If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks,” he said, adding: “Although the second amendment people – maybe there is, I don’t know.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/09/trump-gun-owners-clinton-judges-second-amendment
( The two sides of this squabble )
Yeah, good luck with that
22/6/16 13:19mahnmut.livejournal.com"Can the National Rifle Association ever be defeated? I can’t blame you if you’re thinking “no.” It won again this week, as everyone knew it would. But someday, this dam will break."
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/22/nra-corpses-pile-up.html
But will it really? The gun culture is so deeply ingrained into the American psyche, it's enough to just blurt out the words "2nd Amendment" and "Freedom", and the whole discourse instantaneously departs from the domain of reason, and starts being all about emotion.
Even someone who likes to pretend they're a reasonable guy like O'Reilly is eventually compelled to spit out the dumb argument like he did the other night at Colbert's show: You see, you just can't stop bad people doing bad things with guns, and besides, you'll never take people's guns away from them, because that's just how America is.
Is that it? No matter how stupid and worthless the current legislation is, and how much harm befalls these same people because of it, they'd still refuse to do anything about it, just because it's "their way"?
Speaking of doing "something" about it, just for the sake of appearing to do anything... the senators have hailed themselves for unveiling a gun bill that affects... wait for it... 2,700 Americans. Look, there's even the words "gun" and "bipartisan" in the bill's title. What else do you want, you damn liberals?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/22/nra-corpses-pile-up.html
But will it really? The gun culture is so deeply ingrained into the American psyche, it's enough to just blurt out the words "2nd Amendment" and "Freedom", and the whole discourse instantaneously departs from the domain of reason, and starts being all about emotion.
Even someone who likes to pretend they're a reasonable guy like O'Reilly is eventually compelled to spit out the dumb argument like he did the other night at Colbert's show: You see, you just can't stop bad people doing bad things with guns, and besides, you'll never take people's guns away from them, because that's just how America is.
Is that it? No matter how stupid and worthless the current legislation is, and how much harm befalls these same people because of it, they'd still refuse to do anything about it, just because it's "their way"?
Speaking of doing "something" about it, just for the sake of appearing to do anything... the senators have hailed themselves for unveiling a gun bill that affects... wait for it... 2,700 Americans. Look, there's even the words "gun" and "bipartisan" in the bill's title. What else do you want, you damn liberals?
The call of the amygdala
3/1/16 14:53ddstory.livejournal.com"Not all Muslims are terrorists, but curiously, most terrorists have been Muslim lately", is what I've been hearing from some circles all the time these days. And not just from Trump supporters (or as I call them, Trumpists).
Well, not so fast. First, what is terrorism? "The unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims", Google tells me. Technically, this is supposed to exclude most of the guys who've been featured in this very neatly summarized list of the deadliest mass shootings in the US in recent times, then - right? No problem, then?
Look, since we're about populist propaganda in this month's topic, let's separate propaganda from fact for a while, and look at the actual stats.
( And the stats speaks volumes )
Well, not so fast. First, what is terrorism? "The unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims", Google tells me. Technically, this is supposed to exclude most of the guys who've been featured in this very neatly summarized list of the deadliest mass shootings in the US in recent times, then - right? No problem, then?
Look, since we're about populist propaganda in this month's topic, let's separate propaganda from fact for a while, and look at the actual stats.
( And the stats speaks volumes )
dreamville-bg.livejournal.comThere are so many shootings in the US, with so many victims, that the fact that the police are still wondering whether to treat the latest California massacre as an actual terrorist attack or not, does not appear to be that relevant at this point. We've got to put this in context, so here's some:
Number of people killed annually by firearms in the US: 30,000+
Number of people shot and murdered every day: 30+
Homicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-24 year-olds.
And the primary cause of death among African Americans of age 18-35.
( And gun violence is actually rather costly )
Number of people killed annually by firearms in the US: 30,000+
Number of people shot and murdered every day: 30+
Homicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-24 year-olds.
And the primary cause of death among African Americans of age 18-35.
( And gun violence is actually rather costly )