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How do you reconcile the amount of deaths by firearms and the rise of mass shootings? Talking historically and hypothetical's about where guns come in handy is

by ssully 7y ago

How do you reconcile the amount of deaths by firearms and the rise of mass shootings? Talking historically and hypothetical's about where guns come in handy is really simple. It get's really difficult when you wake up to news of another mass shooting - sometimes it is the second or third one to occur that month (or week).

AnIdiotOnTheNet 7y ago
Admittedly that is a problem. Interestingly, it's a relatively recent one. Believe it or not there was a time in US history when you could mail-order full auto weapons.
homonculus1 7y ago
Homicide is on a secular downward trend (despite the ever-increasing proliferation of firearms in the US). Mass shootings, while tragic, are black swan events and it does not make sense to dismantle a political foundation with long-term benefits to deter a marginal crime that could be done with a van. A better response to mass shootings would be to desensationalize the media coverage, which since Columbine has been indulging the shooters' motives to shock society. Incidentally though this whole thread is grossly off-topic and I expect it will be collapsed or detached.
javagram 7y ago
The “rise of mass shootings” is mostly a media phenomenon. They are still extremely rare events. Gun laws haven’t gotten laxer in the last couple decades either - many states have strengthened them. There isn’t a clear connection between weak gun laws and mass shootings. (That said, a total and effective ban on guns would of course stop mass shootings and other gun violence - if it could be implemented successfully)
- robohoe 7y ago
  First you would have to remove weapons from law-abiding citizens and criminals. The first one might be easier (with occasional resistance). The second might be much harder since criminals don't really care about laws in the first place.
- homonculus1 7y ago
  >a total and effective ban on guns would of course stop mass shootings and other gun violence But then, the cherrypicked, tautological nature of this goal is elided by gun control advocates--reducing gun violence without addressing the root social causes of violence is just a shell game.

by ssully 7y ago

AnIdiotOnTheNet 7y ago

Admittedly that is a problem. Interestingly, it's a relatively recent one. Believe it or not there was a time in US history when you could mail-order full auto weapons.

homonculus1 7y ago

Homicide is on a secular downward trend (despite the ever-increasing proliferation of firearms in the US). Mass shootings, while tragic, are black swan events and it does not make sense to dismantle a political foundation with long-term benefits to deter a marginal crime that could be done with a van. A better response to mass shootings would be to desensationalize the media coverage, which since Columbine has been indulging the shooters' motives to shock society. Incidentally though this whole thread is grossly off-topic and I expect it will be collapsed or detached.

javagram 7y ago

The “rise of mass shootings” is mostly a media phenomenon. They are still extremely rare events. Gun laws haven’t gotten laxer in the last couple decades either - many states have strengthened them. There isn’t a clear connection between weak gun laws and mass shootings. (That said, a total and effective ban on guns would of course stop mass shootings and other gun violence - if it could be implemented successfully)

robohoe 7y ago
First you would have to remove weapons from law-abiding citizens and criminals. The first one might be easier (with occasional resistance). The second might be much harder since criminals don't really care about laws in the first place.
homonculus1 7y ago
>a total and effective ban on guns would of course stop mass shootings and other gun violence But then, the cherrypicked, tautological nature of this goal is elided by gun control advocates--reducing gun violence without addressing the root social causes of violence is just a shell game.