4 ms·

Sandy Hook was a turning-point in America’s battle over truth

4 points by hhs 5y ago

jfengel 5y ago
This article is a book review, and I haven't read the book. But from what the review says, it sounds as if it is missing a crucial element. To me, what's less important about Sandy Hook and the truth isn't the conspiracy theories, but the fact that nothing was done about it. Various laws were proposed, some of them having very high public support. None were passed at a federal level, and few were passed at a state level. If the NRA did not like the kinds of restrictions Democrats proposed, they could have created alternative ones. The only thing they suggested was banning violent video games. Despite assertions from Democrats that they would remember that at the polls, they did not in fact turn out in the subsequent midterms, and got hammered. Sandy Hook also helped turn conspiracy theories mainstream, but I think it exposed a much deeper issue -- that political battle lines have become the only issue, and nobody really cares about any of the actual issues the ideologies are supposed to represent. The truth already didn't matter. This creates an environment in which conspiracy theories can spread, but this wasn't a turning point -- except perhaps for the realization that no gun law, no matter how popular, will ever be allowed to pass.
- hirundo 5y ago
  > except perhaps for the realization that no gun law, no matter how popular, will ever be allowed to pass. On the contrary: Ohio: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/582202-ohio-house-approves-bill-allowing-concealed-carry-without-permit https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/582202-ohio-house-a... Utah: https://ksltv.com/455505/utah-law-that-drops-permit-requirement-for-conceal-carry-goes-into-effect-in-may/ https://ksltv.com/455505/utah-law-that-drops-permit-requirem... Alabama: https://www.thektog.org/threads/alabama-to-get-constitutional-carry-in-2023.276392/ https://www.thektog.org/threads/alabama-to-get-constitutiona... Such laws have spread since Sandy Hook. Gun advocates like to contrast it with the Sutherland Springs church shooting.

4 points by hhs 5y ago

This article is a book review, and I haven't read the book. But from what the review says, it sounds as if it is missing a crucial element. To me, what's less important about Sandy Hook and the truth isn't the conspiracy theories, but the fact that nothing was done about it. Various laws were proposed, some of them having very high public support. None were passed at a federal level, and few were passed at a state level. If the NRA did not like the kinds of restrictions Democrats proposed, they could have created alternative ones. The only thing they suggested was banning violent video games. Despite assertions from Democrats that they would remember that at the polls, they did not in fact turn out in the subsequent midterms, and got hammered. Sandy Hook also helped turn conspiracy theories mainstream, but I think it exposed a much deeper issue -- that political battle lines have become the only issue, and nobody really cares about any of the actual issues the ideologies are supposed to represent. The truth already didn't matter. This creates an environment in which conspiracy theories can spread, but this wasn't a turning point -- except perhaps for the realization that no gun law, no matter how popular, will ever be allowed to pass.

hirundo 5y ago
> except perhaps for the realization that no gun law, no matter how popular, will ever be allowed to pass. On the contrary: Ohio: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/582202-ohio-house-approves-bill-allowing-concealed-carry-without-permit https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/582202-ohio-house-a... Utah: https://ksltv.com/455505/utah-law-that-drops-permit-requirement-for-conceal-carry-goes-into-effect-in-may/ https://ksltv.com/455505/utah-law-that-drops-permit-requirem... Alabama: https://www.thektog.org/threads/alabama-to-get-constitutional-carry-in-2023.276392/ https://www.thektog.org/threads/alabama-to-get-constitutiona... Such laws have spread since Sandy Hook. Gun advocates like to contrast it with the Sutherland Springs church shooting.