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AIBU?

To think America is so in love with their murderous guns?

46 replies

peggy2467 · 22/02/2018 19:06

I just don't see it. That's all.
It makes no sense to me, how can people listen/watch the news and hear about children being killed by a gun and still feel the need to carry/own one?
All I hear about is how they have a right to own one and "ah but, the second amendment!" F**k that. I could care less about their precious second amendment. If it's contributing to the murder of thousands, and you still support it, you're deluded and need help. Sorry, but it's true. Enlighten me if you believe I'm mistaken.

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Snowysky20009 · 22/02/2018 19:08

Agree with you

PiffIeandWiffle · 22/02/2018 19:08

To be fair, if there were loads of "baddies" with guns wandering round the UK & the criminal use of guns was a high as it is over there - I'd rather have one to protect myself too.

But then I'm trained on them, have used them for years & know I'm not a nutter....

Ffsnothingworks · 22/02/2018 19:12

I was so sad watching the families and friends talking in the White House this morning. Trump will never agree to anything. He will nod in the right places, but he won’t listen.

peggy2467 · 22/02/2018 19:14

@PiffIeandWiffle
I get what you're saying.
I do think it has gone almost too far, at this point it'll be impossible to remove the 300million guns currently situated in the US making people feel the need to get a gun to protect themselves from the 300m others.

What annoys me is everyone saying this is a mental health issue.
Sure, Nikolas Cruz had possible mental problems and the fact he had been put on antipsychotic drugs is part of the reason he shot up the school.
But without guns, no one would be dead. At most he would've stabbed someone.

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NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 22/02/2018 19:15

The next generation ( the ones being slaughtered in schools right now) will ban guns.

Unlike the current generation who, bizarrely, don't seem to care.

Angelicinnocent · 22/02/2018 19:15

I just don't understand why when anybody says "gun control laws" so many fly off the handle about taking their guns away. It stops the debate about some measures that could make a real difference without affecting their "rights".

I mean why does any civilian need a semi automatic? Banning those doesn't stop them having handguns or hunting rifles.

Why is it so bad to say anyone wanting to buy a gun has to have a mental health certificate/assessment? Doesn't bother anyone who doesn't have mental health issues.

Small changes that could start to make a difference in the long term.

Terramirabilis · 22/02/2018 19:25

It's not that ordinary people here don't care. 2/3 Americans want stricter gun control laws. The problem is that Congress has a Republican majority right now and so many of them are bought and paid for by the NRA and others who will resolutely any attempt to introduce gun control that they will not vote for any bill that does that. Additionally, there is far more power at the state level here so there are variations between states in terms of strictness of gun laws.

If you want to understand the root of the problem, read about Citizens United v. FEC, the Supreme Court case that rendered unconstitutional the law forbidding corporations and unions from spending money on federal elections.

Vagndidit · 22/02/2018 19:36

To be fair, if there were loads of "baddies" with guns wandering round the UK & the criminal use of guns was a high as it is over there - I'd rather have one to protect myself too.

The thing is, crime rates are high in places where most Americans don't go anyway. The overall majority of gun owners in America live in relatively safe areas but have whipped themselves into this hysteria that no where is safe and therefore you MUST carry a gun at all times. Which is bullshit, frankly. Fear is contagious. The average American should have no need for a gun whatsoever.

geekymommy · 22/02/2018 19:37

I came in here to say it's not all Americans. I have never owned a gun, do not intend to ever own one, and would not allow DH to keep a gun in our house (if he had any intention of doing so, which he does not).

Our electoral system is biased toward rural areas. A lot of gun-culture people live in rural areas. A lot of them use guns for hunting.

The 24-hour news cycle feeds on scaring people. There is a lot more news programming (and, of course, online news) now than there was 30 years ago. Crime stories, especially violent crime stories, get viewers for news shows. More news coverage makes it seem like there is more crime than there was 30 years ago, even though the truth is the exact opposite. Some people want to have guns because they are afraid of armed criminals. Statistically, a gun in someone's home is more likely to kill someone who lives in the home than it is to kill an intruder, but it makes people feel better, because people are terrible at judging risk.

The way we learn about our Revolutionary War (the war where we got independence from Britain, don't know what you lot call it) has a mythology of how a bunch of colonists armed with guns was able to overthrow a tyrannical government. Some Americans have fantasies of doing something like that again.

And, of course, gun manufacturers make money. Some of which they use to advertise guns and to lobby politicians to ensure that guns remain legal.

Fekko · 22/02/2018 19:40

I wish I could find the clip but theres a video of a man destroying his rifle in America in the wake of his last shooting. He says that although he loves his guns but this one won’t ever kill a child and no one needs such firepower.

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 22/02/2018 19:42

Just dont see how they feel one person probably panicked and under pressure and has to aim at the right one person will come off well against someone who is shooting anyone.. How it even being suggested

Fekko · 22/02/2018 19:44

I doubt many murderers have been stopped by Joe/Jo Public with a rifle.

geekymommy · 22/02/2018 19:46

They've seen it in movies and television. Maybe they have heard of one incident where it happened. They imagine that they would be able to take down a bad guy with their guns, if they were in that situation. Of course, it's more likely that they would make no difference to the bad guy or shoot an innocent bystander, but, again, people are bad at judging risk.

lljkk · 22/02/2018 19:48

65-70% of American households do NOT have a gun.
Something like 20-25% of households have only 1-2 guns. Most of these are working guns (people who go hunting, or who need a firearm for work). My uncle carries a handgun when he goes rock hunting in the desert, miles from anyone, he does see signs of illegal migrants out there (the illegals aren't so threatening, it's the people smugglers he's scared of). He grew up hunting & fishing but He's not in love with guns otherwise.

It's a very small minority who are true gun zealots and have many firearms & feel rabid about no controls. Most of these many-gun owners are rural extremists, or part of urban armed gangs who overwhelmingly only shoot at each other or the police.

lookingforaline18 · 22/02/2018 19:50

I can't believe he's suggested letting teachers have guns. Just shows how he's completely missed the fucking point.
Maybe he if he put more thought in to ya know, banning guns altogether rather than spending so much time doing silly things like ranting about women who have had abortions, then maybe children will be safe going to school. Idiot.

Fekko · 22/02/2018 19:52

lljkk - do the rocks shoot back? Sorry to be flippant but taking a gun rock hunting amused me in all this madness.

peggy2467 · 22/02/2018 20:03

@Fekko
I saw the video I think you're talking about, I loved it!
I saw so many replies to the video from pro-gun owners moaning about him wrecking it.
So funny, they're so weak and repetitive. Kind of helps me understand why they feel the need to own a gun though- because they're so scared and weak without one. 🤪

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geekymommy · 22/02/2018 20:06

There are people here who will vote against any politician who isn't sufficiently pro-gun and anti-abortion for their tastes. Most of these people are Republican. A Republican politician is taking a huge risk if they don't perform for those people.

geekymommy · 22/02/2018 20:08

I can understand the gun owners moaning about someone wrecking a gun (though I do not agree with them). Suppose someone destroyed a large number of books or a work of art that they owned. You might get upset about that, right? The gun owners may feel something similar.

lljkk · 22/02/2018 20:09

I would go rock hunting without a weapon, myself. I could understand uncle feeling vulnerable, though.

Was trying to explain that a lot of people have guns for mundane reasons, not because they think guns are wonderful.

geekymommy · 22/02/2018 20:12

I wouldn't think you'd want to use a gun to hunt rocks. The bullets wouldn't really affect the rocks, plus they might ricochet and hurt you.

peggy2467 · 22/02/2018 20:14

@lljkk
I'm sure he felt vulnerable hiking through an unpopulated area, but, the reason he felt so vulnerable is because he has been led to believe by the NRA that he needs a gun to protect himself.
This is not the case in other countries. I do not feel the need to carry a gun with me, no matter where I am.

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geekymommy · 22/02/2018 20:20

Was he afraid of people in the unpopulated area, or wild animals? There are some wild animals in less populated parts of America that will attack people.

peggy2467 · 22/02/2018 20:20

Americans have been led to believe they are the best country in the world, and you HAVE to be proud to me an American. My father was American, therefore I have an American citizenship, I am NOT proud to be an American, not one bit.
They have also been led to believe the whole world is evil and you should trust no one, and instead you should carry a gun and shoot everyone.

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lljkk · 22/02/2018 20:23

harhar. Rocks. you guys very funny.

"Pinal County ...deputies are outmanned and outgunned by drug traffickers"

"notorious human smuggler who struck a Border Patrol agent in the face with a rock " (was shot at, got away)

(Daily Wail Warning)... "where Border control agents battle cartels and coyotes."

Hint: They don't mean cute furry coyotes.

To think America is so in love with their murderous guns?

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