Did you know that, as of last year, firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the United States

[Tuesdayvibes]

Nothing will done, though, will it?

Nope. There is no reasoning with over half the population.

I don't know. I did have a vague idea of setting up a sweepstakes of when the next one will be, and how many dead. More draws a week than the lottery.

May as well make money out of the situation if no one is going to do anything about it.

I wonder what I could call it ? Shooting Stars ? Thoughts and Prayers ? Thoughts and Players maybe ?

For maximum bad taste, could make one of the prizes a gun. After all some US banks hand out rifles when you open an account.

Are you surprised. I'm not.

Unfortunately the NRA and the campaigns around it are too powerful. It sounds like it's suicidal politically to advocate for gun control, so politicians can't admit they agree with it.

Why anyone would think assault weapons outside of a military situation is a good idea, or people randomly carrying guns or having them in their bedroom cabinet, but that seems to be the prevailing attitudes.

When logic and facts don't work (the lobbyists always seem to argue that they need more guns to stop gun violence 🙄) despite all the evidence that gun crime and accidental death by firearm are directly linked to the number of guns in the US, I don't know what will.

The statistics are mind blowing
160 mass shootings so far this year
600 on average for the last three years (2 a day!!)
79% of homicides are gun related (4% in the UK)

Not surprised at all, sadly 😞

A rifle when you open an account???? WTAF!

Not sure if they are still available but you used to be able to buy children's rifles in pink and blue called "my first rifle" suitable from age 5! No sure whether they were air rifles because I didn't look that carefully. It was in Walmart. Acclimatising kids young is a real problem

Gun sales are increasing in America and courts across the country have reaffirmed that gun safety laws are constitutional. The latter needs to change but no politician will want to make it happen.

Men have to have their toys though, that's what counts.

I don't even bother reading the news stories anymore. They are so frequent. The remedy is in their own hands and still they do nothing.

I had a vague idea. I've also heard that, in the US, you're more likely to be killed by being shot by a toddler (who gets hold of a parent's gun) than a terrorist.

I know the focus is on the awful mass shootings, but there's also daily tragedies where children kill people playing with guns where obviously they don't understand the dangers.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/13/three-year-old-girl-accidentally-shoots-sister-dead-texas

https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/research/areas-of-research/center-for-injury-research-and-policy/injury-topics/general/gun-safety

I think the USA is past the point of no return when it comes to gun control. It would take a massive social and cultural shift to change and I don't see that happening

There are more guns than people. Even if strict licensing was put in place there is no way you would get even half the guns off the streets.

Watch "Bowling for Columbine" - it's over 20 years old but highlights that fuck all has changed. It opens with Michael Moore going into a bank that offers a free rifle with a new account. They have them in the bank.

I'm refining the sweepstakes idea. You could win extra if you also get the ages of the dead right, rather than a range. Similar to each-way and on the nose.

I was also going to have a bonus for the sex of the dead. But that would probably be too controversial.

When we were on holiday in Florida there were lots of adverts for 'fun family days out' several of them were gun related and one was machine guns. Funnily enough we didn't bother.

I did know that stat unfortunately from last year.

The point is children's lives are less important than the gun lobby and a large percentage of the US population's feeling that they should have unfettered access to (semi-automatic assault weapons) guns.

The point that this was reached was when no action happened after the Sandy Hook killings. Thus there will never be change. While the rest of the world look on in horror and, increasingly, indifference to the repetitive news of mass shootings.

I honestly can’t bring myself to care any more. They don’t, so why should I?

I.don't think.it's just men it's the whole " right to bear arms " culture
I didn't know the statistics but it doesn't surprise merits frightening.

Not just men

https://www.businessinsider.com/republican-governor-2-year-old-granddaughter-already-several-guns-2023-4?r=US&IR=T

I was on a Reddit board about pets and there was a discussion about what you should do if an off lead, large, dog was attacking you/your dog/your child, and I was shocked at the number of people who blithely said they’d shoot it and that they routinely carry a gun in a dog walk! Obviously, they were American, but the casual attitude to a deadly weapon is worrying.

one for Mumsnetters - defending freedom!

https://www.nrawomen.com/

It's just beyond our (and most of the world's) comprehension. That they fight so hard to protect an unborn foetus and yet a primary school child's life is worth less than their right to keep guns just beggars belief 🤷

Yep. Shit, isn't it?

They made their bed, they lie on it. Don't care anymore. If they don't care about their own children, I don't see why I should.

I read that more people are killed in the US by children with guns than are killed by “terrorists” and yet the desire to be armed never changes.

22% of women own one or more guns in the US. (Gallop December 2022). A recent Harvard survey suggests that more than 50% of new gun ownership in the US is now by women.
Yes, more men currently own guns than women (43% of men) but the gap has been narrowing for years and to suggest this is a male problem only is just not correct.