18 USA school shootings in 45 days - AIBU to think that Trump doesn't give a shit

[Narnia72]

The shooting in Florida yesterday brings the tally of gun attacks on US schools THIS YEAR to 18. 18 in 45 days. Why aren't the US parents marching and rioting about this?

Trump is tweeting crap about he was a loner with MH issues and it's the responsibility of the US public to report. What could the authorities do until he'd acted though, it's no crime (yet) to have MH issues, and if it tells Trump anything (other than FFS ban guns!) it should surely be to invest in an infrastructure that supports people with MH issues.

It just made me so sad. We in the Western world have got our priorities all wrong. Look after people when they need it (yes, decision makers on MH funding cuts, I'm looking at you) and so many of the tragedies that happen could be prevented.

I did read a response to his tweet from a student - something along the lines of ‘prayers do nothing, why don’t you do something about gun laws’.

Kids with guns kill more Americans than terrorists (excluding 9/11).

Oh but all those dead people are in his thoughts and prayers. That must be such a comfort to their families.

What is it, exactly, that you think Trump can do all on his own? Even if he were totally anti-gun ownership? Obama never did anything about this issue either in 8 years, except to make wordy speeches that never changed anything. I am no Trump fan, but the President can't unilaterally implement massive change all on his own.

He can demand an enquiry into the causes and follow through the recommendations.

Obama cried in public. His hands were tied but he at least raged agains it. trump won’t even pretend to think about doing anything.

Obama didn’t have controll of senate and House of Representatives. Trump does. He has all the power he needs if he wants it.

"We in the western world have our priorities wrong"

Nope those in the US do!

Nope NBU at all!

It's the same old platitudes trotted out each time after another massacre of innocent lives.

From my viewpoint, living in the UK, the USA seems totally & utterly bonkers with their gun laws.

MH issues are present in all societies, but having such easy access to weapons is surely the real issue here.

My DH joked about us moving to the States to live one day...I said no bloody way!

To live in a society where school shootings are such a regular occurrence, where anyone it seems can own a gun/several weapons.
That does not seem like a civilised society to me.

"Loner" is code for "white".

I heard part of his speech on the radio (oddly creepy btw), and the bit where he said something like "we will do whatever it takes to protect you.." I thought no you bloody wont! How come "whatever it takes" doesn't extend to even the most basic gun control improvements?

No-one in US politics appears to be strong enough to take on the NRA.

I think it will take a massive shooting incidence before someone like Trump would even consider any sort of restrictions. Even a register of who has what isn't going to cross his radar unless something absolutely shocking happens, and sadly I think school shootings happen so often in the US a shooting where less than 20 people are killed just won't hit any sort of shock barrier. Which is a scary fact really.

He probably meant ‘more guns’.

Seems trump has said the problem is one of mental health. I work on a mental health inpatient site, patients in and out around the grounds. Somehow I've managed to escape being shot or shooting anyone else every day in the last decade or so

Aquamarine - I don't think Trump can solve it single handedly, but I am shocked that the American public aren't pushing for change.

I am totally unsurprised that Trump doesn't give a shit, and know that he won't do anything to toughen up gun control. He probably has one down his pants at all times.

I know Obama was weak in this area. It's a complex situation, as there are so many politically powerful people who support the rights of all Americans to carry guns. It's like they can't see the wood for the trees. More guns = more people killed.

However, Obama did try, and actually one of the few pieces of legislation he was able to pass (which would have meant this shooter might not have been able to buy a gun), was repealed by Trump in 2017.

Perhaps the most significant Obama gun control measure was not a law but a rule that required the Social Security Administration to report disability-benefit recipients with mental health conditions to the FBI’s background check system, which is used to screen firearm buyers. Obama's successor, Republican President Donald Trump, rescinded the rule in 2017.

Its a shame, because I think Trump is one of the few presidents who would stand a chance of tightening gun laws if he wanted to (which he doesn't.)

Lets be honest, there is nothing Trump could do, he could do.

The right to bear arms isn't a right/left issue and there is a certain section just going to criticise whatever he said or reacted, and trying to politicize this is a low blow.

If the supposed back story is true that his Mother/Father died recently been bounced around foster care and been into the extreme right wing then I'm not sure what he could say that would placate those who want an easy solution.

Unfortunately the American public, NRA, politicians and President don’t want any change so nothing will happen . American children will continue going to school and rehearsing what to do in the event of a gun attack.

"Guns don't kill people, people kill people!"

People with guns kill people with, er, guns

Oops posted too soon. Was said by NRA

The NRA donated millions to Trump. Surely they should be stopped from donating to any political party or politician. You can't help thinking scared parents,teachers and children are well and truly screwed as regards gun control.

America is a democracy. When a majority of adults in America support gun control, when they are prepared to make it their no. 1 voting priority, then gun control will happen.

Because many Americans want to keep their right to own a gun Op, after all look how many voted for Trump with his pro gun views....madness.

America is a democracy. If the majority of Americans wanted to ban guns and get rid of the Second Amendment then they would vote for it.

The fact is, despite what we believe in Europe, the majority of Americans want the right bear arms whatever the costs. It really gets on my tits when Europeans pontificate about this. It would be like Americans wailing about why doesn't our government get rid of the NHS given how many problems we have with it. What the fuck would it have to do with them?

One day Americans may change their mind about guns and vote for a party/president who runs on that platform. In the mean time it's none of our business.

Well said scatteroflight

Trying to turn this into a political "DAE DRUMPF" argument is not understanding the situation.