Yesterday's Mass Shooting.

[DoubleAtotheRON]

The following quote sums up my thoughts:

"It is my contention that the very roots of our mass shooting epidemic may be found in our core cultural value of fierce individualism, a belief in vengeance, and the ethic that might makes right. These cultural values have been central to what it means to be an American since our nation’s birth. We have always loved to settle disputes (at the individual and group levels) with violence and guns and we gleefully celebrate vigilantism in our popular culture.
I further contend there are powerful, divisive, and negative social forces at work today that fuel the increase in mass public shootings. These factors include but are not limited to: financial and healthcare fears, a declining belief in the American dream, distrust of the government, racism, xenophobia, religious and gender biases, hate crime, domestic terrorism, and near-constant war since 2001. Political and social divisions fueled by seemingly ubiquitous hate speech across media platforms over the last few years have created an environment where violence is seemingly inevitable."

The Real Reason Mass Shootings Are on the Rise

Personal Perspective: Powerful, divisive, and negative social forces are at work today that fuel the increase in mass public shootings.

www.psychologytoday.com

Now how to reverse course is beyond me. It's likely going to continue to get worse for the foreseeable future.

Thanks for the input... and that's why I said the same thing... It's going to get worse. And nobody has any answers on how to reverse it. Ideology and reality are two totally different things. It's a great idea to take guns off the street. Reality.. it'll never happen. Ideally, we'd like to have the criminals turn in thier weapons, along with law abiding citizens. Reality... it'll never happen.
I've studied peoples attention span for the past decade. I've produced and edited video during that time. Over the years, I can see how long my general audience will spend thier time watching them, and I have discovered that 10 years ago, most people would generally watch 100% of a 2 min video. Today, you'll see a sharp spike for 10 seconds, and then drop off to nothing. Today's visual media is overwhelming. We have too much immediate access to it that it seems to train your brain to skip, skip, skip, watch 10 seconds, skip, etc. It's been interesting to observe the human reaction to media overload. I think this contributes to the detached reality we have now... especially among the younger crowd.

 

[Roger A. Shrubber]

The Republican controlled state legislature is threatening to cut funding to Memphis schools if Pearson is re-appointed.

Yeah...But that would be political suicide.
This is going to get played in the news for a while, and the more they keep fucking around, the more they're going to find out.
Biden and Harris are meeting with Pearson, and the douchebag speaker sexton is backpedaling on some of that shit already.
If they try to cut Memphis school funding over this, it will cause a shit storm that will drown them all...So i kind of hope they do.

 

[Roger A. Shrubber]

The following quote sums up my thoughts:

"It is my contention that the very roots of our mass shooting epidemic may be found in our core cultural value of fierce individualism, a belief in vengeance, and the ethic that might makes right. These cultural values have been central to what it means to be an American since our nation’s birth. We have always loved to settle disputes (at the individual and group levels) with violence and guns and we gleefully celebrate vigilantism in our popular culture.
I further contend there are powerful, divisive, and negative social forces at work today that fuel the increase in mass public shootings. These factors include but are not limited to: financial and healthcare fears, a declining belief in the American dream, distrust of the government, racism, xenophobia, religious and gender biases, hate crime, domestic terrorism, and near-constant war since 2001. Political and social divisions fueled by seemingly ubiquitous hate speech across media platforms over the last few years have created an environment where violence is seemingly inevitable."

The Real Reason Mass Shootings Are on the Rise

Personal Perspective: Powerful, divisive, and negative social forces are at work today that fuel the increase in mass public shootings.

www.psychologytoday.com

Now how to reverse course is beyond me. It's likely going to continue to get worse for the foreseeable future.

Most magats only hold the values they're told to, they aren't intelligent enough to develop any on their own. Most of them couldn't explain why they feel the way they do about almost anything...Because they don't feel that way on their own. They can't describe what brought them to feel that way, because they can't admit, even to themselves, that they are mindless drones, obedient to any asshole just enough smarter than they are to tell them the right lies at the right times.
That's about the fourth or fifth time i've read practically the same thing, from different authors...and as you say, while they're spot on with the issues, not a fucking one of them offers anything like a meaningful solution.
It's going to come down to forcing the issues...The magats won't allow any other resolution. I guess it will be up to them how forcefully.

 

[DoubleAtotheRON]

I think like you said, all of the above has some truth to it, but what I see unfolding in my neck of the woods driving violence towards others has alot to do with economic insecurity. Some people dont deal well with it and descend into a pool of despair and cant see the way out. From reading a few posts of yours, and a few others here, is you've done well for yourselves, from hard work and being smart with your money. Kudos to you for what you were able to amass through those means. Maybe you learned quickly, and/or had parents that drilled the importance of doing so into you. Whatever the reason, perhaps you are "sitting pretty". Maybe you feel you have some compassion for your fellow man, or maybe not much. But, like the old saying goes, it's hard to really understand why people do what they do until you "walk a mile in their shoes". The likelihood of you ever having to do so, is very improbable, and so I believe it may be very much impossible for you to truly know why some people go off the deep end and harm others. It's alot easier to keep thoughts and emotions in check when you have all the advantages and life just kinda chugs along. I don't know you at all, so if you feel none of this makes sense, that's OK. I really don't want to act like I know it all, or even much. Just thoughts, you can tell me to go pound sand, just having a discussion and sharing ideas.

I am in a good position at 54. But at 19, I was homeless. I didn't have 2 pennies to rub together. I had to steal cigs, bum a place to stay, took food if I could get it, so yeah, I've been in those shoes. But, I never thought about killing myself or doing harm to others. Life just sucks sometimes. I can also understand that some people don't have the inner strength to keep going. I've seen some recover and make a good life, and others.. not so much. But, this isn't new news... it's been going on for a long time. Something else, or multiple things have changed for us to accept a new normal, and I have some theories as stated above, but I have no idea how to change it. Technology is moving forward at light speed. How long before we accept nothing as "shocking"? Sure it's sad.. and unavoidable. We've lost our skill sets with voice command information, mathematics, problem solving, etc. And yes, I do help others out if they need it. We always buy food for our trim crews, give them free weed, gas money, whatever they need, because I was there once, and I know how they feel. I took 2 hours out of my day to go pick up a stranger from the airport (saw he needed a ride on FB). I've tried to live by "Save like no one else, so you can give like no one else".. thanks D. Ramsey.
If there is a fix, we'd have to go backwards in technology, get rid of our cell phones, computers, and the uncountable number of news sources. Never gonna happen. It's an addiction we have. Most people would freak out if they had to go without thier cell phone for a day, much less a week. It's also created a sea of keyboard warriors that will say things to you online that they would never say to your face. Im fairly certain that even if a few of us got on a zoom call and saw each other face to face even digitally, the conversations would be different.
After all the traveling I've ever done, I've always found a stranger to talk to, and we were always happy to talk to each other because we saw the human side of ourselves and not our IP addresses.

 

[Fogdog]

The following quote sums up my thoughts:

"It is my contention that the very roots of our mass shooting epidemic may be found in our core cultural value of fierce individualism, a belief in vengeance, and the ethic that might makes right. These cultural values have been central to what it means to be an American since our nation’s birth. We have always loved to settle disputes (at the individual and group levels) with violence and guns and we gleefully celebrate vigilantism in our popular culture.
I further contend there are powerful, divisive, and negative social forces at work today that fuel the increase in mass public shootings. These factors include but are not limited to: financial and healthcare fears, a declining belief in the American dream, distrust of the government, racism, xenophobia, religious and gender biases, hate crime, domestic terrorism, and near-constant war since 2001. Political and social divisions fueled by seemingly ubiquitous hate speech across media platforms over the last few years have created an environment where violence is seemingly inevitable."

The Real Reason Mass Shootings Are on the Rise

Personal Perspective: Powerful, divisive, and negative social forces are at work today that fuel the increase in mass public shootings.

www.psychologytoday.com

Now how to reverse course is beyond me. It's likely going to continue to get worse for the foreseeable future.

Am I wrong to look at the descriptions in the first paragraph --the very roots of our mass shooting epidemic may be found in our core cultural value of fierce individualism, a belief in vengeance, and the ethic that might makes right. -- as mostly applicable to today's right wing GOP values? Maybe I'm guilty of seeing a fascist behind every rock and tree but when I read what characterizes right wing authoritarians, those same descriptors show up. And yes, Roger, they are not the values held by smart people.

 

[CCGNZ]

I am in a good position at 54. But at 19, I was homeless. I didn't have 2 pennies to rub together. I had to steal cigs, bum a place to stay, took food if I could get it, so yeah, I've been in those shoes. But, I never thought about killing myself or doing harm to others. Life just sucks sometimes. I can also understand that some people don't have the inner strength to keep going. I've seen some recover and make a good life, and others.. not so much. But, this isn't new news... it's been going on for a long time. Something else, or multiple things have changed for us to accept a new normal, and I have some theories as stated above, but I have no idea how to change it. Technology is moving forward at light speed. How long before we accept nothing as "shocking"? Sure it's sad.. and unavoidable. We've lost our skill sets with voice command information, mathematics, problem solving, etc. And yes, I do help others out if they need it. We always buy food for our trim crews, give them free weed, gas money, whatever they need, because I was there once, and I know how they feel. I took 2 hours out of my day to go pick up a stranger from the airport (saw he needed a ride on FB). I've tried to live by "Save like no one else, so you can give like no one else".. thanks D. Ramsey.
If there is a fix, we'd have to go backwards in technology, get rid of our cell phones, computers, and the uncountable number of news sources. Never gonna happen. It's an addiction we have. Most people would freak out if they had to go without thier cell phone for a day, much less a week. It's also created a sea of keyboard warriors that will say things to you online that they would never say to your face. Im fairly certain that even if a few of us got on a zoom call and saw each other face to face even digitally, the conversations would be different.
After all the traveling I've ever done, I've always found a stranger to talk to, and we were always happy to talk to each other because we saw the human side of ourselves and not our IP addresses.

That's a good and thoughtful post,and you've scattered the seeds of good karma,hope a bountiful harvest is in store.

 

[schuylaar]

QUOTE="CANON_Grow, post: 17312407, member: 1069793"]
The following quote sums up my thoughts:

"It is my contention that the very roots of our mass shooting epidemic may be found in our core cultural value of fierce individualism, a belief in vengeance, and the ethic that might makes right. These cultural values have been central to what it means to be an American since our nation’s birth. We have always loved to settle disputes (at the individual and group levels) with violence and guns and we gleefully celebrate vigilantism in our popular culture.
I further contend there are powerful, divisive, and negative social forces at work today that fuel the increase in mass public shootings. These factors include but are not limited to: financial and healthcare fears, a declining belief in the American dream, distrust of the government, racism, xenophobia, religious and gender biases, hate crime, domestic terrorism, and near-constant war since 2001. Political and social divisions fueled by seemingly ubiquitous hate speech across media platforms over the last few years have created an environment where violence is seemingly inevitable."

The Real Reason Mass Shootings Are on the Rise

Personal Perspective: Powerful, divisive, and negative social forces are at work today that fuel the increase in mass public shootings.

www.psychologytoday.com

Now how to reverse course is beyond me. It's likely going to continue to get worse for the foreseeable future.
[/QUOTE]

With AR-15 Weapons of War, little bodies are decapitated.

Now, who here has children?

Don't tell me there's no path when Governor DeSanctimonious meets at midnight to sign a bill.

Ron DeSantis quietly legalizes carrying concealed weapons without permits

The lack of fanfare around the measure was notable for a governor who regularly holds splashy news conferences and bill-signing ceremonies.

www.nbcnews.com

How to stop? I submit some of us discontinue meeting in the middle of the night like another group I know, does.

 

[schuylaar]

I am in a good position at 54. But at 19, I was homeless. I didn't have 2 pennies to rub together. I had to steal cigs, bum a place to stay, took food if I could get it, so yeah, I've been in those shoes. But, I never thought about killing myself or doing harm to others. Life just sucks sometimes. I can also understand that some people don't have the inner strength to keep going. I've seen some recover and make a good life, and others.. not so much. But, this isn't new news... it's been going on for a long time. Something else, or multiple things have changed for us to accept a new normal, and I have some theories as stated above, but I have no idea how to change it. Technology is moving forward at light speed. How long before we accept nothing as "shocking"? Sure it's sad.. and unavoidable. We've lost our skill sets with voice command information, mathematics, problem solving, etc. And yes, I do help others out if they need it. We always buy food for our trim crews, give them free weed, gas money, whatever they need, because I was there once, and I know how they feel. I took 2 hours out of my day to go pick up a stranger from the airport (saw he needed a ride on FB). I've tried to live by "Save like no one else, so you can give like no one else".. thanks D. Ramsey.
If there is a fix, we'd have to go backwards in technology, get rid of our cell phones, computers, and the uncountable number of news sources. Never gonna happen. It's an addiction we have. Most people would freak out if they had to go without thier cell phone for a day, much less a week. It's also created a sea of keyboard warriors that will say things to you online that they would never say to your face. Im fairly certain that even if a few of us got on a zoom call and saw each other face to face even digitally, the conversations would be different.
After all the traveling I've ever done, I've always found a stranger to talk to, and we were always happy to talk to each other because we saw the human side of ourselves and not our IP addresses.

We've already accepted nothing as shocking. Does any Political Junkie recall the 'Dean Scream' and how that was so outrageous it disqualified him as Presidential candidate?

 

[CunningCanuk]

It’s funny watching people who are against any form of gun regulation scratching their heads trying to understand why gun violence a problem. Blaming video games and cell phones while you live in a country without any substantial gun regulations is just sticking your head in the sand.

The solution is obvious but uncomfortable for too many of your fellow citizens, unfortunately.

 

[schuylaar]

Thanks for the input... and that's why I said the same thing... It's going to get worse. And nobody has any answers on how to reverse it. Ideology and reality are two totally different things. It's a great idea to take guns off the street. Reality.. it'll never happen. Ideally, we'd like to have the criminals turn in thier weapons, along with law abiding citizens. Reality... it'll never happen.
I've studied peoples attention span for the past decade. I've produced and edited video during that time. Over the years, I can see how long my general audience will spend thier time watching them, and I have discovered that 10 years ago, most people would generally watch 100% of a 2 min video. Today, you'll see a sharp spike for 10 seconds, and then drop off to nothing. Today's visual media is overwhelming. We have too much immediate access to it that it seems to train your brain to skip, skip, skip, watch 10 seconds, skip, etc. It's been interesting to observe the human reaction to media overload. I think this contributes to the detached reality we have now... especially among the younger crowd.

1-Except when they are one.

2-My secret in business..ready? The bullet point..back to 2000, when I realized attention span. I put together a "21 Reasons Why" and put it in front of the folder. That literally got me an acquisition of 30 clients for my January. My 60-second elevator pitch were three bullet points..easy for people to remember three.

In a world full of sales reps, you have to stand out with your own thing.

 

[Nugnewbie]

It’s funny watching people who are against any form of gun regulation scratching their heads trying to understand why gun violence a problem. Blaming video games and cell phones while you live in a country without any substantial gun regulations is just sticking your head in the sand.

The solution is obvious but uncomfortable for too many of your fellow citizens, unfortunately.

Yes, I believe this is an uncomfortable truth for those on the right. Sensible gun laws would save lives, but...,to quote DoubleA, "Thanks for the input... and that's why I said the same thing... It's going to get worse. And nobody has any answers on how to reverse it." With an approach or attitude to a problem like this, shows that the lack of interest for some people to want to change ONE obvious contributor. Because you don't have to look far to see it.

 

[Sickofitall420247]

Red flag laws need to be understood and enforced along with mental health treatments. Almost every mass shooting is a suicide at its heart. We need counselors to be able to identify someone that fits into the red flag laws and contact the correct people to take care of the matter before they decide nows the time to go. Almost every mass shooter gives hints and clues about what they are planning to do Good common sense gun control would be great but when do you want it to stop? Until every gun is outlawed. Sorry but that's never going to happen.

 

[schuylaar]

Red flag laws need to be understood and enforced along with mental health treatments. Almost every mass shooting is a suicide at its heart. We need counselors to be able to identify someone that fits into the red flag laws and contact the correct people to take care of the matter before they decide nows the time to go. Almost every mass shooter gives hints and clues about what they are planning to do Good common sense gun control would be great but when do you want it to stop? Until every gun is outlawed. Sorry but that's never going to happen.

The Rifle That Ruined America

As an NRA-approved icon and the mass shooter’s weapon of choice, the AR-15 has done untold harm.

www.theatlantic.com

 

[Budley Doright]

It’s funny watching people who are against any form of gun regulation scratching their heads trying to understand why gun violence a problem. Blaming video games and cell phones while you live in a country without any substantial gun regulations is just sticking your head in the sand.

The solution is obvious but uncomfortable for too many of your fellow citizens, unfortunately.

Unfortunately the solutions, are not that uncomfortable. They are made up discomforts and hurdles that are easily overcome if using logic instead of fear IMO.

 

[DIY-HP-LED]

 

[printer]

Abbott seeks pardon for Army sergeant convicted of murder during Black Lives Matter protest
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said on Saturday that he is seeking a pardon for an Army sergeant who was convicted of murder for fatally shooting an armed Black Lives Matter protester.

Sgt. Daniel Perry was convicted on Friday for the July 2020 killing of 28-year-old Garrett Foster at a Black Lives Matter protest in Austin, Texas.

“I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry,” Abbott tweeted on Saturday.
“Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney,” he added in a statement.

The Texas governor said he has requested that the state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles review Perry’s case on an expedited timeline, noting that his pardon authority is limited by the board’s recommendations.

“I look forward to approving the Board’s pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk,” Abbott added.

Perry, who was working for a ride-sharing company at the time, encountered protesters after turning down a street in downtown Austin. The Black Lives Matter protest, one of many occurring across the country at the time, came in the wake of the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer.

The Army sergeant reportedly stopped and honked at the protesters before driving into the crowd. Foster, who was armed with an AK-47 rifle, approached Perry’s car.

Perry shot and killed Foster, claiming he fired in self-defense after the other man raised his gun. However, witnesses testified that Foster never raised his rifle, and prosecutors argued that Perry could have driven away rather than shooting.

Abbott seeks pardon for Army sergeant convicted of murder during Black Lives Matter protest

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said on Saturday that he is seeking a pardon for an Army sergeant who was convicted of murder for fatally shooting an armed Black Lives Matter protester. Sgt. Daniel Perr…

thehill.com

No 'woke' individuals can walk around armed in Texas, only good folk it would seem (according to Abbott).

 

[CunningCanuk]

Unfortunately the solutions, are not that uncomfortable. They are made up discomforts and hurdles that are easily overcome if using logic instead of fear IMO.

They aren’t uncomfortable for reasonable people, anyway.

 

[DIY-HP-LED]

Abbott seeks pardon for Army sergeant convicted of murder during Black Lives Matter protest
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said on Saturday that he is seeking a pardon for an Army sergeant who was convicted of murder for fatally shooting an armed Black Lives Matter protester.

Sgt. Daniel Perry was convicted on Friday for the July 2020 killing of 28-year-old Garrett Foster at a Black Lives Matter protest in Austin, Texas.

“I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry,” Abbott tweeted on Saturday.
“Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney,” he added in a statement.

The Texas governor said he has requested that the state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles review Perry’s case on an expedited timeline, noting that his pardon authority is limited by the board’s recommendations.

“I look forward to approving the Board’s pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk,” Abbott added.

Perry, who was working for a ride-sharing company at the time, encountered protesters after turning down a street in downtown Austin. The Black Lives Matter protest, one of many occurring across the country at the time, came in the wake of the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer.

The Army sergeant reportedly stopped and honked at the protesters before driving into the crowd. Foster, who was armed with an AK-47 rifle, approached Perry’s car.

Perry shot and killed Foster, claiming he fired in self-defense after the other man raised his gun. However, witnesses testified that Foster never raised his rifle, and prosecutors argued that Perry could have driven away rather than shooting.

Abbott seeks pardon for Army sergeant convicted of murder during Black Lives Matter protest

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said on Saturday that he is seeking a pardon for an Army sergeant who was convicted of murder for fatally shooting an armed Black Lives Matter protester. Sgt. Daniel Perr…

thehill.com

No 'woke' individuals can walk around armed in Texas, only good folk it would seem (according to Abbott).

That's why the penalty for murder in Texas is anywhere from a few months in jail to execution, depending on, wealth, color and party affiliation...

 

[cannabineer]

I live in Tennessee, and a lot of us aren't happy with this shit.
Memphis is probably going to reelect Pearson and send him straight back to the House.
https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/memphians-talk-pearson-ousting-pearson-confirms-re-election-plans/article_a314c216-d582-11ed-9766-8f4212e502ec.html

this is your brain on today’s country music

 

[DIY-HP-LED]

Maybe rename America to: The "United States plus some Fascist ones". Truthfulness can help restore faith in democracy!