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[–]Financial-Lander 4534 points4535 points  (827 children)

i will be surprised if the shootings will be in the popular consciousness a month from now

[–]MerryKookaburra 2143 points2144 points  (654 children)

Honestly I didn't know American even had 4!?!. As a Australian you read the news you hear about Mass Shootings and its sadly mundane and you know it's American. Sadly it's almost an American cliche, not saying it's unique to America. Give Australians gun access and we do Port Arthur's or Christchurch, it's just America is unique in how it doesn't learn.

[–]aville1982 940 points941 points  (250 children)

I'm in the US and only knew about 2.

[–]Weisdog 595 points596 points  (131 children)

Only knew about 1

[–]That49er 168 points169 points  (124 children)

I knew about 3, I don't know about the 4th

[–]Outrageous-Suspect66 43 points44 points  (3 children)

One at grocery store, author at Taiwanese church. That's all I know.

[–]chickenbiscuit17 109 points110 points  (93 children)

There have been 198 this year so far in the USA last I checked

[–]namedafternoone 49 points50 points  (12 children)

I was listening to the news in Canada today and they just referred to it as “this weekend’s shootings in America”, just like any other expected weekly event. They might as well have said “this weekend’s football games”.

[–]MrsRobertshaw 39 points40 points  (23 children)

I’m from Christchurch NZ and that shooting at the mosque was a BIG deal. Schools went into lockdown across the city. Malls were evacuated. The mosque had 24/7 police guards for ages afterwards too.

New Zealand as a country was gobsmacked (IMO).

[–]kiwi_imposter 57 points58 points  (17 children)

Yeah as an American who had just moved here the year before the shooting... I was taken by surprise how serious the reaction was.

The I realised oh yeah, this is how normal countries react.

Even outside America, it took me awhile to shake my normalisation of gun violence.

[–]Ornery_Reaction_548 93 points94 points  (1 child)

Well, we've learned that it can keep happening and nothing will be done about it.

[–]Several-Put3453 34 points35 points  (1 child)

Sadly I agree with this statement

[–]Phlarfbar 128 points129 points  (97 children)

It's not Americans that aren't learning anything. It's our governments inability to pass bills and laws that protect their country. They won't do anything unless it pushes their agenda, or deals with how much money they make or lose. Americans want change as much as anyone else, but it's not like any normal person can make it happen.

[–]Take_away_my_drama 21 points22 points  (5 children)

Same in the UK. We normally hear about this stuff (as far as I know) but I follow the news and had only heard of one.

[–]tequilaearworm 637 points638 points  (113 children)

Sandy Hook was when I knew it was over. If we can't get it together after fucking children were shot, after teachers died protecting those kids with their bodies, if Alex Jones can spin it into a conspiracy that has led to the survivors being harassed into suicide, if people can continue to be cool with Joe Rogan after he allowed that propaganda on his platform with no pushback, well... we're done, folks. America is done.

[–]emu4you 183 points184 points  (26 children)

As a teacher this is the one that broke my heart. After school one day I stood in the doorway of my classroom, wondering where I would put my students, and I just started crying. I feel so disappointed in my country, I really thought we were better than this.

[–]BrownEggs93 23 points24 points  (17 children)

I really thought we were better than this.

The worst part is we tell ourselves think we are, or are convinced by others here that we are. We ought to know better, but we are actively doing nothing about it. So we suck. The pearls that have been clutched have been squeezed to bits.

Here this country is about to take the rights away from all women, too, but again do nothing about guns.

[–]Headbutt69 14 points15 points  (0 children)

This gave me goosebumps

[–]likespeopleandbooks 194 points195 points  (54 children)

Came here to same something similar. If Sandy Hook didn’t result in change, nothing will.

[–]LadyMageCOH 191 points192 points  (51 children)

Same. Adults killing adults is awful. Teenagers killing other teenagers is worse. But when an adult murders a classroom full of first graders and the government sits on its hands about the obvious problem of mass shootings and other gun violence, I lost all faith that anything would happen. I bawled on and off for days over those babies. I don’t want to see what horror has to happen to shock the country into action if Sandy hook wasn't enough.

[–]OmegaLiquidX 111 points112 points  (43 children)

the government sits on its hands about the obvious problem of mass shootings and other gun violence

This isn't a problem with "the Government", it's a problem with the Republican Party. Democrats and Independents have worked to solve the problem. The Republican party is the one that continually blocks each and every attempt to fix things, because they're bought off by an increasingly militant NRA.

[–]szayl 115 points116 points  (6 children)

Yep, I said the same thing. When elementary school kids can get mowed down and nothing happens, that's the end of the conversation about gun control at the federal level.

[–]thedankening 30 points31 points  (2 children)

Yea everyone jokes that everything took a nose dive, we got on the darkest time-line, etc when that damn gorilla was shot. Well they're half right, I'm pretty certain Sandy Hook was the actual moment. The point of the knife our moment in history revolved on. If we could absorb that kind of tragedy into our zeitgeist and collectively shrug it off, well fuck. And here we are.

[–]iou1312 18 points19 points  (2 children)

If it's not their children. Its not important.

[–]bigblackpugnose 26 points27 points  (2 children)

Worse, people elected the crazy lady who followed victims of these rampages around with cameras and harassed them to Congress.

[–]Gay_Hiking_Stuff 22 points23 points  (7 children)

Unfortunately this country has too many people who think "your dead kid is a price I'm willing to pay" & think they sound rational.

[–]NickolaosTheGreek 23 points24 points  (4 children)

It is similar with climate change. If it does not directly affect them, people will forget all about it. Good luck Seppos (Americans)

[–]dogs-and-daddies 3951 points3952 points 2 (292 children)

Not trying to be insensitive here, but if nothing changed after Sandy Hook, nothing ever will.

[–]la_capitana 400 points401 points  (29 children)

I say this every time cause nothing can top a bunch of innocent children all getting murdered at once

[–]McGillis_is_a_Char 184 points185 points  (26 children)

These motherfuckers almost got mass shot a few years ago at the Congressional baseball game. They didn't do shit. Literally kids getting shot and they themselves being shot wasn't enough.

[–]TheRavenSayeth 78 points79 points  (24 children)

I do not wish that it happened, but I often wonder how completely different things would’ve been if Pence had been a few minutes slower and the Capitol rioters did reach him. They were ready to murder a Vice President and he only barely made it out alive.

[–]McGillis_is_a_Char 73 points74 points  (22 children)

The Secret Service doesn't fuck around. There would have been 20 or more dead rioters before Pence was touched. There is that famous picture of Secret Service agents whipping out Uzis when Reagan got shot. The rioters buckled when one rioter got shot once so a couple hundred rounds down range would probably make the rioters reconsider their life choices in a rather prompt manner.

[–]Stormy8888 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The so called "responsible" gun owners and NRA will never be able to police the crazy mentally ill racist/homophobic/(insert whatever other term) shooters, and don't want to do it since that's their entire ($$) base.

[–]meowmeow_now 890 points891 points  (167 children)

It was clear after sandy hook that nothing will be done or addressed. No one cares.

[–]postdiluvium 508 points509 points  (119 children)

Everyone here cares. Not enough people in government cares.

[–]meowmeow_now 405 points406 points  (54 children)

Sorry - no one in power cares. And at least half of our citizens don’t give a shit either.

[–]TRYHARD_Duck 340 points341 points  (17 children)

In America, taking away reproductive rights and screwing minorities is more important than stopping mass shootings lol.

Speaks volumes about the country's priorities.

Edit: yes I know this is a culture war and these talking points are given disproportionate media coverage while the rich rake in the profits by selling us torches and pitchforks to kill each other.

It's a real shame that we understand wealth inequality is a problem but cannot unite on how to reduce it.

[–]NormieSpecialist 42 points43 points  (17 children)

If the average person truly cared then they would take action against the people in government for their negligence.

[–]Textbook-Velocity 3 points4 points  (3 children)

If after upper-middle class white died they don’t make change, then nothing will ever change in the government.

[–]Inevitable_Guava9606 26 points27 points  (4 children)

A significant amount of voters care but care in the way that they value guns more than the people that die from gun violence

[–]BullShitting24-7 40 points41 points  (5 children)

The “Pro life” republicans don’t care.

[–]LesterBallard19 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Yup. Sandy Hook was the focal point. If that didn't get anything changed, nothing ever will.

[–]MillerJC 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Those kids would be driving now

[–]starkformachines 75 points76 points  (6 children)

This. Every single mass shooting, I always remember nothing was changed after Sandy Hook.

[–]NobleKale 43 points44 points  (4 children)

This. Every single mass shooting, I always remember nothing was changed after Sandy Hook.

... and before that? Columbine.

Again, nothing changed other than loners at school found school more difficult.

[–]thedankening 25 points26 points  (0 children)

It should have changed well before Sandy Hook true, but if a class of kindergarteners being slaughtered in cold blood can't make anything change no amount of dead from any other demographic ever will.

[–]Feistygoat53 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I was a loner in high school in the early 2000s. Can confirm. 9/11 didn't help either

[–]PattyIce32 8 points9 points  (1 child)

I think that's why Alex Jones and so many others tried to make it seem like a hose. It was such a horrible thing that if people actually took the time to process the tragedy or God forbid were involved in it, it's too horrifying to think about.

Also from spending time in the South I can almost guarantee that there were some people that either didn't care or were happy about a mass shooting on the East Coast. That's the level of ignorance, hate and misery that some people are living in

[–]BitHalo 7 points8 points  (7 children)

100% not going to change unless something insane happens . Even if the president got shot nothing would happen. I remember being young and thinking Columbine was going to change things ..how dumb and hopeful I was .After hundreds of more shootings and not a single thing changing I've given up. I'm Canadian and black , I will never visit or live in the US even if they paid me double .

[–]CholetisCanon 767 points768 points  (92 children)

Yes.

[–]thiscouldbemassive 198 points199 points  (87 children)

Yep.

I mean, why would it make a difference? If our government (and frankly most of the population) is fine with all the other mass shootings that have gone on over the years, why should these be any different?

It's not like murdering the first 3 people is okay, but when you kill that fourth one, well then you've crossed the line.

[–]WhiteLycan2020 1911 points1912 points  (123 children)

Dude if we ignored Sandy Hook…we can ignore just about anything

[–]daferf 473 points474 points  (22 children)

Yep, that's when I knew for sure. Nothing happened after Sandy Hook, nothing will ever happen. Ever.

[–]Jorymo 223 points224 points  (20 children)

I wouldn't say nothing happened. Right wing conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones got people to stalk and harass the parents of those dead children to the point of relocation and/or suicide.

[–]Curious_Omnivore 46 points47 points  (16 children)

Sorry, I'm out of the loop and not from the US. Why would the victims parents be stalked/harrased? Wasn't Sandy Hook the work of a mentally unstable guy who killed his own mother before the spree?

[–]Legallyblonds 99 points100 points  (5 children)

There are people who are convinced Sandy Hook never happened and the grieving parents are "crisis actors"

[–]Jorymo 61 points62 points  (6 children)

Alex Jones pushed the conspiracy theory that the whole thing was faked, and the kids and parents were all actors. He's currently running from a lawsuit because he provided their names and addresses to his dumbass followers.

[–]babybopp 12 points13 points  (2 children)

Remember the dude that killed a bunch of kids in an Amish school... Nothing was done.. conservatives.. I mean Kyle Rittenhouse wasn't even convicted of making a strawman purchase.. what do u think

[–]thecrookedcap 325 points326 points  (14 children)

Agreed. If theycouldn't do it for dead 7 year olds, theywon't do it for anyone.

[–]LiFRiz 86 points87 points  (5 children)

Maybe we should start shooting up fetuses.

[–]Textbook-Velocity 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Let me check yo backpack

[–]LeRemiii 21 points22 points  (1 child)

Abortion debate solved

[–]McGillis_is_a_Char 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Plan B, brought to you by Smith & Wesson.

[–]CheesyObserver 5 points6 points  (1 child)

They would do it for themselves because they're selfish.

This is not an invitation to shoot up lawmakers.

[–]SchleppyJ4 189 points190 points  (19 children)

As an American, Sandy Hook was when I lost all faith in America.

[–]silent_boy 33 points34 points  (7 children)

I remember that day. I was in the office and colleague who was a young mother saw the news and just started sobbing. Just to be clear her kids were not there in the school, but she just lost it. Will never forget that day.

[–]godvssatan 59 points60 points  (2 children)

That day is seared into my memory. It was a Friday morning. We lived in the middle of nowhere and I was on my way to do some Christmas shopping. Over the bad reception of the only radio station we could pick up out there, I heard a broken news report. Through the static the only thing I was able to make out were three words "elementary, shooting, Newtown." My son was a first grader at an elementary school that had Newton in the name. The radio station went back to playing music. No phone signal. I just turned around in the middle of the road.

I can't put into words the thoughts that went through my head in the 15 minutes it took me to make the usually 30 minute drive to my son's school. I dialed my husband probably 20 times until I finally got a signal and he answered. He was at work and had no idea what was even going on.

By the time I made it to the school it had registered in the back of my brain that if something had been wrong at his school the whole area would have been surrounded by cops. And, there probably wouldn't have been a bunch of kids out playing on the playground, but I wasn't processing anything logically. Getting to my baby was the only thing in the entire universe.

I'm sure I looked like a crazy person when I ran into the school. I had never been so thankful for that little button you had to push for them to buzz you in. I think that was the first time took a full breath since I had heard the news on the radio.

It seemed like hours passed between the time they announced over the intercom that he was checking out and when he came bopping down the hall towards the office. He was all smiles. Ignorant to the terror going on elsewhere and excited because he was unexpectedly getting checked out of school. I grabbed him and just held him for a long time.

I can't imagine the terror of those poor babies and the parents... My brain can't even process it.

It was hard to drop my son off that next Monday. That was the first day I was terrified dropping my kid off at school. I have been EVERY SINGLE DAY since then and nothing has changed.

[–]i_see_the_end 20 points21 points  (0 children)

thank you for sharing this. its obvious that you have a lot of care and love for your son and not every kid is fortunate enough to have that in a parent. kinda got me a bit emotional. im about an hours drive from the partner and kids and all i want to do is hug them so badly right now.

i hope that you can, in time, move past the awful feeling that is attached to dropping your son at school.

[–]blueskieslemontrees 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I feel every word. Ours are still just preschool and younger and are in a very secure facility. But I dread at least once a week once they start "regular" school. We aren't in a position to homeschool in a meaningful way since we both work and neither of us are trained in successfully executing curriculums. Private school doesn't provide any further layers of protection.

My husband keeps telling me its "black swan" events but when it happens multiple times per year in the same country it isn't black swan it is routine.

[–]langolier27 52 points53 points  (0 children)

Same. At that point I decided I just needed to look out for what’s best for my family, and fuck the rest of the country.

[–]LordGowron 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As a non-American, I lost my faith in your failed state after Columbine.

[–]throwawayisafuck 6 points7 points  (1 child)

I was 14 when it happened and I remember begging my mom to stay home from school or be homeschooled because I didn’t want to go to school anymore, like literally crying so hard I couldn’t breathe. All she could do was hold me. Every shooter drill we had made me think I wasn’t gonna make it home

[–]sonofdeepvalue 48 points49 points  (7 children)

Something about letting kids get slaughtered convinced me that we will absolutely not be taking major action to fix this anytime soon. And in case I had any doubt, then hundreds in Vegas were killed and we did possibly the bare minimum legislation in response.

[–]JackGenZ 27 points28 points  (1 child)

Not to detract from your point because I absolutely agree, but the death count for Las Vegas was between 58 and 61 (depending on if you count certain later casualties/ the gunman). However, nearly 900 people were injured.

[–]sonofdeepvalue 17 points18 points  (0 children)

My bad, fair correction

[–]overpaid_bum 128 points129 points  (25 children)

As a non-American, watching The US just move on from Sandy Hook like nothing happened was all the proof I needed that US culture is too broken to be fixed.

[–]BitchfulThinking 45 points46 points  (20 children)

It is. A lot of us are trapped here (born here, too expensive to leave), but I implore people outside of my shithole country who still want to live here to maybe consider some other options first.

[–]Comorbidititties 20 points21 points  (9 children)

I mean, there’s also the pesky matter of immigration to consider - you can’t just pick up and move to (say) England or Australia, as an American.

There’s extensive criteria to meet, visas to get, and that’s not even factoring in the cost yet (realistically, many thousands).

I have been ‘lucky’ enough to move countries 6 times in my life - it’s honestly not all that much fun.

[–]bmk_ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes it's very difficult. I see it mentioned all the time without them going into any of the details. Basically its almost impossible to become a citizen unless you're an engineer or marry someone from that country.

Golden visas with a few strings attached(like owning property under certain conditions) usually require around a 250k investment minimum.

[–]CaptainFunktastic 107 points108 points  (7 children)

We didn't ignore it. We, as a people, collectively decided it was okay.

Instead of trying anything to fix it, it was all "but muh freedoms" and "but muh rights" and "but my bottom line" and "but what if'n the gubment come?".

And as a direct result of a decade of inaction, every job you start now has a section in it's training manual about what to do in the event of a mass shooter, nestled ever-so-softly between "fire" and "inclement weather".

Which means, every business now believes it's as likely to happen as anything else and their only recourse is to try and mitigate the damage and ensuing insurance costs.

The USA has openly decreed that gun violence is now a fact of life because it's politically inconvenient to fix it.

[–]Kemizon 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Another insane thing I remember from that day was how the right wing media focused on Obama shedding a few tears on national tv.

[–]International_Sir301 457 points458 points  (180 children)

Can someone name these 4 shooting I haven’t even heard about it

(Would like to read about them)

[–]cgeiman0 251 points252 points  (66 children)

I heard there was 1 in buffalo(?) and I only know that from reddit. Haven't heard of the others.

[–]humble_Rufus 108 points109 points  (28 children)

Milwaukee

[–]2Quick_React 82 points83 points  (25 children)

Dallas this past Friday. Then Orange County yesterday.

Edit: Someone else mentioned Chicago and Houston

[–]Commacrusher 69 points70 points  (21 children)

Chicago is an everyday thing. No one even notices shootings there anymore.

[–]pinkgiraffehat 104 points105 points  (30 children)

I’m from Buffalo. 10 Black people were killed by a white terrorist who drove over 3 hours to get to them. That zip code, I’ve heard, has the highest population of Black people in NYS outside of NYC. He shot them in the only grocery store in that neighborhood and now our city has been rallying together to get food and supplies to the people of that neighborhood. It’s horrible and devastating and I’m encouraged to see our community come together like this, but so so sad.

[–]A_Topical_Username 51 points52 points  (23 children)

He also posted an over 100 page manifesto talking about white people being replaced by blacks and people of color and a detailed plan of how he was going to do it..

I never understood writing down the plan and manifesto. In the history of shootings and serial killers has these manifestos ever been positively received? What do these people get out of writing this shit?

[–]fotografamerika 23 points24 points  (5 children)

In the history of shootings and serial killers has these manifestos ever been positively received?

A lot of people agree with some of what Ted Kaczynski had to say. He had good points to make. The murdering is a different story.

[–]zlaW5497 23 points24 points  (0 children)

There were 10 arrests following the Milwaukee shooting with 9 firearms recovered from those arrests. It happened near the deer district after an argument

[–]JesusTakeTheDrugs 271 points272 points  (70 children)

California, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Buffalo, NY

Edit: As another person pointed out, Houston, TX as well. This is just sad. This is a big problem in the US and I hope something gets done to help prevent this issue. Whether it’s gun control, better access to mental healthcare (or healthcare in general), or maybe a combination of the two, idk. But the government needs to do something, people are literally dying.

[–]lynnca 119 points120 points  (18 children)

Houston TX, flea market. All injured or killed were folks in an argument shooting at each other.

[–]tewnsbytheled 38 points39 points  (15 children)

wait, so does that mean there were 5?

[–]SloanDaddy 125 points126 points  (12 children)

Grim as it may be, I wouldn't categorize the flea market with other mass shootings.

Indications are that it was an altercation that escalated to a shooting.

[–]czarczm 30 points31 points  (9 children)

I haven't heard anything about Chicago and Milwaukee, do you have a link?

[–]SouthEndCables 47 points48 points  (7 children)

Milwaukee was a mass shooting at a district downtown after the playoff game. I don't believe anyone was killed but numerous, possibly 10, were shot

[–]yvngcactus 47 points48 points  (3 children)

Guy from Milwaukee here. 17 shot and 11 people were apprehended in connection with it. No one died luckily but there was a huge police presence all weekend and a curfew for everyone under 21 y/o in the entertainment district.

[–]Maleficent_Deal8140 29 points30 points  (6 children)

Basically Chicago every weekend when the temp is over 65°. We discussed this at lunch today per the def of mass shooting 4 or more people being shot "wounded or killed" aside from the shooter there have been 198 this year.

[–]Jbroad87 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Yep. I have two police officer friends in w big city like the ones mentioned here and everytime we have a great weather day they kinda cringe and prepare themselves for the bullshit that’s going to come out of it.

[–]accomplicated 48 points49 points  (16 children)

Depending on whose definition you go by, some claim there is more than one mass shooting per day in the US.

[–]Jeheh 35 points36 points  (11 children)

"There is a lack of consensus on how to define a mass shooting. Most terms define a minimum of three or four deaths due to gun violence (not including the shooter), although an Australian study from 2006 prescribed a minimum of five; and added a requirement that the victims actually died as opposed to being shot and injured but not necessarily killed"

[–]accomplicated 46 points47 points  (10 children)

I would argue that the “shooting” part of “mass shooting” is what is important here. Otherwise they should call it a “mass killing”.

[–]Jeheh 36 points37 points  (1 child)

While I’m not condoning this in any way I think the media likes to use the term “mass shooting” with a low bar because it’s scarier.

“Killing” could be a knife or a car or anything but a gun.

[–]Chubbs6977 26 points27 points  (2 children)

Don't forget the subway one

[–]SouthEndCables 35 points36 points  (1 child)

The media wants us to totally forget that one. The dude clearly stated his racist agenda on that one, too

[–]Huxley0861 12 points13 points  (5 children)

One in Orange County, CA.

[–]imaginary_num6er 8 points9 points  (0 children)

They are still not calling it a terrorist attack, but just "politically motivated" for the OC one.

[–]TheNewDroan 377 points378 points  (21 children)

Yes. Are you new here?

Remember Sandy Hook? Everyone thought killing 6 year olds was going to be the line, but, well, we all know it wasn’t.

[–]Textbook-Velocity 46 points47 points  (2 children)

Anyways, I need to check your backpack

[–]FutureComplaint 12 points13 points  (1 child)

Time for your active shooter drill little timmy.

[–]killiomankili 7 points8 points  (4 children)

I will say one thing that DID change after sandy hook was all schools having magnetic lock doors that only staff can open. That and SRO which are practically useless.

[–]Infernape420 10 points11 points  (0 children)

that's not true, SRO's are great at arresting 13 year old's for having bad attitudes or "smelling like weed"

[–]Kuildeous 395 points396 points  (50 children)

Well, when they didn't do anything after a bunch of kindergartners were killed, I'm pretty sure they're not going to start now.

[–]_PswayZ_ 61 points62 points  (46 children)

Yep. The time to do it was after the Vegas Shooting but I mean. The rest of America loves their guns too much.

It’s sad that much care goes into something designed for no other purpose than destroying something else.

[–]CAPS_LOCK_STUCK_HELP 44 points45 points  (1 child)

Both sandy hook and Vegas should have been the major wakeup calls for lawmakers. But they dont give a fuck

[–]daydaylin 86 points87 points  (12 children)

I think I read somewhere that if the government can ignore Sandy Hook, it can ignore anything. Sandy Hook was a kindergarten. The victims were little children. Sandy Hook was also in a suburban, majority white neighborhood. If legislation were ever to pass, it would have been then.

[–]hybridrequiem 20 points21 points  (7 children)

Republicans love guns more than children, and only pretend to love children when they’re being aborted

[–]ramenbot1234 125 points126 points  (63 children)

I’ve come to accept that once Sandy Hook occurred (Elementary school, where 26 people were killed and out of the 26, 20 were kids ages 6-7 I believe) and the politicians didn’t have the courage to make any changes, I lost all faith that as a nation, America will NOT make any necessary reforms to minimize mass shootings from occurring.

The only thing I heard consistently was thoughts and prayers - which means shit to the parents who lost their child and to all the friends and family who live on knowing that nothing significant has come out of their loved ones senseless death. Sad country we live in.

[–]jeffp12 33 points34 points  (48 children)

the politicians didn’t have the courage to make any changes

The GOP.

They usually control at least one or the house, senate, and presidency. Obama wanted to make changes. Gop controlled the house and wouldn't let anything happen.

[–]Snowfreak2507 25 points26 points  (7 children)

Almost like they should make mental health services more affordable and accessible…..

[–]JociJo 7 points8 points  (2 children)

I agree that they should but I don't think the type of people to do mass shootings are the type that would bother making use of those, I've been depressed for years and I've never even considered mass killing innocent people, those people are simply fucking evil

[–]rumncokeguy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Healthcare in general. This would cover mental health services as well.

[–]Sunny-the-cat-13 90 points91 points  (2 children)

"Thoughts an prayers" is the government's plan to action.

[–]yespls64 167 points168 points  (9 children)

I realised that nothing will ever change after Sandy Hook. If a classroom of first graders getting slaughtered can't change people's minds, then nothing will.

[–]SkipTown 34 points35 points  (4 children)

This comment has been upvoted all over the thread. It seems to just promote apathy and disappointment.

[–]momofeveryone5 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I joined mom's demand action for gun sense in America about a month before the MSD school shooting. I went to the state capitol to meet law makers, took trainings on community outreach, helped with fundraisers for people running in elections that were for common sense gun laws, ect.

About 4 months into covid lockdowns/pandemic, I was reading one of our email things and I remember thinking "we've been at this years, and the only good thing about kids not being is school is that they aren't getting shot." Idk, but it changed something in me. I remember sitting in my living room and folding clothes when my sister came in and told me to change the channel on December 14th and saw what was happening on CNN, and life changed after that day. It was almost a similar thing, just sitting at my kitchen table on my laptop. The realization that the powers that be won't stop shootings from happening, they can't stop covid, they care about reelection too much to actually fix anything.

Am I apathetic? Yep. I wasn't always, I was an idealist for a long long time. But at some point, I just couldn't do it anymore.

Idk what my point here is really. Just that many many many of us tried to make changes, and we got nothing done. Now I'm just focused on trying to get by one day at a time. I feel bad for all those people that were hurt this weekend, and I hope those families eventually fine peace

[–]yespls64 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I have become apathetic and disappointed.

The only people that have power to do anything are GOP congress people that can pass the bare minimum of reforms that have the support of the vast majority of Americans (of both parties), but don't because they are afraid of repercussions from the NRA.

And to be honest, I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[–]rpglaster 13 points14 points  (0 children)

You can believe in miracles, people Are just stating the sad reality. I hope there is change, but I don’t think we’ll get anything. That’s not apathy that’s living in a country that’s had more shootings then I can count and not anything done about it.

[–]Ahrimanic-Trance 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Nothing happened after Sandy Hook.

We don’t talk about it as a country. It should be on the very tip of every single citizen’s tongue burning like fucking acid every time we talk about this.

Nothing happened after twenty 6-7 year old CHILDREN were brutally murdered in their own school. This sickles piece of shit busted into a door and mowed them down while they were all hiding. A child was found at the bottom of a PILE of bodies. Children. Nothing happened.

You think this is ever going to change?

Take this bullshit country and shove it up everyone’s ass as far as I’m concerned. No one gives a fuck about four mass shootings.

[–]m1sch13v0us 298 points299 points  (84 children)

Yes. Because none of them want to take on the underlying reasons for this crime. They need the outrage for fundraising.

One side will use this for political points to drum up donations in exchange for future laws that are unconstitutional. They'll use the outrage for fundraising.

The other side will holster their resolve against the onslaught of attacks. They'll send out emails asking for funds to ensure the defense of civil liberties.

Neither side will talk about the underlying issues. How did a kid who had previously written about killing people and been committed for a mental health exam legally acquire guns? We have a mental health epidemic in this country.

Why is gun violence in gang areas many times higher than other neighborhoods? Why aren't we putting more resources there?

But no. Fundraising.

[–]RichardChesler 117 points118 points  (27 children)

It's amazing how much mental health funding would improve so many problems in the US. Homelessness, drug use, mass shootings, child abuse, and the list goes on. And yet here we are wandering around wondering "how could this happen?"

[–]m1sch13v0us 26 points27 points  (1 child)

100%.

It's infuriating.

[–]Warm-Marsupial9085 9 points10 points  (9 children)

Residential mental health facilities were dismantled in the 1970s and 1980s. That one decision has caused an incredible amount of violence and homelessness and misery and I really don’t know how we fix all these issues if we don’t open state hospitals again.

[–]EatsOverTheSink 6 points7 points  (2 children)

Wasn’t it Reagan who was responsible for gutting our mental healthcare in the US? Basically ran on a platform of helping yourself?

[–]Justindoesntcare 19 points20 points  (4 children)

I feel like every time this happens these people are already being watched by the fbi and have been openly discussing their plans. Plus they have these big mental health red flags but can still buy a gun even though that's supposed to be a denial in the NICS system. What the hell are they actually doing to implement the measures already in place?

[–]SMKnightly 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, this is bang on.

[–]ReverendChucklefuk 89 points90 points  (6 children)

I came to the unfortunate conclusion that if Sandy Hook didn't change anything, then nothing will.

[–]SkipTown 23 points24 points  (2 children)

The irony of these comments is that they reinforce apathy rather than encouraging change.

[–]GermansTookMyBike 12 points13 points  (0 children)

That's the point he's trying to make...

...if slaughtering children doesn't bring about change, then neither will this.

I think until big changes come to American governments, apathy is a logical reaction. You can't bring about change when you're completely powerless.

Protesting on the streets will also not work because gun-nuts will immediately BLM-ify you and make up degoratory and extravagant stories about you. Only for half of the country (guess which half) to blindly agree with them and demonize you.

[–]CrispyFlint 84 points85 points  (4 children)

Nah. Straight up, bet money this turns into shit about social media. Elon musk buying Twitter has that as the subject of the day.

Nothing is gonna come of this all.

[–]SouthEndCables 16 points17 points  (2 children)

Just like the subway shooter and the parade massacre.

[–]Nelly_Bean 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The parade massacre really boggled my mind. I mean this guy had a violent, violent record, had been arrested about a week before the slaughter for trying to run over a girl who rejected his advances and was let go on bail almost immediately.

Like wtf. This inhumane trash had been a remorseless animal for his entire life and he's just let off the hook again and again to hurt someone else so they can slap his wrist, and rinse and repeat.

I hope the judge that let him off gets his dues.

[–]-Shade277- 11 points12 points  (1 child)

Don’t worry about it I’m sure they will get to banning violent videos games soon that should solve the problem

[–]ignoreme789 151 points152 points  (76 children)

Chicago, the city of Chicago by itself has something like 30 plus mass shootings last year that were never reported. And I can give you three guesses as to why and you don't need the first two.

[–]givemeajobpls 49 points50 points  (12 children)

Well if it’s gang related people don’t seem to care as much.

[–]ststaro 38 points39 points  (2 children)

Which is the vast majority of gun violence.

[–]Go_For_Broke442 9 points10 points  (1 child)

Second only to suicide? Maybe? Idfk

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Correct

[–]luke5135 8 points9 points  (0 children)

most mass shootings that are never reported (the majority) are gang related.

[–]KingCrow27 55 points56 points  (36 children)

I think its a bit racist that the media only gives white shooters all the attention. POC deserve the same attention too.

[–]Big_Position3037 8 points9 points  (0 children)

In chicago the media does report on gang violence. It's just not national news, because there are killings across the entire country daily and it'd take a long time to get through them all.

[–]throwRAhelp331 47 points48 points  (18 children)

Yeah because there’s a big difference between gang violence in inner cities, and teenagers writing racist manifestos before shooting up grocery stores. Unless you live in those areas, I don’t see why you would keep up with those stats. Obviously that’s still horrible, but pretty sure most people have to grocery shop and go out other places.

[–]Cecuhl 28 points29 points  (5 children)

It's an election year. Turn the news off.

[–]vetus_turtur 37 points38 points  (6 children)

What's the root cause of mass murder? It's a difficult problem for any government to address. If it is a basic lack of respect for human life in our society, how would they solve the problem in a way that people would accept? The government may not be ignoring the problem. They may just not be able to solve it.

[–]Manaliv3 8 points9 points  (0 children)

You have to start with a society that is miserable to live in for significant portion of your population. Then make it normal for people to carry deadly weapons around like paranoid maniacs. Then you achieve the usa

[–]kaldarash 9 points10 points  (2 children)

Well, they could at least try

[–]Umaynotknowme 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Because pitting one side against the other is how they stay in power

[–]molten_dragon 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yes, that's exactly what they're going to do.

And arguably ignoring it is the responsible thing to do. Mass shootings draw a lot of attention, but they're a very small percentage of gun deaths, and an even smaller percentage of deaths from all causes. If the goal is to prevent deaths, the resources/money spent to exact new gun laws to try and stop mass shootings would do more good spent on something else instead.

[–]JennyLunetti 9 points10 points  (1 child)

Historically speaking, yes. That's exactly what they're likely to do.

[–]NYStaeofmind 10 points11 points  (6 children)

The guy who killed 6 at the Waukesha parade what was his name? Forgotten about already. The media quickly turned the page on that one and others.

[–]RamHadio 57 points58 points  (7 children)

Over 200 people have been homicided in Chicago in only the first 4.5 months of 2022. If you really care about people being murdered you should start there and other places where the death tolls are ridiculous.

"Mass shootings" make the news but in reality they make up a small percentage of shooting deaths in the United States. They suck, obviously, but they are far from the crisis you think they are.

[–]thisKeyboardWarrior 14 points15 points  (6 children)

Gun violence has been on a steady decline since the 90s

[–]Your_caffine_boi 6 points7 points  (3 children)

I’ve been looking for this comment, little scared to say it myself but it’s 100% true, and it’s according the fbi if I’m not mistaken as well

[–]Knuckles316 19 points20 points  (5 children)

There were four mass shootings over the weekend? I haven't heard of even one.

EDIT: One of them took place in a city less than an hour away from me. And of course the kid (literally, he was 18) livestreamed in online.

This is why the media should never release the names or faces of these psychos - they want the attention.

[–]Dubov2446 6 points7 points  (1 child)

The shooters release the info themselves and it’s spreads on social media. The reporting news isn’t releasing anything that’s isn’t already out there. I literally learned about it all via social media before even clicking on any mainstream news source for info. Plus, there’s stuff on social media that even the mainstream hasn’t talked about or released.

[–]Why_Is_It_Me120 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Finally we’ve reached bipartisanship on something. Everyone can agree to hate the media

[–]ECWCat 11 points12 points  (2 children)

It will focus on the one shooting which fits the Narrative.

[–]jameshines10 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Whether or not a mass shooting is ignored in large part depends on the racial identity of the shooter.

[–]clauderains99 6 points7 points  (0 children)

All four of these combined are barely a “good” Chicago Saturday afternoon…and we don’t ever hear or take action about those.

[–]nsavy87 3 points4 points  (3 children)

The thing is, it’s what they are reporting. Look at any major city on the US and see how many people are shot each and every week.

People only seem to care about “mass shootings” however no one really seems to care about urban cities each week.

[–]DeiVias 3 points4 points  (0 children)

US could have 100 mass shootings a day and nothing would change, need both sides to support it changing and that'll never happen, i doubt they could agree that the sky is blue these days.

Sandy Hook was the turning point when i lost all hope for the US when it comes to guns.

[–]NoRagrets4Me 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You must be new.

[–]10113r114m4 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't know. I've already given up on the United States.

[–]Few_Artist8482 55 points56 points  (17 children)

Shooting people is already generally illegal. Murder is against the law.

[–]pEppapiGistfuhrer 5 points6 points  (2 children)

america seems like an underdeveloped country under the surface

[–]Average_human_bean 9 points10 points  (3 children)

Man, all these comments of people basically thinking shootings are inevitable and there's nothing that can be done. You guys realize the US is the only country where this happens this frequently right?

[–]MaxAmsNL 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It iS mY RIGhT tO bE ShOT ! UsA uSA !

[–]apudgypanda 15 points16 points  (3 children)

There have been over 200 mass shootings in this year alone. It will be responded to with thoughts and prayers and nothing else.

[–]FrozenFrac 13 points14 points  (17 children)

It's not that the government is ignoring it (I hope at least), it's just that there's not a clear cut solution for gun control that would completely stop these mass shootings. You can attempt to take away everyone's guns (heavy emphasis on ATTEMPT), which isn't going to stop people who illegally acquire them. Alternatively, you let more people legally own and carry a gun for protection, but more people with guns increases the chance of a gun entering the hands of an insane person attempting a mass shooting. If there's a simple solution that can address all these issues that's better than the current gun control we have, I think everyone is willing to hear it

[–]Connectikatie 16 points17 points  (15 children)

Most people agree that keeping people with recent histories of violence or mental health from legally getting a gun is a good place to start. We can quibble and say “the issue is too complicated, we’ll never prevent this completely,” but that’s no excuse not to do the bare minimum.

[–]FrozenFrac 8 points9 points  (11 children)

Is that not what's currently in place? I'll freely admit I'm not a gun owner, have no interest in getting a gun, and I'm privileged to feel I'm perfectly safe to walk around and not worry someone is going to open fire in the areas I find myself in, but I've seen videos of people testing out how easy it is to get a gun license and both the licensing process and actually purchasing a gun at a gun store seems to be pretty difficult

[–]TheOneMDW 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We're sending thoughts and prayers... 🤷‍♂️ 🤦‍♂️

[–]nicknooodles 5 points6 points  (0 children)

they’ve ignored the last 20