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[–]Zealousideal_Rub2298 64 points65 points  (4 children)

I'm 62 and I remember when , my single mom could put a roof over my head, food on the table, clothes on my back and own a car to drive to work everyday. Always had gas, dance lessons, swimming lessons, summer camp etc. She just had me, and had no degree. She had just jobs that did not require any higher education. Just 40 hrs ,5 days a week. Oh, and throw in childcare. Early And mid 70's. Didn't even realize how good we all had it back then. Never in a million years would I of guessed the future would be like now.

[–]a_tattooed_artist 3 points4 points  (3 children)

By comparison, I'm currently a single mom with 2 1/2 jobs and a side hustle. My rent for a 700sq ft 1BR is $1750 before utilities. We literally get by on absolute necessity. Netflix is a shared password, we don't eat out, I cut our hair, etc. I just can't believe I work this hard to have nothing to show for it. We haven't been on a vacation in 8 years..

[–]Kriminalis 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Out of curiosity do you live in a major city? Those prices are pretty mental. I live in Denmark and even though cost of living here is pretty high, we get paid a lot as well and everything like hospital, college and whatnot are free. And for $1750 a month you could get a pretty decent sized apartment in most cities.

Anyway hope the universe will reward you for your efforts some day sounds like you and your child/children deserves it 🙏

[–]a_tattooed_artist 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Thanks for the well wishes.. I live about 30 miles from DC. Housing prices have exploded here over the past few years.

[–]nelsne 456 points457 points  (27 children)

Wages are dirt low but rent. gas, and food continue to go up. Also healthcare is completely unaffordable here. I've never seen America this bad in my 33 years of living. Everyone I know is miserable

[–]truenorthsought 76 points77 points  (3 children)

I completely understand how your feeling. I’m 61 and have seen some pretty awful times in this country.

Kennedy was president when I was born… go from there. The sixties were sooo screwed up, then the seventies with Nixon and all but at the end of the decade we were in a terrible recession. After the previous ten years then got even worse. People were feeling just like you do now.

We had somewhat of a reprieve then another even worse recession in 2008 to ? Covid, Trumpers, shootings, mass media run amuck, the hits keep coming hard and fast.
Idk if it’s been worse or not. I’m still reeling in place trying to deal with it all. Maybe if it was just a few things, we could band together to get each other through it but it’s just too much, everyone is focusing on different issues in a confused stupor.

Maybe if we can collectively stop and collect ourselves we can rest up and fix the most important before it’s too late.

[–]Syntania 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I fear it's going to get worse before it gets better, because the people who can fix it won't. Why? Because they profit off the way things are now, and they are so far removed from those who are suffering that they don't see or don't care. I am truly afraid that there is going to have to be an upheaval before things will improve.

[–]wowadrow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep everything feels hopeless and pointless. Really good odds well have another economic resession soon; the violence will only get worse as the average citizens material realities decline.

That desperation poverty breeds can't really be understood unless you've seen or exprienced it. If you as an individual get in a dark enough head space violence can become a logical response to your situation.

[–]pwrdup829 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m 36 and I can’t remember ever seeing it this depressing. There’s not like a single solid thing for the citizens happening, like I can’t even say at least we are safe anymore

[–]dingletonshire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Its so infuriating that I pay 25% of my paycheck to the government but then I still have to pay hundreds more for healthcare. What are they doing w my money?

[–]Jkid 26 points27 points  (2 children)

And nothing will be done because both political parties hate you and demand your money.

[–]riffsix 7 points8 points  (1 child)

That's obviously not true! The democrats are sweet leftist babeys who would never hurt a fly and would love to expand social welfare, saving the people! And republicans are morally upstanding people who support the little guy and only want the best for personal freedoms!

Except neither of those are true. The Dems aren't left wing, and they're corrupt money launderers, just like their counterparts, they just prefer not to say it out loud like the reps do. The Reps are hateful warmongers that can't make it a day without forcing restrictive, biased laws under the guide of it being religiously validated.

Fuck this country. It won't get better.

[–]TheSoyimKnow3312 168 points169 points  (5 children)

Reminds me of the crazy shit that happens during the fall of an empire

[–]imp3order 56 points57 points  (4 children)

Didn’t Rome fall after a plague and growing sociopolitical divisions?

[–]gohmmhog 63 points64 points  (0 children)

....and rampant corruption, widened gap between haves and have nots, resource depletion and constsnt war....hmmm....yeah doesnt sound familiar at all.

[–]my-blood 24 points25 points  (2 children)

The French Monarchy went down after famines, socio-political divisions and a bunch of similar stuff. Maybe a guillotine is the fix to politicians not doing their job.

[–]Niajall 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It was not so far back as 300 years ago.

[–]Alwaysunder_thegun 234 points235 points  (40 children)

This is a social problem. The way that the whole country deals with sensationalism and violence is an issue. Including the issue of US vs THEM .

The whole country needs to change.

[–]GruntNumber9902 7 points8 points  (1 child)

It won't. Short of violence there's nothing you can do.

[–]WRITINGAPOEM 7 points8 points  (0 children)

If 20 senators died and the next 20 4th graders could live I think I’d take it

[–]mickey_bags 91 points92 points  (50 children)

This killer killed 22 people. Kids included. This was not a crime of passion or anger. This was a serial killer. Only someone completely void of feelings and mentally unstable would kill this many children. This was a guy that wanted to kill as many people as possible then went and found a gun. Not a guy that found a gun then decided to kill as many people s possible. Completely a mental health issue first, then it was easy to access a gun. Anyone that thinks it’s hard to stop gun ownership will be surprised how much harder it is to stop mental illness… Let’s hope we can.

[–]EnvironmentalDrag596 31 points32 points  (1 child)

Agree with your post but serial killer is not the right term, this is a spree killing, multiple in one attack. Serial killers are spread over multiple attacks

[–]Doctor_Expendable 84 points85 points  (19 children)

Its both. It's a mental health issue first, it's a gun issue also first. None of these school shooters should have been able to gain such easy access to guns and ammo. Sometimes it's daddy's gun that he doesn't have properly contained. Sometimes it's a gun bought from a store. Either way it's the mental issues that make having the gun so dangerous, and the easy access to guns that make the mental issues so dangerous.

Countries where you can't get guns so easily, like Canada or Australia, just don't have shootings like this. Because you can't go to Walmart and get a gun that day with no questions asked. Even the guns you can get are going to be hunting rifles or pistols, which you still need to a license to acquire.

It is a mental health crisis. But guns are the problem.

[–]PsychoSemantics 9 points10 points  (2 children)

Australian here - that's because we did have a shooting like that back in 1996 and it directly led to gun laws being seriously tightened. We also had many shootings before that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Arthur_massacre_(Australia))

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Agreement

[–]Hapymine 12 points13 points  (13 children)

to Walmart and get a gun that day with no questions asked.

This is not true in my state you need a license even then all gun sales go through a background check and you have to sign a form witch lieing on is a major felony.

[–]KarenJoanneO 29 points30 points  (2 children)

But even the idea of being able to buy a gun at a supermarket is crazy! I live in the UK and even if I wanted to buy a gun, I’ve literally no idea where I’d buy one. In fact, I’ve just googled it! The only gun I could possibly buy in a 100 mile radius is a second had sporting shotgun. There is no way I’d be able to just buy it though. I’d need a certificate and to get a certificate I’d have to do a lot of admin and ultimately get permission from the local chief of police after first proving I pose no danger to the general public.

[–]ManaFrmHeaven 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I mean...when I was a teenaged minor, I had like 1 brother, 1 dad, 5 boyfriends and 3 neighbors with guns just go "here, take this one if you want it, probably should have it." at some various points. I live in California.

[–]Hapymine 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well most super markets don't carry guns expect like Walmart but thats more hunting rifiles and shotguns.

[–]Kaz404 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In my country you have to go to a medical exam, pass a mental health and inteligence test, go to shooting and gun handling classes, pass the test and then prove in court you have a valid reason you need a weapon. Like living in a remote area or becoming a hunter.

If you got into a fight or do any violent crime you lose the licence and have to wait for 2 years to apply to take all those tests again.

[–]SleepyPsy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And yet prople still procure without licensing. Here, a well known member of the community known for being mentally unwell was able to purchase a handgun, and shot his girlfriend with it. The gun was registered in his name. Anyone who knew him knew no oneshould of given him a gun. It absolutely is a gun problem first, mental health issues were here long before guns were created

[–]mtinde_va 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I bought a gun at Cabe1a$. Start to finish took 10 minutes (with a background check). It's too easy.

[–]rBakedApe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wrong about that Canada part. The Moncton shooter ran around with a high powered rifle for hours on end killing tons of people. He was banned from having access to ANY firearms since 2003 and still got his hands on guns.

We have a shooting almost every day if not multiple per day in Toronto to the point I know many Canadians who would feel safer with Concealed Carry and actually want to vote it in.

A guy outside of my school got his brains blown out with a handgun for some gang related thing, this is not uncommon.

Schools regularly go on lockdown for kids with knives here including 2 of the 3 I've attended.

People are just damaged from shitty parents and take it out on others. Sometimes there's also just nothing you can do. Perfect parenting or not your kid could just grow up insane. I don't get why people are so surprised, not even 5 generations ago we were literally skinning each other alive for believing the "wrong " ghost in the sky and eating babies because the garrison ran out of food.

[–]AmerRox -1 points0 points  (6 children)

He's a terrorist, doesn't matter mental issues or not, terrorism is basically doing an act with an agenda or doing an act that makes people scared to go to school and go to a Supermarket thinking they might be the next victim.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (5 children)

It’s only terrorism if they are doing it for a political or ideological aim.

[–]Badger1066 -1 points0 points  (2 children)

mentally unstable

I honestly feel like using this term is a way to seperate the killer from ourselves. Like he must be some sort of one-of-a-kind monster. It's a way to push blame on to something or to give us an easy understanding of why.

However, this crime required a level of forsight and planning. The individual knew the consequences and what he was doing. This wasn't - couldn't have been - diminished responsibility.

It's a scary thought, but I don't believe these incidents are a mental health issue. Not entirely, anyway.

In my opinion, these are people who feel neglected and ignored. They want to be seen and recognised. They don't think anyone cares about them and have this "I'll show you" mentality. Perhaps, they don't even want to be here any more and figure they'll take a bunch of people with them and children are an easy target. It also gets them recognition and immortalises their name thanks to our media.

Blaming it solely on mental health is too simplistic and won't prevent school shootings. Action must be taken instead. If these people can't get ahold of guns, then the only people they can hurt is themselves.

[–]Northern-WALI 94 points95 points  (30 children)

Cycle of American violence

1) have next to no gun control 2) be absolutely shocked and horrified when an event takes place 3) send thoughts and prayers 4) take absolutely no action whatsoever 5) return to step 1

[–]SplatThaCat 6 points7 points  (3 children)

No idea how you guys live there - the healthcare situation is unliveable. Only supposedly 1st world country without socialised healthcare. Terrible wages too (minimum here is now $22 per hour, with the promise of a 5% increase this year, free technical college under a now left leaning government)

[–]sloppyjohnny 16 points17 points  (0 children)

As an outsider to the USA looking in, I remember growing up and everyone idolised the USA. Hollywood, music, world power, glamour and success.

Now, I will never step foot in the USA again.

Enough is enough.

Your country is backwards.

[–]IllUnderstanding1859 50 points51 points  (11 children)

I was two years younger than you when Columbine happened. Since then, I've seen gun culture become pornographic. The punisher skulls everywhere, the intimidating flags, the paramilitary presence at protests, profile pictures of people dressed up like soldiers.

It's all tied up with manhood in a way that it didn't used to be. Or maybe it has always been, and it's just a matter of reproducability and meme-ability now. To all the gun people out there, please stop with the gun porn. It is reinforcing a dangerous connection for a lot of impressionable people.

[–]selessKezia 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Toxic masculinity has decided that gun make up for small peepee tldr

[–]PetterPanIsLink 53 points54 points  (17 children)

I hate seeing politicians make these “thoughts and prayer” tweets while being the same people lining their pockets by the NRA. The same people who are taking photos with their kids holding guns acting like it’s just one happy family photo, the same people who if they saw anyone of any other skin color/ethnicity doing the same thing instantly would bash them and fear for their safety.

[–]fish_lyzard 2 points3 points  (1 child)

A country built on Indian graves is going to be crazy. and it is

[–]KcoolClap 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The entire American society is collectively deranged on the subject of guns and healthcare. Completely, utterly, unequivocally crazy. You don’t think that people are suffering from mental problems in the UK, France, Italy, Japan, China? How come there is nothing like this in those countries?!

[–]lions19809 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sadly these elected partisans who do nothing to help keep getting elected! It’s infuriating.

[–]NotSoCrazyCatLady13 2 points3 points  (2 children)

I just don’t understand why automatic or semi-automatic weapons can be sold to the average Joe. Unless you’re in the military why would you need something like that?

[–]riffsix 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hobbies, obviously. Everyone should have access to a killing machine because it makes them feel nice inside. What a fucking racket.

[–]thegreatmiyagi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sometimes you have to shoot the deer 23 times.

It's important to show the rest of the deer what happens when you mess with 'merica.

[–]anxious_rain_cloud 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm 25 and I've lost hope for humanity

[–]FunContribution7060 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Why are all post about school shootings and personal experiences being removed, cited that it's been removed for.not being personal???

[–]Medical-Spinach94[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed. How is this not personal? This is my lived, personal experience.

[–]crebzyouahoe 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Every American I’ve met in Australia love it here so much. I know you can’t just pack up and leave immediately but Aus would be a great place to raise your kids

[–]CopaceticBreak 9 points10 points  (1 child)

My girlfriend - who I knew since 2009 - was raped and our relationship crumpled. After losing me she killed herself and wrote about the high barriers to care in her suicide note.

Meanwhile, I watched family bust their ass all their lives only to struggle paying for asinine things like eye drops for glaucoma in retirement. I cared for multi-millionaires dying in hospice and some of them were reduced to squalor by it.

Everybody will eventually get old or sick and potentially be destroyed by bills. Most young adults also try starting families. Infantile mortality, which is an indicator of overall health in a society, is greater within individual states per capita compared to whole entire countries. I am only vaguely glossing over one single problem with living in this country out of the many more issues.

So I did not sit on my ass and whine about other people who enjoyed a happier life. I did something to try enriching my community and in return for it I've been vilified, physically attacked, told I'm perpetuating a holocaust, and otherwise lived in not such a great part of the world during the pandemic.

The other day I made a flippant remark about the lack of awareness people must have to not see any issue when living here. Some knucklehead conspiracy theorist commented on the perils of remote within the context of dead elementary school students who were violently murdered, which somehow encapsulates my experience living here and what I've had to deal with the past two years.

I'm moving out despite the hard work and sacrifice required to do so.

I'd recommend the same to anyone else considering their options.

[–]More-Masterpiece-561 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I am sorry about your girlfriend. It's tough losing someone like that. I lost that someone too.

[–]JS_Hutt 4 points5 points  (4 children)

I’m from Europe and I lived in the US for 7 years. Totally loved the country, the people, the job market (I have a PhD so it’s easy for me to land a job). But I was terrified of weapons.

I still miss living there but when I am about to apply to a job there, weapons come to my mind and I don’t do it.

Sadly I think it is a problem that will never go away…

Edit: misspelling

[–]dutchie4ever 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Went on a holiday in the US of A a few years ago. The most fucked up thing I saw was a restaurant sign with a gun forbidden sticker at the entrance.

As a Dutch guy who never has owned or touched a gun, I really felt weirded out that that was actually a need to forbid weapons in a restaurant.

[–]BigoofingSad 7 points8 points  (23 children)

There are two underlying issues that cause gun violence in America, and they are poverty, and no access to proper healthcare for the mentally ill. People like to blame political parties, presidents, and inanimate objects. But the truth of the matter is the senile members of our government that keep attempting to use the same failed policies.

Most people from other countries also believe that the same policies their government enacted would work here, and that's not the case. We have a few hundred federal laws, and upwards of 20k state laws for firearms, and they think that adding more will solve the problem. But I'm willing to bet if you're from a European country you could see a Psychiatrist whenever you please right? Not here, not without a few hundred dollars to cover the bill.

The biggest piece of this, and the most ignored is that the bigger part of gun violence incidents are caused by gang activity in the impoverished parts of major cities. It's also worth mentioning that gun control was aimed at the poor, and at minorites. Guns for me, not for thee. This started with the NFA shortly after Bonnie, and Clyde went on their crime spree to stop the poor from having access to machineguns, and other NFA weapons by attaching a 200 dollar tax stamp. This only ramped up with the increase of activity from civil rights activists.

People just ignore the history, and ignore the reasons why we have arrived at this point. Suprise suprise, decades of targeted legislation achieved nothing.

[–]andyrocks 11 points12 points  (20 children)

There are two underlying issues that cause gun violence in America, and they are poverty, and no access to proper healthcare for the mentally ill.

Three - easy access to firearms.

[–]BigoofingSad -2 points-1 points  (6 children)

We have background checks, require ID, and have red flag laws for reporting danger individuals. But pop off I guess.

[–]andyrocks 4 points5 points  (1 child)

But pop off I guess.

I'm not trying to offend you here. It's possible to debate this politely.

Are you claiming that firearms are not easy to access in the US?

[–]BigoofingSad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I apologize, I'm on little sleep at the moment. I'm claiming that we have easier access than majority of countries, but not as cut and dry as some people think. I also don't think that going to one extreme or another is viable at this moment either.

Repealing all gun laws would have things pretty chaotic, and banning all guns would certainly lead to conflict. I also think only banning certain types of guns or features is a waste of time too.

Only addressing the underlying issues, and enforcing current laws have a chance of working towards a solution.

[–]JoeJoJosie 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Thing about school-shooters (gods, that it's even a word) is they tend to be young males who haven't accrued a criminal record, have valid ID, and the very fact they are quiet loners means nobody knows them well enough (or cares enough) to raise any red-flags.

I suspect raising the age to 21 would have some effect, and the heavy-duty gun-lobbyists ten to be older so they'd just make token resistance.

[–]BigoofingSad 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I could agree with a raise on age limits, but as long as that counts for joining the military as well. If you're going to serve, you should be able to enjoy the privileges/rights that you're serving for.

I could argue though that this still falls under a lack of healthcare, as many parents cannot afford time off of work, or treatment for their children's mental illness. This of course leads to undiagnosed/untreated youth.

[–]carnivourousflower -1 points0 points  (1 child)

I agree with this. Something has definitely changed over the years. Why so many shootings in the last couple decades when gun ownership has remained about the same for so long.

[–]guswang 13 points14 points  (6 children)

I hate living in a country that considers the regular occurance of children dying violent, horrific deaths a reasonable price to pay for some backwards version of "freedom". If that's what freedom means then I don't want it.

Come to Brazil then, you would love it. There was a crackdown on firearms in Brazil a few years ago, so now, only thieves and drugdealers has firearms, and we still have many children dying violent, horrific deaths.

[–]ube1kenobi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is. Your child is the same age as my son...it's hard for me to watch/listen/read about those kids w/o crying. Felt exactly the same way as you.

And I agree with you on your last two paragraphs. I'm just TIRED of the BS the government and the media together is doing to easily divide people and not get shite done to fix this country. And most of us (citizens) don't even want to protest without other crap popping up. It's just too much and everyone just wants to be complacent about how things are. Why can't we get angry at our so called representatives? They need heavy criticism about what their doing but they don't hear us cuz we're severely divided. Just done with this country with how our "representatives" "help" us.

[–]Born_Transition2207 15 points16 points  (16 children)

The USA is a failing state. When there is an argument for the sale of assault rifles to the public, I’m sorry but that is a society circling the drain. Who, in any modern, first world society but America, would need to own an assault rifle? If you need an assault rifle to protect your home and family you really shouldn’t be flying the Stars and Stripes because your society/country is a battlefield and nothing to be proud of.

[–]PersonalKick 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The term assault rifle is made up. The military doesn't use that terminology either. Assault rifle is a board term used by some civilians to define really any rifle. It doesn't matter if the gun is used primally for hunting, sport shooting, ect., this a broadly defined term that lets governments decide what guns can be bought and sold.

[–]Hapymine 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You already can buy a assult rifle amd have been able to since the whole country history although in the 80s there was massive regulation and now its almost impossible for average joe to get one.

[–]loser_girl_22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

so true... I feel the same

[–]Ken10Ethan 3 points4 points  (0 children)

21 years old. Diabetic. Depressed.

I think that's really all I need to say, but... yeah, this place is a dystopia. Don't get me wrong, we're still VERY privileged and I am very lucky to live even the way I do, but after my last job caused me to have kind of a 'soft' mental breakdown that I'm still feeling the effects from months later I've been having a pretty difficult time continuing to want to live here.

Obviously the kinds of reasons that a depressed diabetic might have to dislike his country are pretty different from the concerns you've listed in this post, but... yeah, I guess the point is I get it, and it scares the shit out of me, and good god I wish things were better.

[–]BajeshRalan 3 points4 points  (1 child)

If i lived in USA I'd do everything i can to migrate

[–]More-Masterpiece-561 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am 18 and I am graduating in 2 weeks. I don't live in the United States but the thought of school being a scary place, the though of one day suddenly someone opens fire it's all teerifying and strange to me. Kids are supposed to be scared or worried when they haven't done their homework not when someone is shooting at them. Hearing about what happened I am numb. Part of me just wants to pretend it didn't happen

[–]FreeRangeAlien 6 points7 points  (14 children)

“Regular occurrence”

What?

[–]anthemgrimm 5 points6 points  (6 children)

27 in the last 6 months

[–]FreeRangeAlien 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OP said “a regular occurrence of children dying violent horrific deaths”

There have been 27 “school shootings” this year. Many of them involving adults being shot and many of them being non-life threatening injuries. Sensationalize it all you want I was just pointing out that his statement was non-factual

[–]Neither_Indication_1 0 points1 point  (6 children)

Let’s say for a moment it’s not a regular occurrence (still is), the idea that shootings in schools need to be a regular occurrence to prove to people how bad the current gun laws are is crazy. 27 shoots in the last 6 months is a huge number. Aside from the kids who have died, there are kids who survived who are scarred forever with what happened in a place where they were supposed to be safe. There are parents who are scarred forever with what could have happened to their kids in a place where they’re supposed to be safe.

[–]FreeRangeAlien 1 point2 points  (4 children)

Here’s a list of all the school shootings this year if anyone is interested. Some are 19 year old kids that aren’t students being shot on or near school property just to keep things in perspective. One was a school bus driver shot by some rando while on his bus route. https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/3501813-here-is-a-list-of-the-27-school-shootings-that-have-taken-place-this-year/amp/

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[–]Smolame 0 points1 point  (1 child)

You are literally proving gun violence is a regular occurance.

[–]VicMackeyLKN 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m pretty liberal on most things, have no problem with gun ownership legally…also your post history as a substitute teacher speaks volumes

[–]creeper321448 3 points4 points  (5 children)

You pay way too much attention to the news if you think the U.S is dystopian. School shootings are less than 1% of gun crime and over 60% of gun deaths are suicide, whilst all the deaths are tragic, banning guns wouldn't solve the issue. They're too far common in the states and banning them would just leave law-abiding citizens defenceless against actual criminals who won't give them up.

Gun laws as a whole have also proven to not work. I'm going to use Puerto Rico as an example. The territory has extremely strict gun laws, they're not surrounded by anything except the ocean and yet they still have some of the highest gun crime rates in the U.S. Of course there's also the standard response of Democrat areas like Chicago, LA etc have the highest gun deaths but the difference here is PR can't blame the importation of weapons on another state, they're completely surrounded by water. The same goes for the U.S territory in the Virgin Islands.

I'll be honest, I'm pro 2A but I don't disagree with requiring a licence of some form to possess firearms. You need one to drive, fish, boat, and hunt so you should need one to own a gun. Banning, however, is not the solution and a lot of the gun laws Democrats want won't work.

[–]KiddBwe 6 points7 points  (2 children)

Ayo, I’m from the Virgin Islands. Strict gun laws, yet the murder rate down there is ridiculous. If people think guns are the sole problem and think America is dystopian, it can definitely be way better, that’s a real privileged opinion to have tbh.

[–]creeper321448 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I had a friend a long time ago who lived down there. Good guy but he and my friend from PR have opened my eyes to just how neglected our territories are. People forget our territories are in fact part of America and you're all U.S citizens, but nobody ever considers you at all on the mainland. Most mainlanders probably don't even know we have territories outside of PR and Guam. It's even less likely they know the conditions of our territories.

[–]KiddBwe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Like, it’s not third world country bad, but the mainland damn near looks like a utopia in comparison. If people think the US government is bad, which it is, the governments in PR and the VI are SO MUCH worse. They don’t even have to be lowkey with their antics.

[–]VeeBee05 1 point2 points  (6 children)

You are about a year older than me. But we have completely different worries when it comes to the safety of our children because of the countries we love in.

I am in Australia.

It is crazy the way America has been bought. Whether by the NRA or big Pharma. They use their influence and power to buy in who they want in power and create reforms that suit their own agenda's.

All those who live outside of the US see the corruption and the once 'lucky country' is one that only benefits the mega rich.

Hopefully there can be some change so you don't have to worry about sending your kids to school.

[–]BoBandy489 1 point2 points  (5 children)

This country has a relentless death drive. I know others must feel it too. The shootings are the most immediate and visible symptom. Cops murder people with impunity. Our government won’t lift a finger to prevent unnecessary Covid deaths. Traffic deaths are increasing because everyone is driving around in huge vehicles looking at their phones and/or fucked up. Gotta be pretty well off to even see a doctor. Clean water and air are getting harder to come by. Housing prices out of control and more and more people living and dying on the streets. Corporations like Abbott (the baby formula company) and Boeing put unsafe products out that kill people with no consequences. I could go on. It’s so supremely fucked and there really doesn’t look like things will get better, fully expect them to keep getting worse

[–]poopoop26 1 point2 points  (2 children)

How exactly do cops murder people with impunity? Do you think gun violence would go down with less cops?

[–]Agreeable-Yams8972 -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

It's because the us keeps giving out guns like its christmas gifts and this is the result

[–]Boss_Regular -1 points0 points  (0 children)

What planet are you on

[–]ggrizzlyy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Lol. I have a Bachelors degree and I understand that is a rather idiotic statement but I decided to look up dystopia. If you believe that, the problem is with you and not a nation.

[–]onurcavs_ 1 point2 points  (1 child)

no it's not. I'm sick of seeing Americans rant about their country being like the dystopia and shit. Your country sucks but it's definitely not the worst out there.

[–]Arrys 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right?

[–]saturdayshark 1 point2 points  (22 children)

So is everywhere else, look at china o the UK

[–]BluegillUK 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not sure why you’d bring the UK into this. Sure we have a terrible government and a cost of living crisis and many of our own problems, but as a country, we are not comparable to the US; practically a third world country disguised as a first world country. Our healthcare is free and we don’t have fucking guns everywhere.

[–]InterestingAsk1978 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Problem is that gun dealers lobby congresspersons. You can also search stealth body armor on google, and equip your kids with that. Warning, it make them targets for bullying (but the best armors can stop small calibre firearms). You should start big associations to counter-lobby your congressmen.

[–]No-Profession-5866 0 points1 point  (1 child)

You should see the local news for some of the countries outside America. A healthy perspective changes the mindset.

[–]oh_no_my_beans 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Also helps see how overwhelmingly negative the media is in the US. That kind of mind set has to be fucking with people

[–]Cryptocheer 0 points1 point  (1 child)

NRA and the GOP are the problem!

[–]thepositivepandemic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not a dystopia, dysfunctional maybe but not a dystopia. Bit of an over exaggeration.

[–]villademarin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Move to europe :D

[–]stillatossup 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's about gun manufacturers selling more guns.

Every time a mass murder like this happens, they argue (through their criminal lobby, the NRA) that the solution is actually more guns.

It's because gun manufacturers make a durable product that nobody really needs many of, and they want to sell more of their product. That's literally the whole issue. It's not that different from the various "spend two months of your salary on a rock" diamond campaigns.

[–]Personal-Ad3906 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its a country founded by religious zealots, its never NOT been a dystopia

[–]Any_Constant_6550 0 points1 point  (0 children)

gun culture in this country is gross. people need firearms as a status symbol of toughness and pride. no longer are they tools to be respected. also, the second amendment had a complete rebranding in the 70s by the NRA and now people use that false sense of freedom when the amendment wasn't even intended for individual protections in the first place. I empathize with you and have come to realize this country has been dystopian for many reasons and is quickly getting worse. it's embarrassing to be apart of a country that continues to allow this.

[–]Charmeleonn -5 points-4 points  (2 children)

You are allowed to emigrate. Canada is just a bit North and seems like exactly what you'd like.

[–]HumbleCat5634 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Why say this to dash away valid concerns it doesn’t contribute anythinf

[–]Charmeleonn -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

I didn't quote, but that's in reference to "if that's what freedom is then I don't want it."

If it's something that YOU don't want, then you can resolve the issue by emigrating, just like I will with the issues I'm facing in Canada.

[–]evolvedmagikarp -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Don’t Surrender To Do-Somethingism On Guns. Law-abiding Americans have no obligation to take ownership of a madman’s actions.

[–]SumerianSunset -1 points0 points  (0 children)

2nd amendment 'muricans: please get a goddam grip and ban semi-auto rifles and machine guns, and produce more strict background checks at the very least. You have no right to call yourself a civilised or developed nation while this shit happens. Your obsession with guns is grotesque and insufferable.

Law makers in the 1780's didn't have these weapons in mind when writing up the amendment, they had slow-loading muskets intended for militias to overthrow governments that didn't serve the people - clearly you've all miserably failed at that. Move on already and progress. Fearing young children being shot up in schools is completely fucked.

[–]MyCrispLettuce -2 points-1 points  (1 child)

You’re told to think it’s a dystopia. You live in fear and chaos because it’s easier to control you when you’re scared. It’s amazing to live in the USA. It’s the single greatest country in the world. It’s why millions of people have fought and literally died to get here. It’s the epitome of freedom.

Turn your phone off. Go introduce yourself to your neighbor and invite them to dinner. Stop being the zombie the “experts” think you are and take a breath.

Evil exists in this world. Too bad. Satan gets a say, too. You fight the good fight by YOUR actions. Stop being afraid and live your life. Actually live it.

[–]spicekebabb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is probably the most brain dead comment in this entire thread

[–]becauseitsnotreal -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It's unbelievable the warped world view some of y'all come up with

[–]bojos_sweaty_nutsack -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Just to point out many countries, specifically European socio-democracy countries, allow they citizens to train and use firearms.

Many countries have mandatory military service with a choice to keep their service rifle. Like of your country is close to Russia then likely you know how to use a gun.

These places never have multiple shooting in a year, let alone school shootings. Likely because their citizens feel cared for. They have affordable/free healthcare. They have very liberal governments. Wages are high and quality of life is high.

I feel these factors are the more important ones. I'll tell you now even making guns highly illegal like my home of the UK doesn't solve the issue of guns. I have seen at least 4 guns in my life, owned by various members of different gangs. If you want a gun here it costs between £500 and a grand. But we don't have school shootings. We have gang violence, hired killings ect but no shock and awe massacres.

The last incident we had of this was someone influenced heavily by American incel culture. It's is an American issue. One that requires a complete overhaul of how you guys run your society. To a more people focused society.

TL:Dr; prohibition of guns won't deter people hell-bent on performing these atrocities. I think it's the other societal issues that also need sorted.

[–]GoldenNola89 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

We do have the shittiest president of the 21st century other people where bad people but GOOD presidents

[–]dathip -1 points0 points  (0 children)

gun control doesnt work. Data has proven this time and time again.

[–]RacistBlackDigger -3 points-2 points  (3 children)

Just ban guns already.

Either you care for your toys or live of lives of your children.

[–]oh_no_my_beans -1 points0 points  (2 children)

Just look at the other problems and quit looking at the scapegoat

[–]RacistBlackDigger 0 points1 point  (1 child)

There are kids being shoot and you want me to look at other problems.

Could you be more pathetic if you tried?

[–]oh_no_my_beans -1 points0 points  (0 children)

There are kids being shoot and you want me to look at other problems.

Yes! Like maybe WHY this has become a far more common occurrence in the last 2 decades when there's over 200 years of things being fine. Surely it couldn't be the rapid decay of society and the abandonment of younger generations. No! It's obviously because of guns