Just seems normal now, in the most horrible way.

[Williamsmith]

All shootings are a symptom of a larger problem than gun laws and mental health screenings. It took us a long time to get here. We are a violent people. We teach violence, idolize violence, respect violence, worship violence. And we medicate ourselves so that we can tolerate more of it. It’s a difficult task to evaluate a person who knows you have the power to take their freedom away in a spit second. They suddenly become reasonable and friendly. An involuntary commitment will often take two officers an entire shift or longer to accomplish. And often a physician will determine they are not an immediate threat to themselves or others. It’s like chasing your tail. We’ve blasted off the launch pad and there is no turning back. Get used to it.

[Teacher Terry]

I don’t want to get used to it. I want us to solve the problem like Europe did.

[Lainey]

As others have said, there's mental health problems around the world, but we're still the only country with this level of mass shootings. What's the difference? We are awash in guns, and as WS said, we are a country saturated in violence. This is also despite the fact that we incarcerate more people per capita than the rest of the world.

So yes, we need greater access to mental health care and I'm okay with adjusting the law to include more involuntary holds if needed. Start with reallocating some of that prison budget to preventative services. But it's not the only answer.

[JaneV2.0]

We're a country that rewards bullying and "to hell with you" rugged individualism, exports more weapons and wars than any other, promotes for-profit prisons, and refuses to guarantee health care, because it's "socialism." We need to rethink our "exceptionalism." IMO.

[dado potato]

Year-to-date 11/9/2018 nationally:

12,504 deaths due to gunshot, of which
571 were children age 0-11
2,431 were teens age 12-18

… and...

24,284 injuries due to gunshot.

The above death toll does not include approximately 22,000 annual suicides accomplished with guns.

There have been 307 incidents of mass shootings, as of the 313th day of the year 11/9/2018


For a listing of incidents of gun violence that occurred in last 72 hours, see...
http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/last-72-hours

[Tybee]

We're a country that rewards bullying . . . and refuses to guarantee health care, because it's "socialism." We need to rethink our "exceptionalism." IMO.

Yes, yes, this.

[JaneV2.0]

It seems to me we've sent a clear message that, as a country, we don't care about people.
I hope we, as a people, are better than that.

[dado potato]

The State of New York has enacted 6 gun control bills since last November. Both the Assembly and the Senate are majority Democrat, as is Governor Cuomo. Likely there will be court challenges to the new laws.


In 2017 there were 772 deaths due to gun violence in NY.


The bills provide for:

A gun buy-back program in the State of New York,

a ban on bump stocks,

"red flag" authority for police to impound guns belonging to individuals whose behavior is disturbing or threatening, as reported by family or school,

prohibition of teachers carrying firearms in schools,

extension of the waiting period before buying a gun, for those who fail the immediate background check...


In multiple other states gun control bills have been introduced. Time will tell which bills will become law, and in which states.

[ToomuchStuff]

The State of New York has enacted 6 gun control bills since last November. Both the Assembly and the Senate are majority Democrat, as is Governor Cuomo. Likely there will be court challenges to the new laws.


In 2017 there were 772 deaths due to gun violence in NY.


The bills provide for:

A gun buy-back program in the State of New York,

a ban on bump stocks,

"red flag" authority for police to impound guns belonging to individuals whose behavior is disturbing or threatening, as reported by family or school,

prohibition of teachers carrying firearms in schools,

extension of the waiting period before buying a gun, for those who fail the immediate background check...


In multiple other states gun control bills have been introduced. Time will tell which bills will become law, and in which states.

There is currently a case that is going to court, involving NY law transporting firearms (restrictions there of). I am off to work so no time to find it now.

[gimmethesimplelife]

It seems to me we've sent a clear message that, as a country, we don't care about people.
I hope we, as a people, are better than that.

I heard this message undeniably loud and clear the Summer of 1975 when I was 8 years old. It's definitely a message America sends at full blast to all but the most wealthy, other than for a few victories here and there such as expanded Medicaid
Rob