Would you be reluctant to ride public transportation given.....

the shooting today on the light rail system in Dallas, and numerous instances of passangers lighting up fentanyl on buses in LA, Seattle, and Portland, and also the light rail systems of LA and Portland? Lately it seems to me that public transportation has become a mirror of what's going on in society - drug use, more belligerant (sp?) passengers and now violence up to and including shootings?

I add a quick personal story that I have yet to share here. Two months ago I had the morning off and there was free Spanish tutoring at Phoenix College so I went - I can practice at home but sometimes I "get it" better in a more school-like situation. So I go to morning tutoring and then afterwards, I walk over to the bus stop on 15th Avenue going North. A woman stands behind me as I'm boarding. She sits directly across from me and starts yelling at me not to record her - I had my phone out and was texting someone. She starts speaking gibberish very loudly and I got up and moved to the back of the bus. This woman follows me, gets in my face like she's going to hit me, and pushes my smartphone out of my hands after making comments about my sexual orientation.

I get off the bus after this and I have not been paying attention to the bus stops but I got off the bus exactly where I wanted to. Luckily, the woman does not get off the bus. I am so grateful. I am not afraid of being assualted by a woman - what I was TERRIFIED of was the police getting involved as they follow the anti male Duluth Model which essentially boils down to women being angels and men being predators. In such a situation I am extremely vulnerable to arrest even though I have done nothing wrong. I was shaking with fear and my stomach wasn't helping as I needed to upchuck and luckily found a parking lot off the street for this. The bus took a good three minutes to leave the bus stop and I am going to guess that this woman acted up on the bus after I left and the driver, who was OK with my being vulnerable to the Duluth Model - perhaps he finally took charge of the situation and told the woman to zip it or get off the bus? At any rate, this is my recent experience with insanity on mass transit.

I really am seriously debating getting a car at this point. Though there is a part of me that wonders had the police gotten involved and had I been arrested for absolutely nothing - could I escalate this to getting out of the US permanently, and more importantly, could I get sufficient media attention for not only the world to know the risk men are in the US due to the Duluth Model, but could something actually be done regarding overturning or at least modifying the Duluth Model? Of course with this I have to factor in that I am making very good money these days - is the money enough to buy my silence, and if so, how do I accept this about myself?

Gotta say - even making decent money - this country leaves an awful awful awful lot to be desired. But I digress - what's your take on mass transit, given the current givens? Rob

PS Should this be moved to Transportation? Given the political nature of the middle to end of the post I placed it here. Alan, if it's appopriate to move this post elsewhere, please do so. Rob

Not really, I mean within the same week, my boyfriend had a crazy homeless person pounding on his car while he was in it, and then the same for me. Ok so it was a bad week for that I guess. But cars are no guarantee of anything either, technically there is a chunk of metal around you as protection sure, but it's like what is anyone supposed to do when they encounter such situations? No you can't run over people. You just wait it out.

After my ill-fated, last trip on Metrolink from the airport, the light rail system, I’m rethinking, taking it at all. I won’t be taking it at night, or at dusk, that’s for damn sure. But then it’s such a pain to have someone pick you up after a flight. I dunno.

I won’t go into the details, except that it was SO bad on several levels. I wasn’t threatened tho, I don’t want to say that. But on the trip home, there was a crazy person who interacted with me after all of the drama of actually getting on the train, and believe me there was drama about getting on the train. Two trips ago on the way to the airport there was a girl fight, the train stopped, and the police came.

Funny thing happened last week. DH and I went to village wide garage sales. We were sitting in the car just ready to get out when his (driver's side) door opens and a woman stares at him mouth wide open! She had the same car and thought she was getting into her own. She laughed and told him he had great taste in cars! We had a good chuckle.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

After my ill-fated, last trip on Metrolink from the airport, the light rail system, I’m rethinking, taking it at all. I won’t be taking it at night, or at dusk, that’s for damn sure. But then it’s such a pain to have someone pick you up after a flight. I dunno.

I won’t go into the details, except that it was SO bad on several levels. I wasn’t threatened tho, I don’t want to say that. But on the trip home, there was a crazy person who interacted with me after all of the drama of actually getting on the train, I believe me there was drama. Two trips ago on the way to the airport there was a girl fight, the train stopped, and the police came.

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Learn something new every day! I did not know that St. Louis has light rail. And I'm glad we both emerged in one piece after our experiences. Rob

In my state it is more accidents, trains go off the rails, they're always late, and they lost half their passengers during the pandemic. Nervous types were afraid of being around other people and normal people hated the mask mandate.

20-22 years ago I rode Chicago public transit, both the L trains and buses, all over. No more. Crime on the CTA is a big problem. News stories all the time with passengers saying they’re cutting back and being much more careful. The buses were always generally safer than the L. Seems that is still the case, as far as I can tell.

I ride some public transportation here all the time (the ferry system), and in the UK/Europe (trains, subways, ferries).

I don't think I would allow fantasies of "the Duluth Model" to interfere with any rational self defense action I would take, nor would I allow an assault on my person.

I'm not any more afraid of being harmed on transit than I am anywhere else. Everywhere outside one's home includes the risk of random death from American style "freedom".

I think the part of the problem is systemic. We have created a car culture that relegates public transportation to the people who can't afford cars. We don't have an infrastructure that makes public transportation convenient or efficient. Unless you're in a major city where most people rely on busses and trains to get to work, if you get on a bus you are being transported with people who may be poor, homeless, mentally ill... etc. Not to blame the people--I'm blaming the system. If you go to countries like the Netherlands, many ride bikes to ultra-speedy and efficient trains. Here, busses and trains in many cities are a last resort for people who can't get to where they're going any other way.

ETA: If I had to take a bus, either in my former state or the one I live in now, unless I were on a commuter bus to Manhattan, I admit, I'd feel "weird"--and out of place. I'm not proud of feeling that way but it speaks to my point. If you don't have a car in this country, you're "weird."

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Originally Posted by jp1

I'm not any more afraid of being harmed on transit than I am anywhere else. Everywhere outside one's home includes the risk of random death from American style "freedom".

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We are hoping that with the resignation of our useless, incompetent and stupid city prosecutor, the criminal element, who have been running around in their “freedom” to prey upon law abiding citizens, will be somewhat curtailed.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

We are hoping that with the resignation of our useless, incompetent and stupid city prosecutor, the criminal element, who have been running around in their “freedom” to prey upon law abiding citizens will be somewhat curtailed.

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Lol. Good luck with that. Republicans across the country have made it clear that we all have the freedom to be killed by a nut job with a gun. Nothing is going to change until enough old ‘yea guns’ people die and better humans have enough power to make the world a better place.

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Originally Posted by jp1

Nothing is going to change until enough old ‘yea guns’ people die and better humans have enough power to make the world a better place.

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https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d85cA6_wK...0/PDVD_062.BMP

I could see how all those fusty old constitutional checks and balances make it difficult for you better humans to get enough power to impose your will on the ignorant masses.

It must frustrate your superior intellects no end.

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Originally Posted by jp1

Lol. Good luck with that. Republicans across the country have made it clear that we all have the freedom to be killed by a nut job with a gun. Nothing is going to change until enough old ‘yea guns’ people die and better humans have enough power to make the world a better place.

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How do you explain Chicago/Cook County then? It’s all Dem. There’s a Dem gov in IL and the Dems have a huge majority in both houses of the state general assembly. Crime is way up.

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Originally Posted by LDAHL

It must frustrate your superior intellects no end.

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No, it's that republicans have come to decide that the second amendment is a suicide pact that frustrates me to no end. And that then they scream "IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM NOT A GUN PROBLEM" as if we are somehow the only developed nation that has mental health problems, while simultaneously passing a federal budget that would inflict dramatic cuts to already weak public health programs that help treat people with mental health issues.

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Originally Posted by Tradd

How do you explain Chicago/Cook County then? It’s all Dem. There’s a Dem gov in IL and the Dems have a huge majority in both houses of the state general assembly. Crime is way up.

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It's next to Indiana. How do you explain why Texas has a 73% higher second amendment death rate than California?

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Originally Posted by jp1

It's next to Indiana. How do you explain why Texas has a 73% higher second amendment death rate than California?

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Using your logic, maybe because it's next to both Mexico and New Mexico?

Back to the bus issue...I used to ride one to work occasionally since I enjoyed not dealing with traffic on certain days. There were always a few "scary" people but that's just public transit. I probably would not ride one currently since there are now so many homeless people with unpredictable behaviors wandering about. They are showing up everywhere though unless one lives out in the boonies or gated subdivisions. We now live in a hostile and unsettling culture and sadly don't have the collective will to change it. Or so it seems...

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Originally Posted by jp1

No, it's that republicans have come to decide that the second amendment is a suicide pact that frustrates me to no end. And that then they scream "IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM NOT A GUN PROBLEM" as if we are somehow the only developed nation that has mental health problems, while simultaneously passing a federal budget that would inflict dramatic cuts to already weak public health programs that help treat people with mental health issues.

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Leaving aside the question of why the federal government is in the mental health business, you could organize the Better Human Party to repeal the 2A and institute a War on Guns. That should solve the problem.

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Originally Posted by Alan

Using your logic, maybe because it's next to both Mexico and New Mexico?

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No. My logic is that anyone in IL that wants a gun can just go to IN where the gun laws are more lax. There aren't too many places with gun laws more lax than TX so residents there who want to exercise their second amendment right to kill someone can just buy a gun close to home.

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Originally Posted by LDAHL

repeal the 2A and institute a War on Guns. That should solve the problem.

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Judging from how much less gun death other countries with less guns have you're probably correct.

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Originally Posted by jp1

No, it's that republicans have come to decide that the second amendment is a suicide pact that frustrates me to no end. And that then they scream "IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM NOT A GUN PROBLEM" as if we are somehow the only developed nation that has mental health problems, while simultaneously passing a federal budget that would inflict dramatic cuts to already weak public health programs that help treat people with mental health issues.

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Watch the May 8th Rachel Maddow.... mental health problems discussed... very interesting on how republicans say that but don't stand by their assertions.

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Originally Posted by jp1

No. My logic is that anyone in IL that wants a gun can just go to IN where the gun laws are more lax. There aren't too many places with gun laws more lax than TX so residents there who want to exercise their second amendment right to kill someone can just buy a gun close to home.

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You can’t just travel to another state and buy firearms and take them home. There are federal regulations about this. I’ll post more when I’m home.

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Originally Posted by Tradd

You can’t just travel to another state and buy firearms and take them home. There are federal regulations about this. I’ll post more when I’m home.

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You may not be able to legally travel to another state and buy firearms and take them home. But I doubt that the criminals in Chicago who buy their guns in Indiana care about minor details like that and I doubt that the folks in Indiana that sell them the guns care much either. Required national background checks for all gun purchases in all situations would solve that problem but republicans are deadset against that concept.

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Originally Posted by jp1

You may not be able to legally travel to another state and buy firearms and take them home. But I doubt that the criminals in Chicago who buy their guns in Indiana care about minor details like that and I doubt that the folks in Indiana that sell them the guns care much either. Required national background checks for all gun purchases in all situations would solve that problem but republicans are deadset against that concept.

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So your theory is that criminals would violate one law about purchasing firearms, but balk at violating another?

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Originally Posted by bae

So your theory is that criminals would violate one law about purchasing firearms, but balk at violating another?

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They'd face greater risk of problems than just violating a state law. So yeah, they might think twice. Considering that the Indiana AG published this I imagine that there are plenty of people in Indiana willing to sell guns to whoever wants to buy one, especially in a private sale.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...cy5-SUuY5XNLsh

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Originally Posted by jp1

They'd face greater risk of problems than just violating a state law. So yeah, they might think twice. Considering that the Indiana AG published this I imagine that there are plenty of people in Indiana willing to sell guns to whoever wants to buy one, especially in a private sale.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...cy5-SUuY5XNLsh

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But are not the laws concerning such sales Federal laws, and thus not subject to local jurisdictional whimsy?

I've wondered, for 40+ years, why we never bother to enforce the laws we already have on the books, but somehow believe piling on more laws will lead us to the promised land.

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Originally Posted by bae

But are not the laws concerning such sales Federal laws, and thus not subject to local jurisdictional whimsy?

I've wondered, for 40+ years, why we never bother to enforce the laws we already have on the books, but somehow believe piling on more laws will lead us to the promised land.

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Are those federal laws enforced regularly? If so I'd love to see the data about it. And if not then my original assumption that Indianans aren't concerned about them would seem to be valid.

And also if not routinely enforced then you have a valid point that we need to enforce the laws that already exist. But the reality is that existing laws are not enforced consistently. Some people even think they should not be enforced if the person who violated them is super duper important, like say, a former president. Even if the former president tried to overthrow the government.

I can’t remember the last time I have ridden any type of public transportation except for flying. The world is certainly getting crazier and I don’t think it should automatically be assumed that men are at fault and not women in a public altercation.

I took public transportation for way too many years working in Boston, and before that, going to college in Boston (I commuted from home). I have not taken public transportation since I retired, not as a safety concern, but because it sucks. Lengthy delays, unreliable service, that stale urine smell. . .

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Originally Posted by jp1

Are those federal laws enforced regularly? If so I'd love to see the data about it. And if not then my original assumption that Indianans aren't concerned about them would seem to be valid.

And also if not routinely enforced then you have a valid point that we need to enforce the laws that already exist. But the reality is that existing laws are not enforced consistently. Some people even think they should not be enforced if the person who violated them is super duper important, like say, a former president. Even if the former president tried to overthrow the government.

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Case that was just in the news yesterday
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/...investigation/

Handgun purchases outside of your state of residence have federal regulations that require the FFL in state of purchase ship the handguns to a FFL in your state of residence where you then pick them up after any required waiting period.

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Originally Posted by Teacher Terry

I can’t remember the last time I have ridden any type of public transportation except for flying. The world is certainly getting crazier and I don’t think it should automatically be assumed that men are at fault and not women in a public altercation.

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Thank You, TT. Rob

Okay---If I were a good illiberal liberal, I would advocate getting rid of ALL trains, in order to make sleeping on the tracks safer. Yup.

And if I was a good Maga loser I’d make having a miscarriage illegal. Like Alabama is trying to do. Yup. Hope that helps you sum.

A Chicago crime spree to be blamed on Indiana, since according to JP, apparently no one in Chicago can be responsible for crimes they commit.

https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/...orthwest-side/

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Originally Posted by LDAHL

Leaving aside the question of why the federal government is in the mental health business, you could organize the Better Human Party to repeal the 2A and institute a War on Guns. That should solve the problem.

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I still like Dave Chappelle’s answer to our country’s gun debate: (paraphrasing) Give every black man a gun, and you can be sure swift and strong legal actions across the board will be enacted to curb gun violence.

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Originally Posted by catherine

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ETA: If I had to take a bus, either in my former state or the one I live in now, unless I were on a commuter bus to Manhattan, I admit, I'd feel "weird"--and out of place. I'm not proud of feeling that way but it speaks to my point. If you don't have a car in this country, you're "weird."

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I got myself into trouble many years ago by making a big loud bossy statement in our group of friends that we should all be taking the light rail train, mere blocks from our homes, to the airport rather than shuttling each other. This came after a time when I was stuck on the highway for over an hour picking up DH from the airport, stuck due to a traffic accident.

So after that, I myself had to take the train to and from the airport, and each trip has been…problematic in some way.Their equipment is vandalized on the regular and doesn't work, a big problem. Most passengers are normal people but there is usually one to watch carefully.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

I still like Dave Chappelle’s answer to our country’s gun debate: (paraphrasing) Give every black man a gun, and you can be sure swift and strong legal actions across the board will be enacted to curb gun violence.

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As of a few years back, the IL zip code with the highest concentration of concealed carry licenses was on the west or south side of Chicago.

Many people don’t know that the McDonald in the Supreme Court case that struck down Chicago’s handgun ban was a black man.

Gun control laws were originally to keep blacks unarmed.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

I still like Dave Chappelle’s answer to our country’s gun debate: (paraphrasing) Give every black man a gun, and you can be sure swift and strong legal actions across the board will be enacted to curb gun violence.

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That's essentially what happened in California back when Reagan was governor.

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