Just want to clear something up about the recent spate of mass shootings

[EarlG]

Have you noticed how all these shootings have started up again since Covid restrictions have been lifted? Must be a sign that we're "getting back to normal," right?

You'd certainly be forgiven for thinking that there's been a huge, sudden jump in gun violence after a quiet year while everyone was in lockdown.

Sadly, the truth is the opposite. Here's an article from Time Magazine on December 30, 2020:

2020 Ends as One of America's Most Violent Years in Decades

This year, many Americans have experienced significantly higher levels of violence both wrought on and within their communities. Gun violence and gun crime has, in particular, risen drastically, with over 19,000 people killed in shootings and firearm-related incidents in 2020. That’s the highest death toll in over 20 years, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), an online site that collects gun violence data, and the Britannia Group’s non-partisan site procon.org.

This total includes victims of homicides and unintentional deaths but does not include gun suicides. And despite there being no “large-scale” shootings in 2020, the number of mass shootings—which are classified as an incident in which four or more people are shot and injured or killed—has actually risen, drastically, to over 600, the most in the past 5 years and a nearly 50% increase in 2019’s total.

Link

Yup, mass shootings were actually up 50% in 2020 over 2019, not that you'd know it.

I think this can be explained mostly by a few obvious factors which dominated the news in 2020: a) Covid, b) The presidential election, and c) Donald Trump's daily attention-seeking behavior.

So yeah, don't be fooled into thinking that 2020 was a quiet year when it came to gun violence, and that things are now suddenly getting worse because people are getting back out there into the world. 2020 was in fact a terrible year for gun violence, it's just that people weren't being informed about it.

[USALiberal]

1. Do we need the gungeon forum? nt

[Hoyt]

2. It has one advantage -- One can identify those who think their gunz are more important than society.

It used to be the backdoor for white wingers to enter DU, but not so much nowadays.

I think when trump was in office, the gunners didn't feel the need to post their BS here. Now, I suspect they will return in mass.

Although, honestly, I used to think that there were just a few gunners posting under about 100 names.

[Klaralven]

3. Plus, whenever there is a lull in other news, mass shootings can be counted on as a nice filler

The media have to fill the time available.

[live love laugh]

4. +1

[world wide wally]

5. I'm starting to question if the United States is even worth saving.

[spike jones]

21. I know what you mean, but Sam said this.

[link:

|

[world wide wally]

25. You're right, but it is getting harder to fight.

I can't believe we are such a fucked up country that we can't figure out how to curtail mass shootings. every person in the world can figure it out except for our Republican lawmakers. And then I can't figure out how they can win any election... But they do.

[DENVERPOPS]

34. Good call www

Putin is laughing himself to sleep every night...............

My Russian friend says that the Russian People are laughing their asses off at how easily Putin has played Trump and the Republicans.
And how he has been able to trash the U.S. and our Democracy, without starting a war, or even firing one missile or rocket.

I seriously fear for our kids and grandkids.......I often ask if Republican Party politicians, and voters have kids or grandkids.........
How could they possible believe theirs families will come out unscathed when their destructive actions trash the U.S. and Democracy????? ........

[dsc]

6. I think that there not having been a big school shooting also leads to that impression

many states had either no kids or many fewer kids in schools. That, of course, led to there not being a huge, publicity attracting mass shooting at a school.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

10. That, and the lack of "large-scale shootings" and big workplace shootings.

Seems like we rarely heard about the smaller events in the past, either. Other than local news.
Domestic violence was way up during covid, too. That would seem to go hand in hand with the rise in shootings that just meet the minimum for "mass shootings."

[calimary]

36. And the likely fact that there were simply fewer targets in a conveniently small area.

Fewer groups of workers and shoppers, and the schools weren’t open, providing a platform to some jerk-gunner aiming to make some stupid, lame, anti-social, thoroughly-detestable “statement of grievance.”

[Midnight Writer]

7. On the Talk Radio yesterday, a host was attacking President Biden for the gun violence.

"We didn't see all these shootings until Biden took office and gave permission to people to use violence when they get mad"

Since the media did not bother to report the facts about 2020 gun violence as it was happening, the Right Wing are able to push the narrative that this is a Biden problem.

[Lonestarblue]

13. Also, there's been more chatter about a large increase in crime.

I wonder whether some of that is underreporting in 2020 and some of it is over reporting by police to head off cuts and demands for change in the wake of last year’s protests. Far too many people think it’s better to spend money on police than on trying to prevent identify and ameliorate the root causes of many crimes. Our drug policies have a major impact on crime. We allow big pharma to get people addicted, then send in the cops to bust the drug users. Our 50-year War on Drugs has done nothing but make drug cartels rich.

[DENVERPOPS]

35. This is a #3

on my list below.

Every time I see, read or hear any of the vile vomitus coming from a Republican's mouth, I go to my list:

#1 It's a flagrant Lie

#2 It's pure hypocrisy

#3 It's 180 degrees from the truth or reality.

Their statement is actually is all three............

It is blatantly obvious that they can't help themselves and are programmed to lie about every single thing, and also, they have no idea how to attempt to win except by cheating......

[malaise]

8. K & R for truth n/t

[Probatim]

9. Thanks for the information.

One of the best things about this site is having these comments backed with data and sources.

[multigraincracker]

11. Just wait until they stop shooting

fellow workers and go after management and owners. Might see some reforms.

[Demobrat]

18. Owners and managers

don’t work in large open spaces. They have private offices with doors that lock.

[TraceNC]

22. Or they're mostly on the golf course.

[multigraincracker]

28. Once in a while they come out on the floor.

My last years at the plant, I worked in the rail yard. Never saw a fight.

[FailureToCommunicate]

12. So much death.

Thanks for the stats. I was among those lulled into thinking shootings DID diminish during 2020. Alas.

[Demobrat]

20. Me too

Although I did suspect there was a lot more gun violence going on behind closed doors than we were aware of.

[Hekate]

14. KnR

[Biophilic]

15. I really appreciate this information. Yup, I was one of those who thought we had just

gone back to "normal" after opening up. Seemed 'reasonable'. Should have known better. I so appreciate the knock on my brain to let a little reality slip in.

[ancianita]

16. Yet another reason I'm so pissed at corporate media.

[Tree Lady]

17. That's because media was focused on election

And covid. Can't say I blame them what a crazy year. With all the fear about covid and not knowing when or if we were getting a decent vaccine or if anyone would take it caused them not to focus on the normal yet awful mass shootings.

Then end of year all we heard was Trump not saying Joe won. He always sucked all the air out of the news and what was left was covid.

[TeamProg]

19. Like no other developed nation.

Oh wait, I guess we aren't that developed.

Third world violence.

[dalton99a]

23. Kick

[Wounded Bear]

24. Good point...most of us are dependent on what gets reported...

[milestogo]

26. I don't think there were any school shootings in 2020, for obvious reasons.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

27. Will right-wing bullshit the stupid

people that elect these monsters , conservatism in all it's forms and the republican party ever fucking go away?

Thier entire platform is abusive to people.

[BootinUp]

29. 2020... what a terrible year that was. k&r

[BobTheSubgenius]

30. Other than the COVID story, I can't think of another situation in any other country where news of

an election or the antics of a ridiculous yet malevolent buffoon push mass shootings off the front page. How much of that is due to a 3-ring circus of a "news" media, and how much to the all-too-commonplace nature of gun violence?

[AndyS]

31. Some of us try to keep it visible. We post about atrocities and remind everyone that there are more

mass shootings in a year than there are DAYS.

Yes, there is one every day and many days MORE THAN ONE.

Yet mass shootings are only the tip of this bloody ice berg. Many more lives are lost and bodies ruined than mass shootings in the quiet every day misery of gun violence.

Road rage was once a honked horn a flipped finger and a shouted obscenity. No more, now it's a semi auto pistol with 19 rounds.

[Bucky]

32. That increase in the murder rate

... probably linked to more people being locked up for a year volatile and abusive family members

[twodogsbarking]

33. America is great at killing people.

Tradition.

[Kaleva]

37. The shootings were reported but my guess is that people were more interested in the pandemic.

[flying_wahini]

38. And now with Tx Gov Abbott doing everything but giving away guns now

To anyone who wants one.