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George II

(67,782 posts)
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 11:33 AM Oct 2017

Sen. Chris Murphy: Mass Shootings Are An American Problem. There's An American Solution.

Source: Hartford Courant

On awful, gut-churning days such as Monday, I find it important to remind myself that mass shootings happen almost nowhere else but the United States. As we become normalized to the regular pace of massive, execution-style killings — Sandy Hook, Charleston, Orlando and now Las Vegas — it's critical to understand that the Groundhog Day phenomenon of horrific mass shootings is exclusive to the United States. I find consolation in this fact, because if the problem is particularly American, then the solution can be, too.

Thus far, though, our response to regular mass slaughter has been, quite frankly, uniquely un-American. Our nation, in a short quarter-millennium, catapulted itself to global preeminence by solving the world's greatest problems and exporting those solutions to the rest of the world. Participatory democracies. Open economies. Web-based communication. All American innovations to the great conundrums of the globe.

But when it comes to perhaps the oldest and most important human concern — the fear of physical harm — the United States does not lead. In fact, we choose to be an increasingly distant outlier of exceptional violence.

I served as congressman for Newtown, Conn., when a gunman opened fire in Sandy Hook Elementary School, killing 20 children and six educators. The parents of those kids are now my friends. They will never recover from what they have endured. The scars are brutally deep and exposed for all to see. No one should wish the scorching pain of losing a son or daughter on anyone. And so, in a very personal way, my heart has been with Las Vegas every minute since news broke of the tragedy.

Read more: http://www.courant.com/opinion/hc-op-ed-murphy-gun-control-20171003-story.html



My Senator, what a dedicated American he is. Sadly this will not accomplish much, those he's REALLY speaking to have no conscience other that ruing that they don't have enough money yet.
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Bradical79

(4,490 posts)
10. His source is fraudulent, and right wing propaganda
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 05:37 PM
Oct 2017

You probably guessed that already though.

The man that founded ans runs that organization:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/thinkprogress.org/debunking-john-lott-5456e83cf326/amp/

Looks to me like their "study" arbitrarily picked data, like comparing the U.S. to groupings of multiple nations, or conveniently picked incidents that are categorized differently. Like Boko Haram, basically a terrorist army, doesn't compare in the slightest to incidents like the Vegas shooting.

Considering the source, I wouldn't be shocked if some data was outright fabricated.

George II

(67,782 posts)
11. Yeah, that site is pretty whacked out, and is probably right wing. This statement got my attention:
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 07:28 PM
Oct 2017

"54% of US counties in 2014 had zero murders", like that's an amazing observation. No shit. 54% of US counties probably have about 2% of the nation's population.

It's like the ex-ACA republicans claim that "X number of counties only have one option for healthcare". Of course they don't say WHICH counties they are. It's probably all the counties up in the mountains and deserts and high plains where there aren't any people.

Here's the map that the nitwit of that site (not the DU person here) has of counties with no murders. BFD!

Nitram

(22,768 posts)
8. I am quite sure the diference is material, Moshe. Terrorists are a great deal easier to track
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 03:46 PM
Oct 2017

and monitor because they are organized and sharing plans and ideas with a larger group. These "lone wolf" guys with no discernible motive are impossible to spot. The US is not experiencing a civil war or a domestic insurgency. There should be no reason for so many people to die in any kind of shooting.

FakeNoose

(32,596 posts)
5. A lot of them get their guns from the US
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 12:38 PM
Oct 2017

Let's face it, we're arming the entire world. That's one of the reaons why the NRA has so much money.
The NRA represents the armaments manufacturers of the USA - they're a gun lobby and that's ALL they care about.

Why can't American citizens wake up and see what's being done to us?


NCjack

(10,279 posts)
7. I think that Congress will wait on meaningful legislation
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 12:58 PM
Oct 2017

until the NRA members are emboldened to attempt an armed revolution to undo Trump's removal before or defeat in Nov. 2020. Then, we can have the shooting war that they want. I predict that the biggest collection of treasonous cowards will be the NRA leadership ("white flagging" on Day 1), and the biggest dupes will be the ultra ignorant gun humpers. If Trump lasts to run and loses the 2020 presidential election, his lame duck tenure and eviction will be the most dangerous period for USA. It is important that he be ejected quickly, with no notice.

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