Posted on Apr 1, 2023
Opinion: America's shameful obsession with guns
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https://www.npr.org/2023/04/01/ [login to see] /opinion-americas-shameful-obsession-with-guns
There are nearly 400 million civilian-owned guns in the U.S., according to an estimate by the Small Arms Survey.
Americans often lament how everyone seems to be looking down at the screen of a smartphone, reading, texting, or watching videos. But in fact, we have more guns than smartphone users. We gripe about the time we spend in cars, backed up along highways and roadways, going to work, running errands, eating takeout between obligations, and lined up for gas. But there are more guns in America than registered motor vehicles.
Is that how we see ourselves? A country with more guns than cars or smartphones?
There have already been 131 mass shootings across America this year, according to The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit group that tracks these incidents.
There are nearly 400 million civilian-owned guns in the U.S., according to an estimate by the Small Arms Survey.
Americans often lament how everyone seems to be looking down at the screen of a smartphone, reading, texting, or watching videos. But in fact, we have more guns than smartphone users. We gripe about the time we spend in cars, backed up along highways and roadways, going to work, running errands, eating takeout between obligations, and lined up for gas. But there are more guns in America than registered motor vehicles.
Is that how we see ourselves? A country with more guns than cars or smartphones?
There have already been 131 mass shootings across America this year, according to The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit group that tracks these incidents.
Opinion: America's shameful obsession with guns
Posted from npr.org
Firearms and Guns
Violence
Children
Schools
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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I will sh they would start by prosecuting criminals on liberal cites . It would be nice if DA’s started prosecuting gun law violations instead of bargaining them away. It would be nice if those violating guns laws were prosecuted instead of being above the law.
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"Is that how we see ourselves? A country with more guns than cars or smartphones?" Not how I see myself, but now that you mention it......
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Maj Robert Thornton
SGT (Join to see) what is interesting is that they bandy about the number 400 million, I would think it safe to put that number much higher. To date, none of my firearms has left my house and shot anyone, I don’t know about yours but I suspect your firearms are in the same category as mine.
We have thousands of gun laws already on the books, but yet the only individuals the politicians seemed concerned with are those of us whose firearms have never gone out and killed someone. My suggestion is that maybe the authorities should start by going after those that have obtained firearms illegally.
The next step would be to reinstitute a workable mental health system, which was dismantled a number of years ago. It is quite apparent to me, given the number of firearms out there, it’s not the ones that legally own them that are the issue in this country.
We have thousands of gun laws already on the books, but yet the only individuals the politicians seemed concerned with are those of us whose firearms have never gone out and killed someone. My suggestion is that maybe the authorities should start by going after those that have obtained firearms illegally.
The next step would be to reinstitute a workable mental health system, which was dismantled a number of years ago. It is quite apparent to me, given the number of firearms out there, it’s not the ones that legally own them that are the issue in this country.
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4 million you say? So that translates to 131/4,000,000. And, I will give you this; those 131 were preventable. Not by holding law abiding citizens responsible, but by installing preventative measures. Not by banning or writing more ignored laws, but by being prepared and taking action against the perpetrator. You may be thinking oh boy, here we go again another nut, but remember the late 60's and 70's when the cowards screamed their heads off to end the draft? They didn't stop it, the bravery of the American military changed it.
At a high school in my county a couple of kids were plotting out a plan to kill some suspected gay students in the school this week on a social media site. Sheriff's deputies were informed and the 2 were arrested and taken into custody. They were definitely expelled forever from the district and now are awaiting trial. See, not that hard when properly addressed.
At a high school in my county a couple of kids were plotting out a plan to kill some suspected gay students in the school this week on a social media site. Sheriff's deputies were informed and the 2 were arrested and taken into custody. They were definitely expelled forever from the district and now are awaiting trial. See, not that hard when properly addressed.
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