ongoing mass shootings thread

[corianderstem]

Originally Posted by Irvine511

who needs Daesh or Al-Qaeda. Americans are plenty good at terrorizing themselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egQncpYH90g

Hey John, war is over! We don't need your help - America's making war on itself!

[Axver]

Originally Posted by BoMac

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I've traveled around the world, walked in some dodgy areas, been in unsafe places, but it was only in the United States, the supposed most civilized country on Earth, where the fear of getting caught in a shooting entered my mind.

A former deputy Prime Minister here in Australia is suggesting our foreign affairs department raise its US risk level advice for travellers: Tim Fischer says Australia needs to warn travellers about US gun violence | Australia news | The Guardian

[Moonlit_Angel]

Dang. If that doesn't just say it all about how other parts of the world view our handling of this issue.

Originally Posted by anitram

Must be quite the conundrum for your average right winger - 2nd amendment rights applying equally to Islamists (if that is what it turns out to be).

My guess is it wouldn't be any different than how they view black people with guns (or black people being merely suspected to have guns) versus white people with guns.

White people with guns = Enjoying their Second Amendment rights.

Non-white people with guns = They're a threat and we must take them down.

Originally Posted by BoMac

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I've traveled around the world, walked in some dodgy areas, been in unsafe places, but it was only in the United States, the supposed most civilized country on Earth, where the fear of getting caught in a shooting entered my mind.

Sometimes, while visiting the States, I'd go somewhere, a public place like a restaurant, and wonder if we're all just sitting ducks for some lunatic with a legally-purchased gun. In New York this summer, where I spent 4 days to see a pair of U2 shows, I'd walk in somewhere and immediately take note of all the exit points, just in case I needed them. I'd formulate a plan of escape in my head.

Now you tell me if that's rational or not. I would submit to you that it's not. But that is where we are in the U.S. in 2015, and it's only getting worse because of inaction from so-called political leaders.

Honestly, I've thought the same thing. Last year a customer came into the bookstore I worked at, and it was plainly obvious he was VERY mentally...off, saying things about how we don't have a Constitution anymore and he wanted to buy a copy of the ones we sold to see what his rights as a veteran were, and he was spouting stuff about sending poems about eggplant parmesan to the CIA and claimed the government was watching him (seriously)...

...and he just REALLY gave me the creeps when I was dealing with him. And all I could think was, if he's a veteran, and he's got familiarity with weapons, and one thing finally sets him off...

The fact that there's been shootings at malls also made me nervous working at ours sometimes, too, and I'd briefly wonder about what I'd do if I found myself in that sort of situation, where I'd go and how I might try and escape.

And then there was one time a couple years back when there was a shooting at a convenience store just a few blocks from my home. It wasn't a mass shooting, it was one guy killing another (and was likely drug-related).

But my mom goes down that road on her way home from work every day. And that shooting happened around the time she would've been coming home from work. Fortunately, she happened to have that day off, and therefore wasn't in the area. But hearing about it had me wondering what would've happened if she had been there all the same.

In short, we have a deeply serious problem in this country. And something needs to be done. And if someone can't see that, or refuses to do their part ot help change things, they are an idiot. End of story.

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Originally Posted by corianderstem

Is it unusual for a terrorist to target places/people known to him? To attack the specific/familiar instead of the general/public?

Like, there's a part of me that wonders if he was a pissed-off employee but also was plotting terrorist stuff, and then the last straw happened and he said 'fuck it, I'm using my arsenal and attack gear for this instead because I hate those guys.' "

Appears that this is sorta the case. He wanted to do something and went with what he knew.

[BoMac]

Originally Posted by corianderstem

Is it unusual for a terrorist to target places/people known to him? To attack the specific/familiar instead of the general/public?

Like, there's a part of me that wonders if he was a pissed-off employee but also was plotting terrorist stuff, and then the last straw happened and he said 'fuck it, I'm using my arsenal and attack gear for this instead because I hate those guys.' "

It could be, and I'm just speculating here, that he became radicalized but couldn't bring himself to killing innocents like in Paris, so he went after people he knew already and actively disliked.

[Headache in a Suitcase]

CNN is reporting that he made contact with known extremists through social media.

[deep]

These people distroyed their hard drives and deleted emails and social media and distroyed their cell phones. Had numerous pipe bombs and 1000s of rounds of ammo.

[bono_212]

Originally Posted by BVS

Pat yourself on the back conservatives


Sent from my iPhone using U2 Interference

Nah, now it's just proof that gun laws will never work. Cause if strict gun laws don't stop them, nothing will.

[Diemen]

Originally Posted by Oregoropa

President Obama today



"Yesterday, a tragedy occurred in San Bernardino, and as I said in the immediate aftermath, our first order of business is to send our thoughts and prayers to the families of those who have been killed and to pray for a speedy recovery for those who were injured during this terrible attack."

Yeah, missed the point. Offering your thoughts and prayers is all well and fine, but if you're in a position of power that gives you the opportunity to fix things, and you either refuse to even entertain the notion or actively block attempts to do so, then your thoughts and prayers are worse than meaningless.

[Moonlit_Angel]

Exactly. And Obama IS actually wanting to do something to solve this problem. He isn't just spouting rhetoric, he wants to tackle this.

But when the Republicans refuse to even acknowledge any solution other than "MORE GUNS!" and continue kissing up to the NRA lobbyists, that kind of makes it harder for any attempts Obama makes to try and deal with this to get very far.

[BoMac]

There is a reporter who took every politician who tweeted their "thoughts and prayers" and then tweeted how much each received from the NRA.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using U2 Interference mobile app

[bono_212]

I'm at my parents house. My step dad killing me right now with Fox news.

O'Reilly over here talking about islamists and cowards not willing to say that's what it is, when no one wants to look at the fact that religious terrorism reared it's head last week, but because it was a white Christian, he's just mentally disturbed.

I have a terrible headache, and this whole thing is too overwhelming.

[Moonlit_Angel]

I am so glad nobody in my house is a Fox News viewer.

Originally Posted by BoMac

There is a reporter who took every politician who tweeted their "thoughts and prayers" and then tweeted how much each received from the NRA.

Ha. That is awesome .

[bono_212]

Oh Trump says we should kill terrorist's families.

[corianderstem]

Obama ordered all flags to half-mast.

Probably should just leave them there. People's arms will get tired, raising and lowering all those flags every other day.

[bono_212]

Originally Posted by corianderstem

Obama ordered all flags to half-mast.

Probably should just leave them there. People's arms will get tired, raising and lowering all those flags every other day.

At least that way people will stop making a national scene every time he doesn't lower it.

[Oregoropa]

Originally Posted by bono_212

Oh Trump says we should kill terrorist's families.

He said not that far, but follow the Israeli model of bulldozing suicide bombers homes and put their families on the streets.

[corianderstem]

And lo, Israel did away with terrorism and violence forevermore.

[Oregoropa]

Originally Posted by bono_212

I'm at my parents house. My step dad killing me right now with Fox news.

I have a terrible headache, and this whole thing is too overwhelming.

I imagine if you make it to Hannity it will be like the opening of the Ark

[elevated_u2_fan]

http://m.nydailynews.com/news/politi...icle-1.2454448

How do "intelligent" people rationalize voting for Republicans?