Republicans keep their power in red states from being the "law and order" candidates where prolific guns make living chaotic and terrifying. They offer 2nd amendment rights as a placebo to make individuals living in the chaos feel like having a gun gives them some control when in reality it adds to the chaos.
That, and the only purpose guns serve is to frighten, injure, or kill. If we compare the rates of the total hours of use of guns that cause deaths vs that of the hours of use of cars that cause deaths, we see that cars are much, much safer.
This is the best refutation of the NRA, and the excuses for not doing anything about our blind devotion to a culture of gun violence I have read! Please post widely. It’s past time to confront this demon destroying our very soul.
This is the part the NRA never answers. Every peer nation treats guns like a public safety issue, and they’re safer for it. The myth factory survives only by pretending dead kids are the price of “freedom.” Facts keep interrupting the fantasy.
Myth 4: There is no definition of "mental illness" or "mental health crisis." The fact is that people with diagnosed psychiatric conditions are less, not more, prone to be assaultive in any way, and more prone to be victims. If "mental illness" or "mental health crisis" is taken to include intoxication, then no one who uses any mind-altering substance, including alcohol, should have access to a gun.
Myth 6: Countries, except the United States, that have experienced gun crimes have commonly immediately instituted restrictions or bans. Their rates of gun misadventure have always dropped significantly.
Myth 7: This theory is in fact the reason for the "Second Amendment." This Amendment is intended to advocate for militias -- "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." Federalist Paper #29 describes the intended purposes of militias (there are two intended purposes), one of which is to check the federal government, so that it cannot militarily dominate and control the states and localities. So this "myth" should be taken as true, and not a myth. The problem is that in order to protect states and localities from federal over-reach (as we're seeing right now), militias would have to be armed as the federal government is armed. We're not even close. Guns today do nothing to protect states and localities from federal over-reach. All of the "Arms" necessary are already illegal for civilian use. I'm thinking here of grenades, tanks, fighter jets with bombs, submarines with torpedoes, aircraft carriers, nuclear weapons, and others. And Federalist Paper #29 says all Arms are to be given to militia members. They don't have to buy them. So the theory is correct, but we have almost completely repealed the "Second Amendment" piecemeal. We either need to finish repealing it, or we need to restore it to what it was intended to be.
Myth 8: This is not a myth. It is true that guns, which are inanimate objects, do not of their own accord kill people. People do. And people with guns kill a lot more people than people with knives. Or cars. It is true that cars can be dangerous. That's why there is training, licensure, and regulation regarding the use of cars. Not so about guns. And the primary intended use of cars is not to destroy. They are transportation. The only use of guns is to destroy.
Myth 10- assault weapons bans laws didn’t work that’s why they got rid of them
Myth 11, not really a myth but real fact/s - what ever happened with all the charges that should have been brought against nra head/s for funneling gru $ among other things in 2016. (NRA has been doing it before then though too) I find this interesting also why would Russia or others want this in our country but would never and don’t allow it in theirs. Perhaps we should question Maria Butina and others about this
It is only right that when children commit gun violence, their parents be charged and convicted, as those Michigan parents. Just yesterday, an 11-year-old boy in Milwaukee was playing at a friend’s house. The friend’s parents let him play with a gun and he shot himself in the face. Police charged the parents.
Thanks for this Qasim. It's about time we get our collective head out of our collective a$$ and DO something about gun violence besides "thoughts and prayers." Thoughts and prayers dont do anything to stop this madness. Those words in response to the death (or life-long traum) of a loved one are so disrespectful of those who lost their lives and their grieving loved ones left behind. I am a legal gun owner and I would absolutely vote for universal background checks, registration and laws that keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers - all that you named in this piece. I think as a nation should give it a try! The worst that could happen is the number of gun deaths won't change, but that's unlikely. And if it doesn't work, we can go back to how it is now. It's 100% worth trying if even one death is prevented.
Bujold! As if I didn't already appreciate your essays enough. I love her writing.
Republicans keep their power in red states from being the "law and order" candidates where prolific guns make living chaotic and terrifying. They offer 2nd amendment rights as a placebo to make individuals living in the chaos feel like having a gun gives them some control when in reality it adds to the chaos.
Myth 8: Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Do you want to ban cars next?
You can add, that cars are saving people ( emergency cars ). To ban cars will cost lifes. I don't think banning guns will have the same effect
That, and the only purpose guns serve is to frighten, injure, or kill. If we compare the rates of the total hours of use of guns that cause deaths vs that of the hours of use of cars that cause deaths, we see that cars are much, much safer.
"People with mental illness are much more often the victims of violence rather than the perpetrators"
I'm afraid otherwise it is even more true:
Victims of violence suffer more often under mental illness
This is the best refutation of the NRA, and the excuses for not doing anything about our blind devotion to a culture of gun violence I have read! Please post widely. It’s past time to confront this demon destroying our very soul.
This is the part the NRA never answers. Every peer nation treats guns like a public safety issue, and they’re safer for it. The myth factory survives only by pretending dead kids are the price of “freedom.” Facts keep interrupting the fantasy.
They're a white supremacy org. That's all they care about.
With thanks and respect.
https://endlesschain.substack.com/p/voorrang-voor-wapens-priorite-aux
We have to change the cultural thinking: https://daily.jstor.org/american-as-apple-pie/
We need to normalize the public health phrase, Gun Pollution.
Great point. Great descriptor.
America…
The time has come to make a choice…
Our children and grandchildren…
Or our guns…
For most of us the choice is easy and straightforward…
I would gladly allow whatever restrictions are necessary on guns..
If it saves one child’s life…
No one expects guns will disappear…
But it well past time…
For us to require permits and training…
Before we allow people to posses weapons that kill…
And make no mistake about it…
The purpose of all these guns is to kill…
Democrats…
You need to own this issue…
Most Americans choose children over guns…
Time to stand firm…
And stand up for real gun control…
It won’t be easy…
But your children’s life will depend on it…
Myth 4: There is no definition of "mental illness" or "mental health crisis." The fact is that people with diagnosed psychiatric conditions are less, not more, prone to be assaultive in any way, and more prone to be victims. If "mental illness" or "mental health crisis" is taken to include intoxication, then no one who uses any mind-altering substance, including alcohol, should have access to a gun.
Myth 6: Countries, except the United States, that have experienced gun crimes have commonly immediately instituted restrictions or bans. Their rates of gun misadventure have always dropped significantly.
Myth 7: This theory is in fact the reason for the "Second Amendment." This Amendment is intended to advocate for militias -- "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." Federalist Paper #29 describes the intended purposes of militias (there are two intended purposes), one of which is to check the federal government, so that it cannot militarily dominate and control the states and localities. So this "myth" should be taken as true, and not a myth. The problem is that in order to protect states and localities from federal over-reach (as we're seeing right now), militias would have to be armed as the federal government is armed. We're not even close. Guns today do nothing to protect states and localities from federal over-reach. All of the "Arms" necessary are already illegal for civilian use. I'm thinking here of grenades, tanks, fighter jets with bombs, submarines with torpedoes, aircraft carriers, nuclear weapons, and others. And Federalist Paper #29 says all Arms are to be given to militia members. They don't have to buy them. So the theory is correct, but we have almost completely repealed the "Second Amendment" piecemeal. We either need to finish repealing it, or we need to restore it to what it was intended to be.
Myth 8: This is not a myth. It is true that guns, which are inanimate objects, do not of their own accord kill people. People do. And people with guns kill a lot more people than people with knives. Or cars. It is true that cars can be dangerous. That's why there is training, licensure, and regulation regarding the use of cars. Not so about guns. And the primary intended use of cars is not to destroy. They are transportation. The only use of guns is to destroy.
saved for future reference!
Myth 10- assault weapons bans laws didn’t work that’s why they got rid of them
Myth 11, not really a myth but real fact/s - what ever happened with all the charges that should have been brought against nra head/s for funneling gru $ among other things in 2016. (NRA has been doing it before then though too) I find this interesting also why would Russia or others want this in our country but would never and don’t allow it in theirs. Perhaps we should question Maria Butina and others about this
Well said!
I've said for years that guns should be regulated exactly like cars. That would be fine with me and I'm a lifelong responsible gun owner.
Exactly! I don't know why any responsible gun owner would object!
It is only right that when children commit gun violence, their parents be charged and convicted, as those Michigan parents. Just yesterday, an 11-year-old boy in Milwaukee was playing at a friend’s house. The friend’s parents let him play with a gun and he shot himself in the face. Police charged the parents.
Thanks for this Qasim. It's about time we get our collective head out of our collective a$$ and DO something about gun violence besides "thoughts and prayers." Thoughts and prayers dont do anything to stop this madness. Those words in response to the death (or life-long traum) of a loved one are so disrespectful of those who lost their lives and their grieving loved ones left behind. I am a legal gun owner and I would absolutely vote for universal background checks, registration and laws that keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers - all that you named in this piece. I think as a nation should give it a try! The worst that could happen is the number of gun deaths won't change, but that's unlikely. And if it doesn't work, we can go back to how it is now. It's 100% worth trying if even one death is prevented.