School shootings... how awful
- simonineaston
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School shootings... how awful
We read with a sinking feeling, of another school shooting in the US - those poor poor parents! I'd heard that these dreadful events are increasingly common but I have no idea exactly how common until I visited the K12 website which is keeping count... this year, it's about one a day. I can barely get my head round that.
https://k12ssdb.org/all-shootings
https://k12ssdb.org/all-shootings
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
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Re: School shootings... how awful
I am wondering if there is something about US society, not just insane gun laws. Are there such a number of simmering killers in the UK, but they just can't get hold of the guns? Surely not.
It's the same the whole world over
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
Re: School shootings... how awful
Increasingly I look across the pond and conclude that the US is a difunctional society(kettle calling pan I know,though only by degree),by complete contrast,only yesterday I read of a school principal in Florida being forced to resign over "exposing" 11 to 13year olds to a picture of Michelangelo's statue of David,on the grounds it was pornagraphic.
Bizarre doesn't begin to describe such an outlook:- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65087218
Bizarre doesn't begin to describe such an outlook:- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65087218
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"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: School shootings... how awful
The USA has roughly similar rates of criminal acts and violence to similar countries. But the extraordinary availability of guns turns these into many more serious injuries and deaths. It's possible that no other deep societal dysfunction is needed to explain the statistics.Mike Sales wrote: ↑28 Mar 2023, 11:16am I am wondering if there is something about US society, not just insane gun laws. Are there such a number of simmering killers in the UK, but they just can't get hold of the guns? Surely not.
Jonathan
- simonineaston
- Posts: 8003
- Joined: 9 May 2007, 1:06pm
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Re: School shootings... how awful
There is though, something partic. upsetting, unnecessary and deeply sad, about school shootings... their little lives snuffed out, when hardly begun and the grief afflicted on the parents (who may or may not be gun owners themselves, for what good it did them), which will never go away...
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
Re: School shootings... how awful
There is a gun culture there, where a large percentage of the population has had some exposure to firearms; handled them, used them, etc., even if it was just shooting drink cans off a wall at grandpa's farm or something.
When I was young in the Midwestern USA. I would estimate that 80% of my peers had BB guns, and only a few less had gone hunting or shot a rifle or handgun at some point.
Add to that, that the few places that regulate firearms are surrounded by those that don't.
The result is a natural outcome of the system.
Gun violence recently overtook traffic violence as the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the USA. It is horribly sad and tragic.
When I was young in the Midwestern USA. I would estimate that 80% of my peers had BB guns, and only a few less had gone hunting or shot a rifle or handgun at some point.
Add to that, that the few places that regulate firearms are surrounded by those that don't.
The result is a natural outcome of the system.
Gun violence recently overtook traffic violence as the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the USA. It is horribly sad and tragic.
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
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Re: School shootings... how awful
And nearer two a day when you include non-school.
What always puzzles me is how the media pick the odd one to publicise.
There was a program about Social Prescribing on Radio 4 a few minutes ago. Basically, if you fix the dysfunctional society you'll fix the mental health epidemic, but the presciptions are political, not just social. If someone's suicidal because the house is black with mould, the solution is to fix the mould, not a ticket to a social club, or a packet of pills, or gaslighting from a therapist telling you it's all about your potty training.
“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
― Friedrich Nietzsche
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Re: School shootings... how awful
Seems to have gone up dramatically in the past few years though, from the data in the OP's link.
Has gun accessibility also gone up dramatically?
Has gun accessibility also gone up dramatically?
Re: School shootings... how awful
The best approach that I can see is to move this to the domain of public health. There's been very little improvement when it's been handled through disputes over constitutional rights or the idea of "defending oneself". The rate of deaths and serious injuries to children is massive and is probably the best place to start. And with "accidents" rather than "crimes" or "violence".
Unfortunately publicly funded research was blocked for some time by the effective ban on funding.
"Treating Gun Violence with a Public Health Approach":
https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-93 ... 2/fulltext
Jonathan
Unfortunately publicly funded research was blocked for some time by the effective ban on funding.
"Treating Gun Violence with a Public Health Approach":
https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-93 ... 2/fulltext
Jonathan
Re: School shootings... how awful
I couldn't agree more,and similarly so people working all the hours god sends and can barely make ends meet.I classic case of dysfunction is to tell such people they should work harder or get a better jobaxel_knutt wrote: ↑28 Mar 2023, 12:16pmThere was a program about Social Prescribing on Radio 4 a few minutes ago. Basically, if you fix the dysfunctional society you'll fix the mental health epidemic, but the presciptions are political, not just social. If someone's suicidal because the house is black with mould, the solution is to fix the mould, not a ticket to a social club, or a packet of pills, or gaslighting from a therapist telling you it's all about your potty training.
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"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: School shootings... how awful
I'd expect that the increase parallels the growth of social media, which have become the greatest amplifier of extreme ideas and hate since radio was invented - with the nuance that while mass-diffusion radio was always state-controlled or -regulated, with the Internet everyone can be their own demagogue, or be influenced by others' deeds strongly enough to imitate them.rualexander wrote: ↑28 Mar 2023, 12:51pm Seems to have gone up dramatically in the past few years though, from the data in the OP's link.
Have we got time for another cuppa?
Re: School shootings... how awful
Yes,suicide in the young seems to follow that narrative unfortunately.Audax67 wrote: ↑28 Mar 2023, 1:51pmI'd expect that the increase parallels the growth of social media, which have become the greatest amplifier of extreme ideas and hate since radio was invented - with the nuance that while mass-diffusion radio was always state-controlled or -regulated, with the Internet everyone can be their own demagogue, or be influenced by others' deeds strongly enough to imitate them.rualexander wrote: ↑28 Mar 2023, 12:51pm Seems to have gone up dramatically in the past few years though, from the data in the OP's link.
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"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: School shootings... how awful
I've just read this in the Guardian:- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... gees-homesaxel_knutt wrote: ↑28 Mar 2023, 12:16pm There was a program about Social Prescribing on Radio 4 a few minutes ago. Basically, if you fix the dysfunctional society you'll fix the mental health epidemic, but the presciptions are political, not just social. If someone's suicidal because the house is black with mould, the solution is to fix the mould, not a ticket to a social club, or a packet of pills, or gaslighting from a therapist telling you it's all about your potty training.
It seems some people in charge believe refugees deserve ill health and even death.
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"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden