The latest school massacres

[xoxoxoBruce]

Public opinion doesn't seem to be swayed by mass shootings.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

The problem is that they're "goodies" right up to the minute they massacre a bunch of innocents.

Isn't the definition of murder the death of innocents?
Otherwise it's manslaughter/ self-defense.

[don't slaughter me if I'm wrong, it'll be a difference in UK/ US law]

Oh, the above is simply me being anal - Spex isn't necessarily wrong.

It just occurred to me that these people are murderers. Britain's most prolific killers did not need guns. The fact that guns feature in the death of "innocents" in the US is just a blip of time and space if you're of a murderous bent IMO.
That said, much as I adore Wolf (the only non-hunting gun-toting Dwellar I can think of off the top of my head) I'd be completely weirded out by seeing any of you carrying a lethal weapon around. That's just my feelings, having not grown up with guns.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Where and when I grew up, seeing someone with a gun would be natural. Here and now I would immediately try to assess their actions and intent, because it's far less common. Spex is right, but in most cases, the post tragedy examination shows plenty of warning signs. That's why the chart of specific proposals has much higher support than the ban/not ban question PEW asked.

I feel those charts reflect my own reaction to those questions, in that my answer to should we ban guns is a sound no, as I think that's throwing out the baby with the bath water and would not solve anything. But the questions about individual initiatives, I can wholeheartedly support. This is what I mentioned earlier about the NRA being wrong in their no restrictions stance, rather than supporting some laws.

[Undertoad]

At this point, it feels like the first instinct of some folks, when hearing of any national tragedy, is to press hard for their particular political agenda.

"A terrible thing has occurred! And the most important thing is, HOW CAN WE USE IT???"

[sexobon]

Those people going on rampages might not have done the deed if they were getting laid more often and that's why we need to legalize prostitution.

Now, what were you sayin' UT?

[Undertoad]

That won't work, it's not related closely enough. To legalize prostitution you would need a mass fucking, not a mass killing.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I don't know, I think "We the People" are taking a mass fucking every day.

[Undertoad]

USE it, Bobby!

https://www.bobbyjindal.com/jindal-w...-with-garbage/

Originally Posted by Bobby Jindal

What is the root cause of all these evil acts? These people who go into classrooms and churches and murder innocent people? How did we get to this place?

These shootings are a symptom of deep and serious cultural decay in our society.

Let that sink in for a minute.

These acts of evil are a direct result of cultural rot, and it is cultural rot that we have brought upon ourselves, and then we act like we are confounded and perplexed by what is happening here.

[fargon]

I agree with Mr. Jindal.

[Undertoad]

What if I told you that, over the last 25 years, as society has sunk into the abyss,

Originally Posted by Bobby Jindal

Rape, torture, murder, mass murder, all are cinematic achievements. Our music does the same thing, we promote evil, we promote the degradation of women, we flaunt the laws of God and common decency and we promote it all and we flood our young people with it, and... We have generations of young boys who were raised on video games where they compete with other young boys around the country and the world to see who can kill the most humans. We make it so fun, so realistic, so sensational.

What if I told you that after all that...

...for the last 25 years, murders and violent crime are way way down?

America's Faulty Perception of Crime Rates

Today, the national crime rate is about half of what it was at its height in 1991. Violent crime has fallen by 51 percent since 1991, and property crime by 43 percent. In 2013 the violent crime rate was the lowest since 1970.

Do you still think it's culture?

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by Sundae

Isn't the definition of murder the death of innocents?
Otherwise it's manslaughter/ self-defense.

[don't slaughter me if I'm wrong, it'll be a difference in UK/ US law]

Oh, the above is simply me being anal - Spex isn't necessarily wrong.
...

I say innocents because I don't think there'd be much outcry if someone killed a bunch of murderers and rapists.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

At this point, it feels like the first instinct of some folks, when hearing of any national tragedy, is to press hard for their particular political agenda.

"A terrible thing has occurred! And the most important thing is, HOW CAN WE USE IT???"

Originally Posted by Undertoad

USE it, Bobby!

https://www.bobbyjindal.com/jindal-w...-with-garbage/

Et tu, Brute !



.

[Undertoad]

That's the point LL

[tw]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

...for the last 25 years, murders and violent crime are way way down?

Chart is deceiving. Total number of violent crimes is irrelevant. Crimes per GDP are relevant. Relating same data to the population is number of violent crimes per citizen:
2010 0.0040
2005 0.0047
2000 0.0050
1995 0.0068
1990 0.0072
1988 0.0064
1985 0.0055
1980 0.0059
1975 0.0048
1970 0.0036
1965 0.0019
1960 0.0015

Violent crime is down significantly. But not as much as the chart would have us believe. Crime rates are similar to crime in early 1970s.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

In 2013 the violent crime rate was the lowest since 1970.

Originally Posted by tw

Blah blah blah... Crime rates are similar to crime in early 1970s.

Is there an echo in here?