So far this year, we have suffered 267 mass shootings. That's the new tally after four incidents occurred across the country between Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning, according to the
Gun Violence Archive.
Gunmen killed at least two people and injured at least 34 more in Austin, Texas; Dallas; Savannah, Georgia; and Chicago.
"We are saddened that Austin has joined the far too lengthy list of communities that have experienced mass shootings," Dewitt Peart, president and CEO of the Downtown Austin Alliance in Texas, said in a statement. "Our nation has endured heartbreak time and time again resulting from the acts of deranged individuals intent on killing and harming others. This senseless violence must end.
When your major cities have to use phrases like, “prepare for bloody summer” that does not bring to mind images of waterparks and family road trips.
As crazy as National Lampoon’s Clark Griswold’s character was, I never actually thought he was going to shoot the ride operators. But what we get from right wing media is another round of victim blaming.
In Austin, the victims were asking for it by being out late. Since when does one concede to becoming target practice because they want a libation or meet new people? To some people who work different shifts, your late is their early. Of course once again as a country we drag out the giant paint brush
marked “Assumption” don’t we?
“Most of the victims were innocent bystanders, but we’re still sorting out all of the victims to see what their involvement is in this case,” (Police Chief Joseph) Chacon said
In Chicago it is Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s fault, or the left’s fault, or the citizen’s fault.
See it is never the gun never the NRA, it is always the person’s fault. Literally this is oversimplified. You see what we are talking about are mass shootings. Yes some people are murderous. This is a problem outside of the gun. To to say gun regulation is pointless is as dumb as saying “You know hurricanes. Them dang ‘canes gon blow a house down sure nuff no matter what you do.” Not true.
We can reinforce buildings. We can use straps. We can build seawalls.
I have lived into my middle age and have never seen once, not one time a Michael Dudikoff film come to life where I turn on the news and see the headline “Rogue Gang Kills 20 In Mass Chinese Starring.” I suppose it could happen.
I suppose while eating my corn dog I could be stung in the back by flung metal. But it wouldn’t happen in four seconds.
I am tired of guns. I am tired of all guns.
And all these people on these comment boards, beit AOL or local papers, who talk about “buying more rounds” and “ordering more guns” are missing a key point:
It makes no sense whatsoever to have your desire to own a gun be stronger than your desire to not need one.
We are averaging two mass shootings per day, roughly. This means by the time I go to bed it is statistically possible I will have to change the title to “268.”
And this is one diary I am sick of updating.
-ROC
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