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School Gun Shootings: Access to Guns or Something Else?

I don't think anyone will assert (if you do, please cite sources) that school gun shootings were more prevalent in the U.S. fifty, sixty or seventy years ago than today.

I also don't think that anyone can seriously argue that access to guns was more strictly controlled fifty, sixty or seventy years ago than today.

So, then, if access to guns was far easier fifty, sixty or seventy years ago than today and yet there were not just fewer but FAR FEWER school shootings than today, isn't it reasonable to conclude that other factors are at work that are resulting in FAR MORE school shootings than simply the mere access to a firearm?

EDIT:
Statistical reference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States

School Massacres Around the World
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_massacres_by_death_toll

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666Maggotz · F

I really don’t think it’s access to guns, even if it is, how would you stop it? I mean, drugs are illegal but I just had an edible this morning 👌

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@666Maggotz

I really don’t think it’s access to guns, even if it is, how would you stop it? I mean, drugs are illegal...

Good point. We couldn't stop liquor coming in from Canada during Prohibition. We can't seem to stop drugs coming in now. What makes anyone think we could stop guns coming in if ownership of them were prohibited?

QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

@666Maggotz The economics of drug and gun smuggling work out very differently. The profit margins never reach the same dizzying heights that drive the drug trade, and the demand is far more elastic - not to mention, nowhere near as steady or recurring.

Suffice to say that yes, gun control can really put a dent into availability of weapons, and jack up the street prices dramatically. This is something we've seen all over the world.

666Maggotz · F

@QuixoticSoul idk I seen my uncle sell illegal weapons and if I were to get a gun, it would probably be illegal. So much easier than doing all that paper work and shit. Even my grandpa had an illegal gun so idk man maybe Americans are on some other shit than the rest of the world.

QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

@666Maggotz What do you mean, when you say illegal weapons?

666Maggotz · F

@QuixoticSoul guns mostly

QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

@666Maggotz What makes them illegal?

666Maggotz · F

@QuixoticSoul possessions of the ones he was selling were prohibited, and i seen some grenades.

badminton · 61-69, MVIP

@666Maggotz I believe gun control must include ammo control. In order to buy ammo a person would have to present a gun owner's license, which would be just like a driver's license. In order to get a gun owners license the applicant would have to pass a gun safety training class and a deep background check. Such restriction are simply screening to prevent lunatics and criminals from buying guns. In 2017 over 38,000 people were killed by guns in the United States! We have to change our gun laws.

666Maggotz · F

@badminton eh maybe that would help a bit but I’m not convinced it will really stop people from killing people.

badminton · 61-69, MVIP

We should look at other countries that have been successful in controlling gun deaths. The U.K., Japan, Canada, Australia, are just a few examples of countries that have much lower rates of gun violence. We can learn from them. Just in 2018 there have been over 22 school shootings in the United States! Over 90 people are shot with handguns EVERYDAY! We have to change our gun laws.

nudistsueaz · 61-69, F

@badminton Many more were killed by street drugs (which are outlawed) and car accidents.

666Maggotz · F

@badminton do you really think outlawing guns will stop shootings? I mean, killing is illegal but people still do it. Alcohol was illegal but people still drank it. Drugs are illegal but people still do them. You also have to think of the culture of each country. The Japanese act so much differently than us as whole. Their entire culture and customs. I doubt we will react the same way as them.

badminton · 61-69, MVIP

Last year over 38,000 people were killed by guns in the U.S. Many thousands more were injured and maimed in gun accidents, many of them small children. We need common sense screening to prevent, mental cases, criminals and unfit people (alcoholics and drug users) from being able to buy guns or ammo.

We also need to change the liability laws to hold gun owners liable for reckless behavior such as leaving guns loaded and unsecured in homes or vehicles. Way too many children are being shot by loaded guns left accessible and unlocked by irresponsible gun owners.

666Maggotz · F

@badminton eh idk why you think I will read all that. 😂 I’m too high for this shit

badminton · 61-69, MVIP

@666Maggotz Starting early today? If you're high, just keep your hands off guns OK? And don't try to drive a car either, until you come down.

666Maggotz · F

@badminton it’s my day off and I’ve been under a ton of stress lately lol I needed it. And I wasn’t planning on doing anything today. I’ll save my shootings another day. 👌

QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

@666Maggotz Those are very casual felonies lmao - having an unregistered grenade alone is enough to spend a few years in the pen, same with selling one. We all have our lived experience - but most Americans aren't so casual with these things and do follow the law.

666Maggotz · F

@QuixoticSoul but if you want to go kill a bunch of people, is a law really going to stop you?

QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

@666Maggotz Good point. Let's legalize murder altogether - the law isn't doing the job since it still happens.

666Maggotz · F

@QuixoticSoul don’t overexagerate what I say. I’m just saying, there’s no reason to push for harder gun laws or banning them altogether because it won’t help. I mean, you’re also talking to a person who believes all drugs should be legal so I might be a bit too extreme. The only reason to keep murder illegal is so we have an excuse to lock those people away. But pretty much the only laws I believe in is no murder or rape/molestation, and child labor.

QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

@666Maggotz Of course it helps. And believe it or not deterrence and prevention is a large reason why we have laws to begin with, not simply as an excuse to take collective vengeance.

Ultimately there is no perfect safety, and some people will never be deterred from crime. This doesn't render regulation or enforcement irrelevant. "No murder" is not a realistic goal and never will be - but "less murder" is.

666Maggotz · F

@QuixoticSoul eh whatever. My opinion will remain unchanged as always 😂