American Politics / Current Events Thread

[MrWunderful | 2,927]

Do republicans want their lives improved? Or do they want someone on Fox news accusing democrats of being pedophiles? I assume that Other than being Trumpy boot lickers, her constituents are probably content with taking socialist food stamps, while complaining about socialism.   

[CodysGameRoom | 2,009]

We need better gun control. I'm sick of seeing our kiddos, our elderly, our citizens, gunned down. This country has a disease and we've tried useless thoughts and useless prayers, voting sure isn't helping. It's time for real change, or these people need to admit the fact that they care more about their killing tools than they do the children of our country. 

[MrWunderful | 2,927]

2 hours ago, CodysGameRoom said:

We need better gun control. I'm sick of seeing our kiddos, our elderly, our citizens, gunned down. This country has a disease and we've tried useless thoughts and useless prayers, voting sure isn't helping. It's time for real change, or these people need to admit the fact that they care more about their killing tools than they do the children of our country. 

Crazy how all the good guys with guns were worthless. I thought having police on site was supposed to stop this?
 

The good news is, three politicians from the failed state of texas are speaking at an NRA convention coming up. So that should make everything better. 

[RegularGuyGamer | 2,022]

5 hours ago, CodysGameRoom said:

We need better gun control. I'm sick of seeing our kiddos, our elderly, our citizens, gunned down. This country has a disease and we've tried useless thoughts and useless prayers, voting sure isn't helping. It's time for real change, or these people need to admit the fact that they care more about their killing tools than they do the children of our country. 

It's easy to say but the ship has sailed. A gun on the street costs half of an ounce of weed. Gun control is just a political talking point to fire up voters for turn out. 

We need better sociopath and psychopath management. I understand w.o a gun, less would be dead but that young man was going to be wearing somebody's skin eventually. 

[MrWunderful | 2,927]

3 hours ago, RegularGuyGamer said:

It's easy to say but the ship has sailed. A gun on the street costs half of an ounce of weed. Gun control is just a political talking point to fire up voters for turn out. 

We need better sociopath and psychopath management. I understand w.o a gun, less would be dead but that young man was going to be wearing somebody's skin eventually. 

The only problem is the shooter didnt display any warning signs and had no previous record. So how do you stop that ahead of time? Or a highly intelligent sociopath that knows how to operate un-noticed?

For me, making it way more difficult to get a gun, and limiting magazine size would have gone a long way. Also, limit civilians buying body armor. This dude literally overpowered two cops on the way in due to more firepower.  Would this psycho be wearing someone skin someday? Maybe. As terrible as it sounds, I would sacrifice one person to save 21 dead children. 
 

Wait until the elementary schools in Texas are worse than prisons in the name of “freedom”. 
 

heres a list of GOP politicians that take the most money from the NRA on the backs of dead children if you are interested:

https://www.axios.com/2022/05/25/ted-cruz-lawmakers-money-gun-rights-groups

 

Thoughts and prayers to their accountants for having to bury paperwork over dark money unlimited political spending

[O.G. CIB | 415]

Time to raise the age to buy firearms to 21 as a first step. There isn’t a perfect solution but I’m still miffed that you can buy a gun younger than you can drink. 

Edited May 26, 2022 by Mr. CIB

[Link | 2,819]

13 hours ago, MrWunderful said:

Wait until the elementary schools in Texas are worse than prisons in the name of “freedom”. 

You laugh, but it's actually very simple. The real problem is schools just have too many doors. And also not enough guns. Have one door into and out of the school and have armed police officers at that door. They could have taken that psychopath out. And we’d have 19 children and two teachers still alive. 

[Link | 2,819]

There probably shouldn't be any windows, either. Safety first.

Liberty and security!

[Brickman | 4,109]

2 minutes ago, Link said:

You laugh, but it's actually very simple. The real problem is schools just have too many doors. And also not enough guns. Have one door into and out of the school and have armed police officers at that door. They could have taken that psychopath out. And we’d have 19 children and two teachers still alive. 

When I visited the US in the early 2000’s I visited a high school there (which ironically was in Texas) and it already looked like a prison compared to schools here.

There were bars across the windows and barely any windows, fences everywhere and just had a real prison feel. This wasn’t in a rough neighbourhood either, just a middle class average suburb. It was pretty sad to see.

I don’t understand why the gun laws are so lenient in the US or why people even want to own a gun (unless they’re on a farm). Why does an average citizen need a gun anyway? That’s what I can never understand about these shootings.

Take away easy access to guns and all of a sudden violence would drop dramatically.

If people want to go hunting then just hire a gun for the day.

[O.G. CIB | 415]

39 minutes ago, Link said:

 Have one door into and out of the school and have armed police officers at that door. 

This isn't practical due to life safety concerns. You have to have means of egress in case of a fire which is more likely. There is no perfect solution but thru discussion I am sure thee can be a middle ground to keep children safe. 

[CodysGameRoom | 2,009]

37 minutes ago, Mr. CIB said:

I am sure thee can be a middle ground to keep children safe. 

Not in this country as long as it is as easy as it currently is to get a gun.

[Silent Hill | 276]

First thing that I'd like to see done is executing the shooter. Ideally by gunfire. 

Secondly, the process of acquiring a gun should be more stringent, including mental health screenings among whatever else could help prevent sick people from legally getting one. Perhaps limiting someone's initial purchase to one single handgun or hunting rifle and not allowing the purchase of another for X amount of years. I also feel like extended magazines and body armor are not necessary for a private citizen's ability to protect themselves/others. 

That said, there are far too many avenues to get guns illegally and even if larger magazines are banned for private use, multiple guns could still allow for a higher body count in these situations. Local police should have additional funds to place multiple officers at every school, every day, as I still generally believe in the notion that "good guys" with guns can prevent things like this. Anything to that may help deter these situations. 

 

 

[CodysGameRoom | 2,009]

1 hour ago, Silent Hill said:

First thing that I'd like to see done is executing the shooter. Ideally by gunfire. 

You may not be aware, but this already occurred - "Abbott confirmed that police fatally shot Ramos at the scene."

1 hour ago, Silent Hill said:

Secondly, the process of acquiring a gun should be more stringent, including mental health screenings among whatever else could help prevent sick people from legally getting one. Perhaps limiting someone's initial purchase to one single handgun or hunting rifle and not allowing the purchase of another for X amount of years. I also feel like extended magazines and body armor are not necessary for a private citizen's ability to protect themselves/others. 

Agreed. Might be a first  

1 hour ago, Silent Hill said:

Local police should have additional funds to place multiple officers at every school, every day, as I still generally believe in the notion that "good guys" with guns can prevent things like this.

I get your sentiment but that didn't happen in this case. There was already an officer at the school who failed to stop the person from entering. You gonna have mutliple cops at each door? It won't happen and it's not feasible. 

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/25/texas-elementary-school-shooting-uvalde/

The gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde on Tuesday was confronted by a law enforcement officer before he entered the elementary school that became the site of his massacre, authorities said Wednesday.

The obvious solution in this case would have been to deny this person the ability to buy the two (that's another story) guns that they bought on their 18th birthday. At some point we have to look at what is happening and realize that the 2nd amendment no longer operates as intended and major changes need to be made. The time is now, not yesterday, not tomorrow. The people who we are voting into power to make these changes need to fucking make them.

[Californication | 1,490]

21 hours ago, RegularGuyGamer said:

It's easy to say but the ship has sailed. A gun on the street costs half of an ounce of weed. Gun control is just a political talking point to fire up voters for turn out. 

We need better sociopath and psychopath management. I understand w.o a gun, less would be dead but that young man was going to be wearing somebody's skin eventually. 

If you put an average person in a prolonged shity situation, average people can have a lapse of judgment that results in an atrocity. Also, a lot of these shooters are also young, and younger peoples heads tend to still a bit wonky and result in more extreme behavior.

The issue is that we are the only country whose politicians have  no will to limit access to guns. If America is the greatest at anything, it is being business friendly and that includes trading lives for the profits of gun manufacturers.

We know the solution because Australia did it and it worked.

Edited May 26, 2022 by Californication

[CodysGameRoom | 2,009]

1 hour ago, Californication said:

We know the solution because Australia did it and it worked.

Along with a good handful of other countries as well. 

And the shooter in this case did not have any mental health history. So how can getting better at mental health (in this case at least) be the answer when the person showed no signs of mental illness? Constant mental wellness checks for every single citizen?

The answer is much easier, greatly restrict the ability to obtain a gun. Yes criminals will still get them, yes shootings will still occur, but they will be drastically reduced, as proven by many other countries leading the way in this regard.

[CodysGameRoom | 2,009]

I mean guns are banned at the NRA convention this weekend. Because that’s the only way to prevent a shooting!! 

[RegularGuyGamer | 2,022]

6 hours ago, Californication said:

you put an average person in a prolonged shity situation, average people can have a lapse of judgment that results in an atrocity. Also, a lot of these shooters are also young, and younger peoples heads tend to still a bit wonky and result in more extreme behavior.

No way. Locking yourself in a room and murdering children isnt a lapse of judgement. My man cut his face with a knife like the joker. He's a fuckin serial killer. Extreme behavior isn't executing 10 year olds. Extreme behavior is fighting your step dad bc the burgers and over done. 

Imagine locking yourself in a 4th grade classroom and executing 10 year olds. If you think for a second this is anything but pure psychopathic behavior I honestly can't even relate, not even a little. If all he had was a knife he would've been wearing somebody's skin. He was an absolute pyschopath that needed institutionalize 5 years ago. 

[Californication | 1,490]

23 minutes ago, RegularGuyGamer said:

No way. Locking yourself in a room and murdering children isnt a lapse of judgement. My man cut his face with a knife like the joker. He's a fuckin serial killer. Extreme behavior isn't executing 10 year olds. Extreme behavior is fighting your step dad bc the burgers and over done. 

Imagine locking yourself in a 4th grade classroom and executing 10 year olds. If you think for a second this is anything but pure psychopathic behavior I honestly can't even relate, not even a little. If all he had was a knife he would've been wearing somebody's skin. He was an absolute pyschopath that needed institutionalize 5 years ago. 

Your focusing on one instance. There are mass shootings what everyday?

And again there is no clear path to mental Healthcare so it is a useless statement since Republicans are unwilling to sign onto legislation and the democratic leadership is against it. 

(Catching up on the news for the day and my news sources are making the same points. Wish more other people could recognize the difference between good and bad news sources.)

[RegularGuyGamer | 2,022]

On 5/25/2022 at 6:17 PM, MrWunderful said:

For me, making it way more difficult to get a gun, and limiting magazine size would have gone a long way

Limiting mag size I'm pretty sure is done in NY and that psychopath in the NY subway had extended clips for his Glock and smoke grenades. These people are absolute madmen and need to be identified and taken off the streets. 

And the Texas shooter had enough red flags. Shooting random ppl out his car w a bb gun, filleting his face w a knife, telling people he wanted to join the military just to kill people, going on IG living fighting his mom in front of the cops. Literally everyone who has came forth about him said he was a crazy person.

We need a stronger community. As someone who works w teens, so much is pushed under the rug and shrugged off as teens just being teen when they got real problems. These teens that went through this COVID fiasco are completely fucked. The wait to talk to our school psychologist is 2 months. These kids need adults now.

The problem is looking at the federal govt for the solution. The solution is men going into the community, starting mentorships, contributing to their local scho districts events and where they're short staffed. It's easy to bitch about it on the internet or ask daddy govt to do something about it but the reality is we need men who have their shit together to help this younger generation.

[Californication | 1,490]

20 minutes ago, RegularGuyGamer said:

Limiting mag size I'm pretty sure is done in NY and that psychopath in the NY subway had extended clips for his Glock and smoke grenades. These people are absolute madmen and need to be identified and taken off the streets. 

And the Texas shooter had enough red flags. Shooting random ppl out his car w a bb gun, filleting his face w a knife, telling people he wanted to join the military just to kill people, going on IG living fighting his mom in front of the cops. Literally everyone who has came forth about him said he was a crazy person.

We need a stronger community. As someone who works w teens, so much is pushed under the rug and shrugged off as teens just being teen when they got real problems. These teens that went through this COVID fiasco are completely fucked. The wait to talk to our school psychologist is 2 months. These kids need adults now.

The problem is looking at the federal govt for the solution. The solution is men going into the community, starting mentorships, contributing to their local scho districts events and where they're short staffed. It's easy to bitch about it on the internet or ask daddy govt to do something about it but the reality is we need men who have their shit together to help this younger generation.

We need a stronger community? That sounds like you're blaming everyday people for a bad system.

We need men to help the younger generation? That is the same excuse Republicans give for blacks not having the same life outcomes as whites. Too funny. 

It's amazing how the conservative view is always do nothing.

We should also not obfuscate the fact that at least 95% of these shootings are done by right wing terrorists.

Edited May 26, 2022 by Californication

[MrWunderful | 2,927]

17 minutes ago, RegularGuyGamer said:

Limiting mag size I'm pretty sure is done in NY and that psychopath in the NY subway had extended clips for his Glock and smoke grenades. These people are absolute madmen and need to be identified and taken off the streets. 

And the Texas shooter had enough red flags. Shooting random ppl out his car w a bb gun, filleting his face w a knife, telling people he wanted to join the military just to kill people, going on IG living fighting his mom in front of the cops. Literally everyone who has came forth about him said he was a crazy person.

We need a stronger community. As someone who works w teens, so much is pushed under the rug and shrugged off as teens just being teen when they got real problems. These teens that went through this COVID fiasco are completely fucked. The wait to talk to our school psychologist is 2 months. These kids need adults now.

The problem is looking at the federal govt for the solution. The solution is men going into the community, starting mentorships, contributing to their local scho districts events and where they're short staffed. It's easy to bitch about it on the internet or ask daddy govt to do something about it but the reality is we need men who have their shit together to help this younger generation.

Yeah because ext. mags can be bought in other states, and easily brought undetected across state line. Probably not even an age limit in other other states to purchase magazines. Other than a 10 round limit, I don’t think there’s any other restrictions buying magazines even in California. 
 

I 100% hundred percent agree with you about it starting at the community level, the only problem is that doesn’t work 100% of the time. It’s about lowering the probability, as a math teacher you know that. There is a huge difference between a bolt action five round rifle, versus a easily modified full auto silenced 30 round assault rifle.  Take away the easy, low hanging fruit from the folks that do slip through the cracks. 
 

If that psycho had to reload after every 5 instead of 30 rounds MAYBE the “good guys with guns” would have been more effective. 

[RegularGuyGamer | 2,022]

6 minutes ago, Californication said:

We need a stronger community? That sounds like you're blaming everyday people for a bad system.

We need men to help the younger generation? That is the same excuse Republicans give for blacks not having the same life outcomes as whites. Too funny. 

It's amazing how the conservative view is always do nothing.

Are you high right now? There is a program in my city called Boys to Men that has men mentor troubles youths who have helped hundreds of kids avoid a life of crime and destitute. And shocker, they're almost all black. I personally work with troubled youths kn my school and about half are black. And all the people I work with a raging liberals. 

Not you, bc I don't know you, but people like you are all the same. No boots on the ground just talk shit and wait for daddy govt to do something for you. Meanwhile, largely apolitical people don't care about all the legislation, they're interested in preventing people from becoming mother fucking serial killers.

But let's wait for Congress to pass a law to prevent serial killers. Good idea. Let's see how that works while we smoke more joints and keyboard warrior twitter and Reddit. 

[RegularGuyGamer | 2,022]

1 minute ago, MrWunderful said:

that psycho had to reload after every 5 instead of 30 rounds MAYBE the “good guys with guns” would have been more effective. 

I agree w this too honestly. There's a way to minimize the damage but we got a societal problems with these killers right now. Especially 18 and unders. 

[Californication | 1,490]

3 minutes ago, RegularGuyGamer said:

Are you high right now? There is a program in my city called Boys to Men that has men mentor troubles youths who have helped hundreds of kids avoid a life of crime and destitute. And shocker, they're almost all black. I personally work with troubled youths kn my school and about half are black. And all the people I work with a raging liberals. 

Not you, bc I don't know you, but people like you are all the same. No boots on the ground just talk shit and wait for daddy govt to do something for you. Meanwhile, largely apolitical people don't care about all the legislation, they're interested in preventing people from becoming mother fucking serial killers.

But let's wait for Congress to pass a law to prevent serial killers. Good idea. Let's see how that works while we smoke more joints and keyboard warrior twitter and Reddit. 

That's good that your mentoring blacks. Too bad most of these shooters are by white, right wing terrorists. 

Legislation makes the most sense since the Republican party is not going to stop helping transition white youth to terrorism.

Edited May 27, 2022 by Californication

[Tulpa | 3,583]

41 minutes ago, RegularGuyGamer said:

but the reality is we need men who have their shit together to help this younger generation.

It's a good thought, but if that were going to happen, it would have happened by now.

We're what, twenty-three years removed from Columbine?

Has there been any progress since then? Not really.

This will pass in memory once Tiger King II or whatever hits Netflix and we'll just wait for the next one to occur.