Discussion: interesting

So, the first thing I think of when I hear there's been a mass shooting is "great, now the media will dig for any possible military connection, relate this to PTSD, and veterans will all be labelled as loonies who can't reintegrate into society." Interesting how our experiences shape our perspectives, isn't it?

I hear you on the 2nd amendment. I'm not happy with our gun laws. But I'm struggling to think of a good way for legislation to make a difference in these mass shootings. After all, outlawing abortions or making them harder to get doesn't mean there won't be any, just that they will be unregulated and more dangerous. Outlawing assault rifles probably doesn't eliminate massacres, just forces the perpetrators to be more creative in their choice of weapon. It is so much easier to plan an attack when rules just don't apply - any destructive force will do. Much harder to be the security forces that have to follow rules about engagement criteria, escalation of force, or even laws of war as they respond.

I'd like to see a movement towards more tolerance in American society. I think a lot of what we're seeing today in politics, the media, and violent crimes is rooted in hate and emphasizes our differences. But it's tough to bring people together without a more widespread movement - you can't legislate tolerance, either. It's sad that often it takes a tragedy to bring people together, and that we so quickly forget that sense of unity.

I'm sorry to hear about your stress fracture. It's hard to be patient to heal, especially at this time of year. Best wishes on your recovery and getting back out there!

I do think something needs to be done about the fact that pretty much anybody can get any sort of gun in this country. But I have no idea what sort of legislation would actually work. I also come from the side of thinking where I just don't understand why people need to have guns; I'm sure if I came from a different upbringing/society/geographic location I would see things differently, but it's hard to put on that hat to try and understand.

But I strongly believe what Tori is saying about how we need more tolerance. There is so much hate, so much injustice, so much anger, and there doesn't seem to be any way to bring people together or to get them to accept that IT'S OK that there are people out there who are very different from you. I do agree with the NRA that people kill people. The part they leave out is that it's people with guns killing people.

Sorry about your stress fracture. That sucks.

Some really good discussion on NPR about this today (drove from DC to NC, so heard a lot about it). Maybe some hope on both legislative and tolerance fronts?

I have been map drawing for the past 8 hours while listening technically non-stop to the filibuster. Gosh, I do hope it works. All some see is "oh, why are they debating the 2nd amendment"....

As a soon-to-be-20 year old, it's SUPER frustrating to see grown men complain about having a super duper old amendment changed for the better...
I really do hope that this is the year that congress stops thinking about themselves and money, and start thinking about the safety of the American people...

(Long shot, I know, but someone has to hope for it!)

We have to keep hoping and working for change.
Maybe ... eventually ... something will happen for the better.