Las Vegas shootings

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Kizmet, Oct 2, 2017.

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  1. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  2. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    Waking up to a lot of madness out here...glued to the news.
     
  3. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    Horrible, thoughts and prayers to family and friends of those affected.
     
  4. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    "Sunday's attack is the deadliest US mass shooting in modern history.
    So far in 2017, the watchdog group Gun Violence Archive has documented 273 mass shootings in the US.
    The group also recorded 11,621 gun-related deaths and 23,433 firearm-related injuries during that period."

    From here: Las Vegas shooter named as Stephen Paddock | USA News | Al Jazeera


    J.
     
  5. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Yeah, and I think there is a bill in congress that would make it easier to buy silencers. What the hell does a civilian need a silencer for?
     
  6. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member


    Cilia defense.

    Suppressor is a better name as silence won't be had.
     
  7. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    You got me on that one. :smile:
     
  8. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    I read that one of the persons shot was an only child! Man, I feel really bad for the parents.
     
  9. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    As a non-gun owner, the first thing that comes to my mind is that silencers can protect your hearing. I can't think of what else they would be useful for.

    ---

    It's a surreal feeling to, once again, wake up to the headline that the worst mass shooting in American history happened as I was sleeping. These events just keep on topping each other in scale.

    I was thinking today, and running some speculative calculations in my head. The 19 9/11 hijackers killed nearly 3k people, but at great expense of time and money and great risk of being caught. Let's say that there were 19 people firing down onto the Las Vegas concert crowd, from 19 different windows. Between the increased barrage of bullets and how much longer it would take the police to track down all 19 shooters, I think that such an attack could kill around as many as 9/11 did.

    You might wonder why I'd go through that thought exercise. It's morbid anticipation, really. The next large scale, coordinated terrorist attack against the US doesn't have to involve months of planning, explosives, warehouses of equipment or millions of dollars in expenses. Just the will of a group of people to act. Whether it's 20 guns or 20 Uhaul trucks, any group of shmucks can make life miserable for the rest of us.

    It's disheartening to think of how easy it is for a lunatic to commit mass murder. Even so, these events don't happen very often in general. The majority of people want peace and are happy letting other people be happy. We're not a hopeless species, even if sometimes it might feel that way.
     
  10. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    That's what decimon meant by "cilia defense."
    273 times in a year is pretty often, I'd say. Nearing the daily level. :shock:

    Shares of major arms-makers increased sharply after this incident. Analysts explain: Increased sales expected, as some gun buyers fear this incident might bring purchase restrictions, so they're stocking up now.

    The majority of people want guns. The President is happy letting them have guns with no new restrictions. Guns=votes, restrictions don't.

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 3, 2017
  11. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    It is daily - just about. Those 273 mass shootings were in 275 days of this year.

    So -mass shootings happen pretty much on a daily basis. "Don't happen very often in general?" Hmmm.

    J.
     
  12. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    There is a huge difference between the kind of mass shootings that are most prevalent and the event that happened in Las Vegas.

    Also, 2 in a million is twice as much as 1 in a million, yes, but it's only 1 in a million more. I propose that we don't become desensitized to violence, but we also don't succumb to fearful sensationalization. That's where hopelessness and inaction seep in and prevent resolve and resolution.
     
  13. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    There are different kinds? What are they? I'm unable to categorize mass shootings into types. Are you referring to some kind of rating system based on number of people killed/injured? That doesn't make any difference in type - just effectiveness rate.

    From Wiki: "The U.S. has more mass shootings than any other country. In one study, it has been estimated that 31% of public mass shootings occur in the U.S., although it has only 5% of the world's population."

    Definition(s) and world-wide stats here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_shooting

    Good idea. Trouble is, lots of both -all around us, daily. I propose that everyone be well-adjusted and free of mental conditions. Probably work about as well... :sad:

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 4, 2017
  14. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    A shooting is a shooting. A murder is a murder. And we're talking about what "kind" these are? Well, they're all gun murders. What more "kind" do you need to know?

    J.
     
  15. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Two truths standing out in your posts, Maniac:

    (1) "...any group of shmucks can make life miserable for the rest of us." Yes - or any individual schmuck, as well.
    (2) "It's disheartening to think of how easy it is for a lunatic to commit mass murder." Indeed - and seeing it is far worse, too.

    And it can happen where I live, too. I actually know a couple of people who have 50 or 60 guns -- all legal. Even under our Canadian system.

    J.
     
  16. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    My NRA shooting buddy Craig has a whole fuck load of weapons in his arsenal. He his little pistols, big pistols, a variety of long guns including assault rifles, and crates full of ammo. One arsenal takes up a whole bedroom, then has a 3,000 pound safe full of weapons in his garage! Holy shit!

    All I need is one gun, and that's my trusty 38 S&W FBI service revolver special. I don't know why people want assault rifles, it's not like you are going to hunting with them. I sometimes wonder if he is preparing for WW III or something. Chingos!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 4, 2017
  17. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    Is a drowning a drowning, Johann? Does having lifeguards on beaches prevent people from passing out in their bathtubs? Does an uptick in people drowning in bathtubs make you feel less safe when you go to the beach?

    Is a stabbing a stabbing, Johann? Does banning high school students from bringing scissors to class prevent prisoners from cutting each other up with makeshift shanks? Does an uptick in prison stabbings with makeshift shanks make you feel less safe sending your children to art class?

    Is a shooting a shooting, Johann? Does setting up a security system in your home prevent lone wolf lunatics from shooting up concerts from hotel windows? Does an uptick in lone wolves shooting up concerts from hotel windows make you feel more vulnerable to home invasion?

    Or gang activity?

    Or familicide?
     
  18. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    It's this kind of thinking that has led to absolutely nothing from being done. "If we can't solve the problem completely then there's no sense in doing anything." The vast majority of people are in favor of background checks and yet time after time legislators refuse to follow the will of their constituents. Even background checks might not have prevented this most recent massacre but it might stop another. Close the background check loopholes.
     
  19. jhp

    jhp Member

    My heart goes out to those hurt and the families & friends. It is always hard to lose someone unexpectedly, specially in such senseless way.

    The Lakȟóta would disagree that this was the largest shooting massacre on US soil.
     
  20. jhp

    jhp Member

    Source?

    Background checks would not have prevented this most recent massacre.

    Chicago.
     

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