What is the solution to mass shootings in the United States?

[Risky Thicket]

Most all of us have read, watched and listened to stories about the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. Media has flogged this story hard. They've interviewed countless people, many of them politicians.

One thing I have yet to hear any member of the media ask is "Why does this continue to happen?" One thing I have yet to hear any politico say is "First we must understand why these mass shootings continue to occur in the United States."

The press isn't asking why it continues to happen. The press is asking "What are you going to do about it?" As a result politicians attempt to answer to "What" question while either not having the balls or the brains to suggest that the question we must first address is "Why".

So here we go again doing the same thing and expecting different results. How is that going to work out? Same as always. We will blame guns, kids, poor security, mental health, etc. and the politicos will offer prayers and promises. Nothing much at all will change between now and the next mass shooting.

You cannot provide a successful solution to a problem you don't fully understand. WHY do mass shootings occur again and again in America?

I have no answers, but I would submit that there are a number of contributing factors. I don't know all the factors or how much each factor contributes to the overall problem. I have no idea if or to what degree each of the contributing factors affect each other. What I have heard or read is opinions.

What are the root causes? Why does it happen and continue to happen? We don't really know. Until we know why we are just going to continue to throw mud on the wall and hope some of it sticks.

 

[OldFatGuy]

No one has answers or solutions. All is speculation, with exception of the media sensationalizing each event, encouraging more by doing so.

"Hey mom, I got my name in the newspapers with a headline!"

If the media were sincere, they'd report these events, as another sad event off the front pages, no sensationalist headlines, and no names or photos of the perps. Let the evildoers fade into obscurity with the sands of time, and we'll witness a lessening of these actions. Not a cure, but less frequency.

 

[Glen Contrarian]

Most all of us have read, watched and listened to stories about the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. Media has flogged this story hard. They've interviewed countless people, many of them politicians.

One thing I have yet to hear any member of the media ask is "Why does this continue to happen?" One thing I have yet to hear any politico say is "First we must understand why these mass shootings continue to occur in the United States."

The press isn't asking why it continues to happen. The press is asking "What are you going to do about it?" As a result politicians attempt to answer to "What" question while either not having the balls or the brains to suggest that the question we must first address is "Why".

So here we go again doing the same thing and expecting different results. How is that going to work out? Same as always. We will blame guns, kids, poor security, mental health, etc. and the politicos will offer prayers and promises. Nothing much at all will change between now and the next mass shooting.

You cannot provide a successful solution to a problem you don't fully understand. WHY do mass shootings occur again and again in America?

I have no answers, but I would submit that there are a number of contributing factors. I don't know all the factors or how much each factor contributes to the overall problem. I have no idea if or to what degree each of the contributing factors affect each other. What I have heard or read is opinions.

What are the root causes? Why does it happen and continue to happen? We don't really know. Until we know why we are just going to continue to throw mud on the wall and hope some of it sticks.

The only solutions are those that Republican legislators will never consider - at least, not as long as they suck on the hind teat of the NRA and the gun manufacturers, and as long as they are controlled by right-wing pundits.

 

[ttwtt78640]

The only solutions are those that Republican legislators will never consider - at least, not as long as they suck on the hind teat of the NRA and the gun manufacturers, and as long as they are controlled by right-wing pundits.

Yep, every local problem (even if not yet confirmed) requires a federal solution - look it up.

 

[Grand Mal]

No one has answers or solutions. All is speculation, with exception of the media sensationalizing each event, encouraging more by doing so.

"Hey mom, I got my name in the newspapers with a headline!"

If the media were sincere, they'd report these events, as another sad event off the front pages, no sensationalist headlines, and no names or photos of the perps. Let the evildoers fade into obscurity with the sands of time, and we'll witness a lessening of these actions. Not a cure, but less frequency.

So, do nothing? Just turn down the volume and let the problem fade away?
Aw, jeez. Who knew it could be so simple.

 

[MSgt]

Nothing. Got to even care first.

 

[KevinKohler]

The why is going to vary. That's why it can't be answered. Not accurately, anyway.

Why guns, and not bombs, gas and matches, poison, etc? I have my theories. But the over all why? Thousands of possibilities. No reasonable ability to respond to bullies, fighting gets you expelled. Kids are on drugs from about ahe 5-6 on up, aren't taught to cope...with anything. Ever. News media that sensationalized it....its a way to go out with a bang, and make "them" sorry. Remember Ralphy from a Christmas story, fantasizing about soap blindness? He wanted them to be sorry. Well, pumping a bunch of kids full of lead is one way to do that. Maybe its violence on TV and video games. Coupled with drugs. And a trained inability to cope with disappointment.

 

[Mr Person]

The only solution I can see is never going to happen, would take potentially decades, and would be nigh-on impossible in terms of logistics (it would also be a solution to gun violence generally):

Repeal the 2nd Amd. Ban all firearms. Require all lawful owners to turn over guns. Investigate any who claim theirs were "stolen". Nationwide sweeps for unlawful guns (unlikely to have a constitutional method of doing so - martial law, perhaps). Massive increase in shipping security, particularly at our docks.



Well, obviously you can stop reading at the first sentence. The 2nd is going nowhere.

It would also take quite a long time to truly work since there are who knows how many illegally owned guns in the country. They can last quite a long time. So even if all lawful owners turned in all their guns, there would be a situation where only the bad guys have guns. They tend to hold onto them and only dispose of them after use in a crime.





The problem is that it really IS the guns. Our rates of gun violence compare to broken countries. Yet we're first world. The richest. All you have to do is plot gun ownership per capita against gun violence per capita.



It even translates to the state level:









It's generally an utterly moot issue, however, because nobody is going to be repealing the 2nd. Amd. Very little can actually be done now. Some things can be done, but if the subject is "how do we stop this", well, it's probably far too late.

I'd certainly support reasonable measures aimed at keeping guns out of dangerous hands, but we shouldn't kid ourselves. That'll make a dent maybe, but only a dent.

 

[Yes_Minister]

Well its clearly not more spending on mental health, that's not needed because Trump and the GOP are cutting funds for that:

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/trump-gop-huge-hypocrisy-mental-health-care-article-1.3822890

 

[Fiddytree]

Well its clearly not more spending on mental health, that's not needed because Trump and the GOP are cutting funds for that:

Trump and the GOP's huge hypocrisy on mental health care - NY Daily News

A primary moving vehicle for helping states with their mental health infrastructure is through mental health block grants and other grant opportunities.

Since the late 2000s, federal funding for grants has shrunk and organizations or states have to now engage in competitive grant application periods. You may, for instance, have 35-50 applications and only 5-7 get selected.

The Mental Health Block Grant started to be slashed this federal fiscal year. I'm uncertain if it was a flat rate cut across the country or varied, but I do know one state recieved over 30% cut over the FFY 2018 and were told the budget accordingly even if Congress disapproved of those changes.

So, yeah, when you add in gutting Essential Health Benefits, Medicaid work requirement gambles, the constant pursuit to gut Medicaid by several hundred million to 1.5 trillion and institute caps (thereby also destroying the concept of Medicaid waivers proudly created by Reagan in 1981), it's not good for mental health service delivery.

Sent from my LG-H910 using Tapatalk

 

[Cardinal]

Regulations making bullets $1600 each.

That said, I don't believe there's any such things as a...silver bullet (ha ha). $1600 bullets would simply be expected to eat into the number of firearm-related deaths per year. If that number didn't come down sufficiently then I would propose additional measures.

 

[chuckiechan]

Most all of us have read, watched and listened to stories about the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. Media has flogged this story hard. They've interviewed countless people, many of them politicians.

One thing I have yet to hear any member of the media ask is "Why does this continue to happen?" One thing I have yet to hear any politico say is "First we must understand why these mass shootings continue to occur in the United States."

The press isn't asking why it continues to happen. The press is asking "What are you going to do about it?" As a result politicians attempt to answer to "What" question while either not having the balls or the brains to suggest that the question we must first address is "Why".

So here we go again doing the same thing and expecting different results. How is that going to work out? Same as always. We will blame guns, kids, poor security, mental health, etc. and the politicos will offer prayers and promises. Nothing much at all will change between now and the next mass shooting.

You cannot provide a successful solution to a problem you don't fully understand. WHY do mass shootings occur again and again in America?

I have no answers, but I would submit that there are a number of contributing factors. I don't know all the factors or how much each factor contributes to the overall problem. I have no idea if or to what degree each of the contributing factors affect each other. What I have heard or read is opinions.

What are the root causes? Why does it happen and continue to happen? We don't really know. Until we know why we are just going to continue to throw mud on the wall and hope some of it sticks.

Too many “rat reports” are going up the chain to the FBI in DC where they get lostor sidelined . The local PD should have handled this nutcase locally instead of a big fat assed breauracy a thousand miles away that has absolutely no sense of emergency.

He was no stranger to the FBI and they didn’t do ****. As usual.

 

[Risky Thicket]

I am a victim of a wonky router. A replacement is being shipped.

I did input the poll but my computer sputtered and farted and timed out my poll before it could be posted.

If a Mod would/could add my poll below I would appreciate it.

---

What are the factors causing mass shootings in schools?

1. Gun Control

2. Access to mental health

3. Coordination of perceived warnings

4. Parenting

5. Pharmaceuticals

6. Culture of violence

7. Graphic media & gaming

8. Bullying

9. All of the above

10. Other

(Settings: Survery no expiration; public response; multiple choice)

 

[Risky Thicket]

Too many “rat reports” are going up the chain to the FBI in DC where they get lostor sidelined . The local PD should have handled this nutcase locally instead of a big fat assed breauracy a thousand miles away that has absolutely no sense of emergency.

He was no stranger to the FBI and they didn’t do ****. As usual.

As usual? Compared to what? Trot your sources out for us.

 

[Nilly]

Most all of us have read, watched and listened to stories about the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. Media has flogged this story hard. They've interviewed countless people, many of them politicians.

One thing I have yet to hear any member of the media ask is "Why does this continue to happen?" One thing I have yet to hear any politico say is "First we must understand why these mass shootings continue to occur in the United States."

The press isn't asking why it continues to happen. The press is asking "What are you going to do about it?" As a result politicians attempt to answer to "What" question while either not having the balls or the brains to suggest that the question we must first address is "Why".

So here we go again doing the same thing and expecting different results. How is that going to work out? Same as always. We will blame guns, kids, poor security, mental health, etc. and the politicos will offer prayers and promises. Nothing much at all will change between now and the next mass shooting.

You cannot provide a successful solution to a problem you don't fully understand. WHY do mass shootings occur again and again in America?

I have no answers, but I would submit that there are a number of contributing factors. I don't know all the factors or how much each factor contributes to the overall problem. I have no idea if or to what degree each of the contributing factors affect each other. What I have heard or read is opinions.

What are the root causes? Why does it happen and continue to happen? We don't really know. Until we know why we are just going to continue to throw mud on the wall and hope some of it sticks.

Other countries do not have mass shootings like we do. It stands to note then, that they do something we don't. I don't think you can fully deconstruct the 'why'. People do things for different reasons.

Access to prevantitive healthcare and a frank discussion about gun laws would be good places to start.

No one has answers or solutions. All is speculation, with exception of the media sensationalizing each event, encouraging more by doing so.

"Hey mom, I got my name in the newspapers with a headline!"

If the media were sincere, they'd report these events, as another sad event off the front pages, no sensationalist headlines, and no names or photos of the perps. Let the evildoers fade into obscurity with the sands of time, and we'll witness a lessening of these actions. Not a cure, but less frequency.

Then why does no other country have mass shootings (or any shootings) on the level we do. They seem to 'know'.

 

[Rogue Valley]

With the gun-rights protections of the 2nd Amendment and the donor/political/lobby power of the NRA, there probably is no viable solution beyond a Fortress America mentality.

 

[Nilly]

National Rifle Association calls for ban on 'schools'


School shootings can't happen if you ban schools.

 

[apdst]

The death penalty, more concealed carriers, better security, more people with situational awareness.

 

[jamesrage]

What are the root causes? Why does it happen and continue to happen? We don't really know. Until we know why we are just going to continue to throw mud on the wall and hope some of it sticks.

Most of these mass murderers in these high profile mass shootings are suicidal social outcast losers who want their 15 minutes of fame. The media in their drive to try to undermine the 2nd amendment have turned these monsters into celebrities. When one of these mass murders happens the media is quick to do the following for weeks at a time-

- give us the ********er's name
- show us a picture of that ********er
- tell us his hobbies
- tell us the gist of a suicide note if there is one
- tell us where he got his guns
- tell us how much ammo he has
- tell us how many guns he has
- interview people to talk about him
- tell us his beliefs if they think it will hurt their political opponents.
- give a soap box to any piece of **** who wants to use this horrible tragedy to **** all over the second amendment.


For decades we have had access to magazine fed semiautomatic firearms and an occasional mass shooting happened every now and then. And back then firearms were way less restricted. But yet we have more mass shootings now than we did back then. The only change seems to be the way the media does tragedies like this.

Are the media complicit in mass shootings?
Media outlets have long taken the position that they simply report the news. But experts who study mass violence say they are also part of the story, because the intense coverage that such tragedies receive can inspire new shooters.

The perpetrators of these attacks are often disillusioned young men, and they inhabit the same publicity-obsessed culture as everybody else. Killing offers the prospect of becoming a household name.

"This seems like a way to achieve some recognition and respect they lack in their daily lives," said Dewey Cornell, a forensic clinical psychologist at the University of Virginia.

"We live in a world where people are really conscious of their social standing and audience," he said.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mass-shootings-are-contagious/



It seems that the solution for cutting down on these tragedies is for the media to quit giving these mass murderers their 15 minutes of fame.

 

[apdst]

With the gun-rights protections of the 2nd Amendment and the donor/political/lobby power of the NRA, there probably is no viable solution beyond a Fortress America mentality.

Switzerland has looser gun laws than The United States. They don't have this problem. Obviously, gun ownership isn't the issue.

 

[OldFatGuy]

So, do nothing? Just turn down the volume and let the problem fade away?
Aw, jeez. Who knew it could be so simple.

Do you really have anything better to offer? Show me your solution.

I readily admitted and continue to admit no one has a solution, but holding the media responsible for its roles encouraging imitators could tone things down. Out of sight, out of mind. This is not a solution, it is a hope for a lessening of the damage.

This nation was founded in violence. In 1777, a bunch of land speculators seeking to heat up the Indian Wars, so they could grab the claims of the frontiersmen who had already staked their claims in the Ohio Valley territory, murdered 150 Moravian Indians. Not a single gun was used. The Moravians, converted to Christianity were working small farms and were unarmed. They were murdered as they slept with knives, tomahawks, scalped, and burned in their cabins by greedy white men. The Shawnee and Cherokee, sworn enemies, united under Tecumseh, already burnt by false treaties with the Shawanese (their name for Americans), incensed by these murders and went to war, a war they could not win, to protect their lands. Greedy land speculators won, against the Indians, and against the frontiersmen. This is why Daniel Boone left Kentucky. He couldn't abide the opening of the Ohio Valley, including Kentucky, with the greed and lack of morality that came with it.

Tell me, how will you end violence in America.

People kill people because they enjoy killing people.

Of course, you whiney snide snarkishness is a solution. Right?

 

[OldFatGuy]

Then why does no other country have mass shootings (or any shootings) on the level we do. They seem to 'know'.

Other countries do not enjoy Freedom of the Press as we do. In most countries, reporting mass killings, or murders, on front pages is a violation of law.

I certainly doubt this is the only reason, or even an important reason, but it looks like it makes a difference. When that school shooting went down in Sweden, the local media had to wait 3 days before reporting, and then were refused headline publication of the shooting. Censors claimed they didn't want to panic the public, and they didn't want the shooter glorified by those with a similar attitude. Many Swedes learned about the shooting from the BBC, Danish and German media.

Sweden has the largest ration of hunters in Europe. Gun ownership is common. Nearby Finland, like Israel, requires every citizen to own a rifle and train for combat. It has the lowest violent crime ratio in Europe.

I believe the perpetrators of mass killings are committing suicide, knowingly. Until we understand the underlying causes of that propensity, we will have no answers.

Police responded to this boy's home 39 times during 7 years because of his violent behavior, and no one, NO ONE saw this coming?

All thoughts that come to mind. I'm no smarter than anyone else, and I don't have the answers. Apparently, neither does anyone else.

 

[Risky Thicket]

Most of these mass murderers in these high profile mass shootings are suicidal social outcast losers who want their 15 minutes of fame. The media in their drive to try to undermine the 2nd amendment have turned these monsters into celebrities. When one of these mass murders happens the media is quick to do the following for weeks at a time-

- give us the ********er's name
- show us a picture of that ********er
- tell us his hobbies
- tell us the gist of a suicide note if there is one
- tell us where he got his guns
- tell us how much ammo he has
- tell us how many guns he has
- interview people to talk about him
- tell us his beliefs if they think it will hurt their political opponents.
- give a soap box to any piece of **** who wants to use this horrible tragedy to **** all over the second amendment.


For decades we have had access to magazine fed semiautomatic firearms and an occasional mass shooting happened every now and then. And back then firearms were way less restricted. But yet we have more mass shootings now than we did back then. The only change seems to be the way the media does tragedies like this.

Are the media complicit in mass shootings?
Media outlets have long taken the position that they simply report the news. But experts who study mass violence say they are also part of the story, because the intense coverage that such tragedies receive can inspire new shooters.

Makes sense to me. Sounds as if some studies have been conducted. Are they definitive? I don't know. Do they hold the answer? I don't know that either.

The perpetrators of these attacks are often disillusioned young men, and they inhabit the same publicity-obsessed culture as everybody else. Killing offers the prospect of becoming a household name.

"This seems like a way to achieve some recognition and respect they lack in their daily lives," said Dewey Cornell, a forensic clinical psychologist at the University of Virginia.

"We live in a world where people are really conscious of their social standing and audience," he said.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mass-shootings-are-contagious/



It seems that the solution for cutting down on these tragedies is for the media to quit giving these mass murderers their 15 minutes of fame.

You are saying that all/most of mass shooters are suicidal and for that reason they commit mass murder. If that is true then most suicidal people are prone to commit mass shootings. I can't tell you that isn't true but, I will tell you I have never read where research has determined it to be true. Would you agree that in depth unbiased, non-political research needs to be conducted to prove or disprove that most mass shooters are suicidal?

Off the top of my head I would tell you that it doesn't seem the shooter 2 days ago was that suicidal. He tried to evade and escape. He put up no resistance when caught. The shooter in LV appears to have planned his escape. Sounds as if he wasn't that suicidal though he did eventually commit suicide. Even then what makes these people suicidal? Might that also be a factor? Do we know? I don't. I'd like to know.

Do most people who are bullied and/or isolated and depressed kill people? I don't think they do. Why don't they? Is there a clue in there that might lead us to other factors?

 

[JC Callender]

Law enforcement, as well as society in general, has to take warning signs seriously. This kid would greet people he met by telling them he was going to be a school shooter. The police have been to his house dozens of times. He has a history of harming animals. What do you have to do to be taken seriously, run a tv ad telling your community you're going to shoot up a school?

 

[Glen Contrarian]

Yep, every local problem (even if not yet confirmed) requires a federal solution - look it up.

Ah. Mass shootings are only a local problem and not a national problem?