36Kviews
30 Reactions From Notable Folks To The Recent Tragedy In Uvalde That Put Things Into Perspective
The gun laws in the US have become a little bit of a joke all around the world, because of how they actually do the opposite of what laws are there for - to ensure everyone’s safety. But we all realize that it is not actually funny when people are losing their lives, especially knowing how many of those deaths could have been prevented.
There are people who take every chance they can to speak up about the gun policies in the US, but their voices are often lost in the flow of information and other events happening in the world and only can be heard clearly when a tragedy shakes society.
The loud discussions about gun laws unfolding right now are unfortunately a result of a mass shooting that took place on May 24 in Uvalde, Texas at an elementary school with 19 kids and 2 teachers killed. Celebrities and famous politicians are using their platforms to spread awareness of this problem in the US and are offering solutions to end it.
This post may include affiliate links.
It is tragic, heartbreaking, and flat-out disgusting when guns are the leading cause of death for youth and adolescents in the United States. I feel like this country has grown so numb to the endless cycle of shooting that plague the newspapers and news sites. Twenty-seven, I repeat twenty-seven school shooting have happened in the U.S. this year. And there have already been 213 mass shootings since the 2022. Shouldn't that terrify people and send up massive warning bells? This country needs to taken action because sadly thoughts and prayers are not going to bring innocent lives back.
The shooting took place at Robb Elementary school in the small city of Uvalde in Texas, which is located about 80 miles west of San Antonio. As of now, 21 deaths were confirmed.
The police have already found out who the shooter was and it was actually a local high school student, Salvador Ramos. He had just turned 18 and for his birthday, he legally bought two assault rifles and scores of ammo. Three days before the shooting, he posted a photo of his purchase in his Instagram stories.
On Tuesday, Salvador Ramos shot his grandmother, who was taken to the hospital and was in serious condition. Then the shooter crashed his car into a ditch near the school and went into the building through the back door.
He chose a classroom and barricaded himself in one of them that had an adjoining classroom as well. The high schooler started what he came there for and just started shooting at everyone. All of those 19 children and 2 teachers that were killed were in that classroom the shooter was in and the adjoining one. When the police arrived, they managed to open the door and liquidate the shooter.
Because we have three things working against us...Lack of mental health care because the government and insurance companies don't want to pay for it....lack of balls on the politicians that are afraid taking someone's rights away to own an AK-47 will get them booted out of office...and the 2nd Amendment Cult that think that taking away access to AK-47's and other similar type guns means all of their freedoms will be taken away...usually the same idiots that thought wearing a mask during Covid was a worldwide conspiracy to take away people's rights.
Load More Replies...
Why? Because you are president of a corrupt, useless government. More innocent people and children will be gunned down, more "thoughts and prayers" will be mumbled and nothing will be done. Nothing.
If only the government was the problem it would be a lot simpler. The issue is a not insignificant portion of the population is so anti gun control they threaten the sane people trying to bring about change.
Load More Replies... 
Rest of the World - well fix your gun laws then. USA - it's not about guns it's about mental health care Rest of the World - well try universal healthcare like the rest of us then USA - that's Communism Rest of the World - you know what, f**k it, just keep giving thoughts and prayers then, I'm sure that will work just as well as it has all the other hundreds of times.
joe biden is doing the right thing by trying to restrict gun use in america. bravo
Actually, no. Not without the support of the Senate and Congress. Our political system is so divided that we can't even get agreement on an infrastructure bill, when our infrastructure is crumbling to the point of threatening national security. There's an "us against them" mentality that's allowing the rich to get richer, the middle class to disappear and the poor to be homeless without living wages. Nothing will change until we get rid of the filibuster, gerrymandering and lobbyists. They've got us fighting amongst ourselves, which prevents us from uniting for real change that benefits the average citizen.
Load More Replies...
You and your cronies are all corrupt assholes!!! Was this on a teleprompter for you to write? I have zero respect for you and your idiot sidekick!!!!!
If only this guy knew someone in a position of political power to get things changed.
Can we send this entire discussion to be read before the Senate? So often, we have stuffed shirt, well bribed windbags doing the talking. The voices of the people need to ring out! We MUST put an end to this entirely avoidable slaughter!
That would be a great idea, except our Senate is taking a long weekend off. Yeah. Instead of getting together to do their f*****g job in the wake of a horrific tragedy, they decided "nah, let's just have a nice, long weekend". Worthless c***s.
Load More Replies...
Our back bone IS NOT in the repub Senate. Too bad this had to happen after the elections.
It is awful that these things are still happening, and I'm glad to see Joe Biden planning on doing something
Biden isn't going to do a damn thing. Neither will the House or Senate. Hell, the Senate just announced they're taking a long weekend off.
Load More Replies...
thank you Mr. Biden, you are the president, please find the backbone.
I dont understand why God is mentioned in a gun/human issue. But thats just me.
People just say “what in gods name” as an expression. Whether they believe in him or not
Load More Replies...
Sitting back to watch nothing be done again!! USA is crazy - give your heads a wobble!!
Um... the wild West didn't have cowboy heroes outside literature. It made a good story to sell. In reality, it was a violent, vicious, horrible time, and cowboys were minor players compared to hired psychos like Billy the Kid, or farmers who'd gun down whole villages of Natives, violating treaties, etc. So the problem is that people believed the story and some of them think that fear is the best way to rule a nation. See: Russia; China; North Korea, as well as US.
Load More Replies...
Salvador Ramos had no problems accessing the guns, and quite powerful ones too. He just went to a federally authorized dealer in the Uvalde area and legally paid for them as if he was buying candy.
The right to have a gun is mentioned in the infamous Second Amendment to the United States Constitution which states "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Technically not true. DJT repealed an Obama era law that made it harder for people with mental illness to get guns. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/president-trump-made-it-easier-mentally-ill-get-guns-when-n1039301
And Americans like to take advantage of this right. That is why there are 120 guns per 100 Americans, and about 44 percent of US adults have a gun in their house. Gun production jumped 60 percent in the period between January 2020 and January 2021. Also, the FBI announced that in March 2021, they conducted the most background checks concerning guns.
Many people see owning a gun as a manifestation of the freedom their country provides them, however, time and time again it has proven itself to be very harmful.
And this is what sickens me - the hope that maybe this kind of horrific tragedy would mean enough to force a change for the better. When it happened THE FIRST TIME. But it didn't, and it just keeps happening over and over. And nothing changes.
The gun issue in the US is long-standing. In the years between 1970 and 2020, there have been 2,053 school shootings, and this year alone, 288 of them have been recorded. The US has the most school shootings in the world and they are in the lead with a big difference from the country with the second highest number of shootings, which is Mexico, with 8 so far this year.
What is even more concerning is that this wasn’t the first big school shooting with many fatal victims. In fact, the one in Uvalde is the second biggest elementary school shooting in the US, in the past 10 years, that is.
In 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed 26 people when he came to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The incident raised the question of gun control then, but in all those years, nothing has changed and it was just a matter of time until a new tragedy occurred.
We hire our lawmakers with our votes. Did you / will you vote this year? Where does your chosen senator and representative stand on gun control? Find out! Fire a legislator who is not working for YOUR interests, and elect their competition. Write letters! Let your legislators know what's important to you. We elect them to make laws, not to create a career in the media spotlight by mouthing pithy, meaningless sound bites. Vote the opposers and the obstructionists out of office.
Why do politicians not get it? They are so intent on the wrong things. They focus on stopping marijuana, when alcohol takes over 80 thousands lives a year. Like so many more, they don’t get it. Why can’t they get that they get that they are approving THE MURDER OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. America is the only one that doesn’t prohibit guns and it is ridiculous
Mass school shootings happen in other countries in the world as well, but the frequency that it happens in the US is unmatched. So there is clearly something that the rest of the world is doing right that is not done in one of the most developed countries in the world.
So the politicians in the Senate are once again raising the question of gun control laws, using this shooting as evidence that the current ones are not working. Hopefully, the pressure from not only society but famous people who have influence will help to move towards the right direction.
Where are kids safe? In almost any other country, where this madness doesn't happen.
Freedom is nothing compared to the lives that were sacrificed for it. Now that those people have come and gone, you create another unliveable country, exactly why America got their freedom in the first place
What's even worse is she missed out the one at the church in between last week's supermarket shooting and this week's school shooting. It didn't have as high a body count but only because the congregations rushed the guy and the preacher hit him over the head with a chair. One of the people rushing him died but it gave the others the chance to take him down. Otherwise there would have been a double figure death toll there too.
Sorry is a word. Sorry will never be enough for the crimes and horrors humankind have committed. We will have to pay for every single thing that we have done to the earth and each other
They don’t need hearts. They need change. Riot. Tell the bitches that were supposed to “represent” you that we are not gonna stop and watch as countless others get killed. Take a stand. They will not get away with this
The shooter didn't use "evil" to kill those kids, he used a GUN. We don't need "thoughts and prayers", if those worked we'd live in a land of golden streets and unicorns farting rainbows! We need an honest government. We need politicians that can't be bought. We need citizens to pull their heads out of their asses and stop voting for nutjobs. We need to get rid of the goddamn guns.
In times like this, when people OF POWER, people who ARE ROLE MODELS TO THE WORLD, can’t do s**t, it’s up to us to help each other. They can’t get it. And they never will. HELP EACH OTHER. Even if no-one else will
Enough is enough. We need political people that don't get over the mass murder of children in a week. We need stricter gun laws. We need safer schools. We won't take any more of your "Thoughts and Prayers" You know what we want? We want people who take the time to make schools safer. Instead people are making money selling guns. We need people to make sure you can't just walk in to a school, armed. We need change.
Note: this post originally had 34 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Let us take a moment that the ones who claim to be pro life are also pro guns.
It's already been established that they stop being pro-life once the baby exits the birth canal. That there's such an overlap in the Venn diagram of pro-life/pro-gun is as unsurprising as the fact that there's been another mass shooting at all at this point.
Load More Replies...
Seriously, how is the gun business making money more important than children's lives?
The USA is a backward and cowardly nation who do not want to answer that question.
Load More Replies...
America, where they get legislation against abortion to protect unborn babies, but not legislation against guns to protect children from being murdered in school. I guess the gun lobbyists are richer than the reproductive rights lobbyists.
It's simple really, just shoot the fetus out. /s
Load More Replies...
In 1997 and 1998, I remember that it seemed like every month there was another shooting at or near a school. Columbine was, for me, the final straw. I just said "I cannot raise my kids safely in this country." Packed up, came to Japan. Here we are, all these years later, and we have this horrible, horrible, horrible ENRAGING act of violence ... and the first thing I see people say is "Let's not make this political." No! F*** that! That's exactly what we should have done 25 years ago! You can't change people, but you CAN change the law.
I hate when those bas@#%$# say " lets not make this political" IT IS POLITICAL!
Load More Replies...
The USA really needs to have a discussion about the 2nd Amendment. When was the last time a well regulated militia was needed? I have also just seen some footage of Ted Cruz storming out of an interview after being asked why school shooting only happen in America.
I read an interesting comment elsewhere that points out that the Swiss army (I think) is actually based on the 2nd amendment, resulting in the densest gun to population ratio in the world, but this level of insanity doesn't happen. Why? Because guns are seen as tools and not romanticised. The Swiss focussed on the well-regulated bit instead of the rights bit.
Load More Replies...
But HEY~! The NRA convention is this weekend! IN TEXAS! All the right wing politicians will be there, in their GUN FREE GUN CONVENTION. I guess if you can't even be safe WITH a gun IN a gun convention, then i dunno, it might be because of GUNS?
American and Texan here. I’m just so numb to it by now. Not all of us, but a lot of us are. Our political parties have spent so much time entrenching themselves with single-issue voters that there’s no way a republican could ever be for gun control and survive the next election. The rhetoric has made it so that you’re either 100% anti-gun or 100% for all guns. There is no in between. Nothing will change. They’ll all just wait for the next big news story to distract us. To be clear, I’m a liberal living in a very red state. However, I’m also a realist and I’ve seen this play out again and again. Texas’ answer to the gun problem is more guns for the ‘good guys’…
Don't go numb, get angry. Get furious and stay furious. They're *banking* on you going numb so they can keep this b******t going and going. And unless there are no Democratic candidates, or independent candidates in Texas, you have a choice!
Load More Replies... This is going to sound somewhat cynical, but if the sad event was described as "Anti-lifer performs mass abortion of dozens of former foetuses", I half-think gun control would suddenly become a thing.
Lots of people aren’t going to like this but I think the rest of the world just doesn’t care anymore. Americans - you know the answer, or at least part of it. You’ve got models from all over the world (UK, Australia etc have all dealt with mass shooting at one time or another). Frankly we’ve got or own problems to deal with - just look at the news, there’s one or two headlines about this and then it disappears. Frankly america (USA) is nuts.
Because according to them, it's their right. Their antiquated "right" matters more than the lives of others.
Load More Replies...
Its my 2nd amendment right.... Cool story. We have had other amendments to the constitution, like prohibition ( the volstadt act), we have pretty much decided half the population has no right to privacy, under the 4 th amendment that would be an unreasonable search. For some reason we are stuck on 2. Republicans, evangelicals and the NRA can go pound sand. We have now hit boiling point again. Because Americans can't remember c**p, I would be unsurprised if the violent protests of the 70s return, bombings, kidnapping etc.
The 2nd Amendment needs to go the way of the 18th. For non-Americans, we repealed the 18th Amendment.
Load More Replies...
Listen, we protect you when you are still unborn, but after that, you're on your own. Good luck kid.
PROFLIFE means PRO GUN CONTROL. Anything else is a fascist-minded money-grabbing lie.
The vast majority of people in the US want tougher gun control (and reproductive rights and universal health care and...) What do you call a country that can't and won't pass laws that the majority of its citizens want? Certainly not a democracy. I honestly think we need external intervention. Those of you in robust democracies: can you help us? Please?
The US is a broken country. Little kids are murdered, again and again. And nothing will change. There are enough Americans who think the 2nd amendment is sacred and affordable mental health care for all is the devil incarnate for anything to be done about this. The US is a broken country.
Sometimes I fear that this country is not only broken, but broken beyond salvage.
Load More Replies...
How many more people need to die before something is changed? I'm so angry right now and I'm not even American. My deepest condolences to the families :(
AXIOS put out a list of Republican senators who get paid by gun groups. Senator Cruz took in over 400,000$ alone from them! These are the ones who make excuses and refuse to make a difference unless it's to give themselves a raise for doing nothing! Money in their pockets is more important than the lives of their constituents! We as a people can make a difference by taking these monsters out of office! When their terms are up, stop listening to their lies when they want the job again! Otherwise things will never get better! I'm not saying vote Democrat over Republican. I'm saying vote for someone who will do their job!
I'm really glad that some celebrities with influence are speaking up and calling out lawmakers. However, it needs to be broadcast far and wide that it's not ALL the lawmakers -- it's the Republicans. The REPUBLICANS are the people standing in the way. I would love to see prominent people call out each individual Republican senator. I would love to see Oprah tweet "Mike Crapo from Idaho - you have 5 children, several grandchildren and say you believe in God. You should be ashamed."
Republicans also blocked a bill that would've banned white supremacy. Right after this shooting. FFS, it's insane.
Load More Replies...
Sorry, but seriously, what is the f*****g point about us even talking about these anymore. Americans don't give a flying f**k about human life and have a complete lack of empathy for others! Why don't Americans have universal healthcare, why do they allow mass shootings, why is the murder rate the highest among wealthy nations, why don't they educate their population, why why why why why? Because American culture is a diseased death cult. I left my country to escape violence, and now?? F**K!!!! Sorry, I am upset, I shouldn't have yelled at you. But all of these remarks from politicians and celebrities just ring hollow for me. The Republicans love these shootings, because they sell more guns (look at the stats, it's a fact, shootings increase gun sales), and the Democrats are absolute cowards and won't do s**t! I hate it here, but I'm stuck. Trying to convince my son to go to Uni in Europe, and stay there.
What's keeping these so-called lawmakers from passing gun control laws? Payola, profits, threats to their family, blackmail? Or could it be that they are just as evil as the murderers?
"The gun laws in the US have become a little bit of a joke all around the world" --it's not just our gun laws that are a global punchline, folks.
It costs more and is more difficult to see a doctor in America than it is to buy a gun! I live in Australia. Our last mass shooting was in 1996.We still talk about it because we are still shocked it could happen .It was not a school shooting, because WE DON'T HAVE THOSE!! As a result of it though ,we changed our gun laws, among other things ,we made it against the law to own an automatic or semi automatic gun....How 'bout America starts there?
Can someone answer this question....is it a case that those who demand the right to firearms etc are usually the same ones that are anti vaxxers? Their rights are more precious than their loved ones?
I have noticed that particular Venn diagram is a circle
Load More Replies...
Why would people want to hurt the innocent? Why is the monster keep existing in the world. I felt sympathy for the families. I felt sorry for the Texas people who witness this tragic events. PLEASE stop this violent. Ban all those guns and weapons. Let the generations live.
Gun laws should absolutely be stricter, and they need to be more readily enforced. This awfulness can't be allowed to go on. I just feel so helpless watching these kind of things happen in my own country. My heart is breaking for these poor students and their families. For their sakes, something here has to change.
Question to the Americans: Why aren't there (peaceful) protests yet, like with BLM? If you have enough of this s**t, go out and protest (peacefully). (Raid gun stores, destroy the guns, storm the NRA's and Republican's offices.) Show the right-wingers what happens when you (violently) protest against the s**t that happens in your country!
Short answer? We're afraid of being shot. Social issues aren't considered the same as gun issues. And there's a TON of "responsible gun owners" out there itching to use them.
Load More Replies...
I'm in middle school. My last day is tommorow, and this is making me scared to even go to school. This isn't something students should need to worry about.
I am a teacher, and I agree with you. The school system I work for takes safety measures, and takes them seriously. If you are concerned, you should check to see what measures your school district is taking, and whether or not they need to improve. Some schools still are not taking the simplest measures like cameras, locked doors, or armed officers on campus. You can also check to see what training law enforcement in your area has, in the event of an incident. Don't be afraid, be active. And know, I am right in there with you. As a teacher, I would lay down my life to defend my students, and I bet your teachers would as well.
Load More Replies... So many young lives cut short, I lived in Stirling at the time of the Dunblane shooting. At least our Govt too action very quickly to try and ensure this remained a rare occurrence. ONCE IS TOO OFTEN when will USA learn ............I cannot get my head round the idea they want to ban abortion BUT not GUNS
I know it doesnt help, but i am so f-***** angry, sad and fearful right now. I am fearful for my grandchildren every damn day they go to school. I am fearful for myself and any other person going on about their everyday life doing everyday things knowing a mad man can just take their f***** lives, because they dont like the color of someones skin or because they f**** felt like it. People who care more about a fetus and their right to bare arms then the life of innocent people. We shouldnt have to live in fear when it will happen again, because it will. I really really do not understand any of this, I do not understand how these bastards always find away to justify why we dont need tighter gun laws or why someone needs a military style weapon. The best these f***** republicans can do is send thoughts and prayers, sorry but they have yet to work and our families, children and innocent people are being murdered in the process.
This obsession over firearms in the off chance you need to eject some tyrannical ruler from power is farcical. You do have countless tyrants in place holding the lives of everyone hostage in the shape of senators. How is the access to guns going to fix this?
The only "notable folks" are the families of these children and the staff at the school. Who cares about "celebrities" efforts to use this tragedy to remind the world they exist> It is DISGUSTING in the extreme.
Can someone explain why this keeps happening in America. I don't know a lot about the topic but public shootings there seems to be make the news a lot.
The US has this wonderful doctrine called the Second Amendment, which to a certain cult of people is more important than the Bible. It guarantees the right to bear arms and ensures a well-regulated militia. Except the "well-regulated" bit gets overlooked. It's an easy hot button topic "The Democrats want to take our god-given right to guns" (yes, I have seen these exact words used in argument). And those making sure policy never changes as are the NRA (National Rifle Association - which seems to think AR47s are the same thing as the flintlock rifles actually used when the 2nd was written) who spend an absolute SHITTON of money on lobbying the Republican party to ensure they keep their guns and the Republicans keep their power It's culturally ingrained in a way not seen in any other country.
Load More Replies...
One 7 year old died from a lawn dart in the 80s and the US still has a ban on lawn darts because of it. But the much more deadly semi automatic rifles are a human right apparently.
I don't understand the gun laws in the USA.Here in NZ we had a terrorist attack where a gunman went into some mosques and killed people.We banned certain sorts of guns after that,the government purchased them back from the owners .Of course not everyone would give up their guns but they managed to get alot back
This is a state in which teaching children history is deemed to be too dangerous for them, and in which making children wear masks at school to protect them from COVID is deemed to be too traumatizing. It also reopened schools way too early during COVID because the Republicans were concerned about "emotional trauma" to the kids from staying home.
It's a sad thought but two months ago there was a school shooting at a school with in my school district. It's just becoming part of everyday life, it could effect everyone and will. My heart bleeds just knowing what is becoming the new normal. Lots of love to the people that lost someone
Someone suggested putting a control gun bill to a vote tight away and letting all these "thoughts and prayers" politicians vote against. Let them put their name against a bill that will save children's lives.
The gun lobbyists will wave money and demands in the face of the politicians to make them back down.
Load More Replies...
This is MORE than just a "gun law" thing. This is also a mental health thing. Note that I am *not* saying "mental illness", because people doing this don't have schizophrenia, or bipolar, or OCD or anything like that... and people with mental illness exist in other countries without mass killings. I'm saying "mental health". What's the difference? Consider people born blind, vs people becoming blind due to a workplace accident. The first is similar world-wide. The second is preventable. Very few of the people committing these atrocities were "born evil", they were psychologically broken by American society. That is preventable. Access to guns is one aspect, but less people in other countries WANT to do something like this in the first place. Both issues need to be tackled, stop people's mental health from deteriorating like this, AND if that fails, stop making it easy for them to follow through with their plans.
When an immigrant has held a Green Card for 5 years they are eligible to become a US citizen. They have to study to take a test. Some of those questions are about the various ammendments to the Constitution. They have to know this stuff. Pass the test. I would guess there are a shocking number of people who were born and raised in the US who wouldn't pass the test. Especially on what the 2nd ammendment actually says. Here it is. The brackets are mine to clarify. "In forming a controlled militia (a citizen army with a hierarchy of command) in defense of the free State ( freedom of the US), the government shall not infringe on the right of people to bear arms". It was written at a time when they were still concerned about a repeat British invasion. So, translation: people! If the freedom of the country is so at risk that controlled militias are needed, then we're not going to stop you from getting as many into your hands as you can get. We're defending our freedom.
Part 2: if you're doing that, we shall not infringe on your right to have them. Ergo, if your NOT doing that, then we shall, ie can, put limitations on your right to bear arms. Yes, we can tell you that you may not own weapons used in war. Your not forming a controlled militia to defend the country. At which point we sure as hell can (shall) lay down the law. The first part of the 2nd ammendment has been cut out and shredded as if it no longer exists. The words are still written there. That means the entire thing is in effect until you change it. ALL of America needs to abide by the ENTIRE 2nd ammendment, including the gun crazies. They don't like the first part, so they won't even quote it when you ask them what the 2nd ammendment says. From a 🇨🇦, who despite everything, still loves the US. I've lived there and I know that underneath all this insanity there are still really good people.
Load More Replies... As many have pointed out, thoughts and prayers aren't helping. But apparently everyone thinks that tweets will?
It's unfortunate that I have to feel like a pregnant woman would have had to be gunned down in this last incident in order to get the attention of certain groups....then again...it probably wouldnt matter.
Murica, can't drink a beer under 18 and show a nipple on tv, but please give 16 year old kids automatic guns.
Cops are armed cowards...they ran from fire in Parkland...they ran from fire at Robb elementary. They are brave only when dominating people with brown or black skin....and women. Cops are cowards, with guns. They are not heroes.
Yeah, I get it that they deal with local homeless and teen thugs...some who are armed...but when it comes to dealing with assault weapons and massive killings, they hide...they hide.
Load More Replies...
The scariest part is that I have family in Texas... They have school aged kids.
I am a teacher in a public school. School shootings have occurred in America since 1764, before it was even the US. The issue is MENTAL HEALTH! We need to address all health issues, including mental health. School shooters want recognition, credit, and a large body count. The media feeds this machine like no other, and needs to address the way they cover these events. You can all banter, argue, and post your political views. Yelling and arguing will not help. Statements to garner more likes will not help. The real issue is MENTAL HEALTH, and the way mental health issues are stigmatized in the US.
No. The issue is that absolutely anyone can not only get a gun, but an assault weapon! There can be no mass shootings, no gun violence if there are NO GUNS. We are the only country that endures these mass shootings. Hint: it's not because we have more wildly overlooked mental illness, it's because we have GUNS!
Load More Replies... Let us take a moment that the ones who claim to be pro life are also pro guns.
It's already been established that they stop being pro-life once the baby exits the birth canal. That there's such an overlap in the Venn diagram of pro-life/pro-gun is as unsurprising as the fact that there's been another mass shooting at all at this point.
Load More Replies... Seriously, how is the gun business making money more important than children's lives?
The USA is a backward and cowardly nation who do not want to answer that question.
Load More Replies... America, where they get legislation against abortion to protect unborn babies, but not legislation against guns to protect children from being murdered in school. I guess the gun lobbyists are richer than the reproductive rights lobbyists.
It's simple really, just shoot the fetus out. /s
Load More Replies... In 1997 and 1998, I remember that it seemed like every month there was another shooting at or near a school. Columbine was, for me, the final straw. I just said "I cannot raise my kids safely in this country." Packed up, came to Japan. Here we are, all these years later, and we have this horrible, horrible, horrible ENRAGING act of violence ... and the first thing I see people say is "Let's not make this political." No! F*** that! That's exactly what we should have done 25 years ago! You can't change people, but you CAN change the law.
I hate when those bas@#%$# say " lets not make this political" IT IS POLITICAL!
Load More Replies... The USA really needs to have a discussion about the 2nd Amendment. When was the last time a well regulated militia was needed? I have also just seen some footage of Ted Cruz storming out of an interview after being asked why school shooting only happen in America.
I read an interesting comment elsewhere that points out that the Swiss army (I think) is actually based on the 2nd amendment, resulting in the densest gun to population ratio in the world, but this level of insanity doesn't happen. Why? Because guns are seen as tools and not romanticised. The Swiss focussed on the well-regulated bit instead of the rights bit.
Load More Replies... But HEY~! The NRA convention is this weekend! IN TEXAS! All the right wing politicians will be there, in their GUN FREE GUN CONVENTION. I guess if you can't even be safe WITH a gun IN a gun convention, then i dunno, it might be because of GUNS?
American and Texan here. I’m just so numb to it by now. Not all of us, but a lot of us are. Our political parties have spent so much time entrenching themselves with single-issue voters that there’s no way a republican could ever be for gun control and survive the next election. The rhetoric has made it so that you’re either 100% anti-gun or 100% for all guns. There is no in between. Nothing will change. They’ll all just wait for the next big news story to distract us. To be clear, I’m a liberal living in a very red state. However, I’m also a realist and I’ve seen this play out again and again. Texas’ answer to the gun problem is more guns for the ‘good guys’…
Don't go numb, get angry. Get furious and stay furious. They're *banking* on you going numb so they can keep this b******t going and going. And unless there are no Democratic candidates, or independent candidates in Texas, you have a choice!
Load More Replies... This is going to sound somewhat cynical, but if the sad event was described as "Anti-lifer performs mass abortion of dozens of former foetuses", I half-think gun control would suddenly become a thing.
Lots of people aren’t going to like this but I think the rest of the world just doesn’t care anymore. Americans - you know the answer, or at least part of it. You’ve got models from all over the world (UK, Australia etc have all dealt with mass shooting at one time or another). Frankly we’ve got or own problems to deal with - just look at the news, there’s one or two headlines about this and then it disappears. Frankly america (USA) is nuts.
Because according to them, it's their right. Their antiquated "right" matters more than the lives of others.
Load More Replies... Its my 2nd amendment right.... Cool story. We have had other amendments to the constitution, like prohibition ( the volstadt act), we have pretty much decided half the population has no right to privacy, under the 4 th amendment that would be an unreasonable search. For some reason we are stuck on 2. Republicans, evangelicals and the NRA can go pound sand. We have now hit boiling point again. Because Americans can't remember c**p, I would be unsurprised if the violent protests of the 70s return, bombings, kidnapping etc.
The 2nd Amendment needs to go the way of the 18th. For non-Americans, we repealed the 18th Amendment.
Load More Replies... Listen, we protect you when you are still unborn, but after that, you're on your own. Good luck kid.
PROFLIFE means PRO GUN CONTROL. Anything else is a fascist-minded money-grabbing lie.
The vast majority of people in the US want tougher gun control (and reproductive rights and universal health care and...) What do you call a country that can't and won't pass laws that the majority of its citizens want? Certainly not a democracy. I honestly think we need external intervention. Those of you in robust democracies: can you help us? Please?
The US is a broken country. Little kids are murdered, again and again. And nothing will change. There are enough Americans who think the 2nd amendment is sacred and affordable mental health care for all is the devil incarnate for anything to be done about this. The US is a broken country.
Sometimes I fear that this country is not only broken, but broken beyond salvage.
Load More Replies... How many more people need to die before something is changed? I'm so angry right now and I'm not even American. My deepest condolences to the families :(
AXIOS put out a list of Republican senators who get paid by gun groups. Senator Cruz took in over 400,000$ alone from them! These are the ones who make excuses and refuse to make a difference unless it's to give themselves a raise for doing nothing! Money in their pockets is more important than the lives of their constituents! We as a people can make a difference by taking these monsters out of office! When their terms are up, stop listening to their lies when they want the job again! Otherwise things will never get better! I'm not saying vote Democrat over Republican. I'm saying vote for someone who will do their job!
I'm really glad that some celebrities with influence are speaking up and calling out lawmakers. However, it needs to be broadcast far and wide that it's not ALL the lawmakers -- it's the Republicans. The REPUBLICANS are the people standing in the way. I would love to see prominent people call out each individual Republican senator. I would love to see Oprah tweet "Mike Crapo from Idaho - you have 5 children, several grandchildren and say you believe in God. You should be ashamed."
Republicans also blocked a bill that would've banned white supremacy. Right after this shooting. FFS, it's insane.
Load More Replies... Sorry, but seriously, what is the f*****g point about us even talking about these anymore. Americans don't give a flying f**k about human life and have a complete lack of empathy for others! Why don't Americans have universal healthcare, why do they allow mass shootings, why is the murder rate the highest among wealthy nations, why don't they educate their population, why why why why why? Because American culture is a diseased death cult. I left my country to escape violence, and now?? F**K!!!! Sorry, I am upset, I shouldn't have yelled at you. But all of these remarks from politicians and celebrities just ring hollow for me. The Republicans love these shootings, because they sell more guns (look at the stats, it's a fact, shootings increase gun sales), and the Democrats are absolute cowards and won't do s**t! I hate it here, but I'm stuck. Trying to convince my son to go to Uni in Europe, and stay there.
What's keeping these so-called lawmakers from passing gun control laws? Payola, profits, threats to their family, blackmail? Or could it be that they are just as evil as the murderers?
"The gun laws in the US have become a little bit of a joke all around the world" --it's not just our gun laws that are a global punchline, folks.
It costs more and is more difficult to see a doctor in America than it is to buy a gun! I live in Australia. Our last mass shooting was in 1996.We still talk about it because we are still shocked it could happen .It was not a school shooting, because WE DON'T HAVE THOSE!! As a result of it though ,we changed our gun laws, among other things ,we made it against the law to own an automatic or semi automatic gun....How 'bout America starts there?
Can someone answer this question....is it a case that those who demand the right to firearms etc are usually the same ones that are anti vaxxers? Their rights are more precious than their loved ones?
I have noticed that particular Venn diagram is a circle
Load More Replies... Why would people want to hurt the innocent? Why is the monster keep existing in the world. I felt sympathy for the families. I felt sorry for the Texas people who witness this tragic events. PLEASE stop this violent. Ban all those guns and weapons. Let the generations live.
Gun laws should absolutely be stricter, and they need to be more readily enforced. This awfulness can't be allowed to go on. I just feel so helpless watching these kind of things happen in my own country. My heart is breaking for these poor students and their families. For their sakes, something here has to change.
Question to the Americans: Why aren't there (peaceful) protests yet, like with BLM? If you have enough of this s**t, go out and protest (peacefully). (Raid gun stores, destroy the guns, storm the NRA's and Republican's offices.) Show the right-wingers what happens when you (violently) protest against the s**t that happens in your country!
Short answer? We're afraid of being shot. Social issues aren't considered the same as gun issues. And there's a TON of "responsible gun owners" out there itching to use them.
Load More Replies... I'm in middle school. My last day is tommorow, and this is making me scared to even go to school. This isn't something students should need to worry about.
I am a teacher, and I agree with you. The school system I work for takes safety measures, and takes them seriously. If you are concerned, you should check to see what measures your school district is taking, and whether or not they need to improve. Some schools still are not taking the simplest measures like cameras, locked doors, or armed officers on campus. You can also check to see what training law enforcement in your area has, in the event of an incident. Don't be afraid, be active. And know, I am right in there with you. As a teacher, I would lay down my life to defend my students, and I bet your teachers would as well.
Load More Replies... So many young lives cut short, I lived in Stirling at the time of the Dunblane shooting. At least our Govt too action very quickly to try and ensure this remained a rare occurrence. ONCE IS TOO OFTEN when will USA learn ............I cannot get my head round the idea they want to ban abortion BUT not GUNS
I know it doesnt help, but i am so f-***** angry, sad and fearful right now. I am fearful for my grandchildren every damn day they go to school. I am fearful for myself and any other person going on about their everyday life doing everyday things knowing a mad man can just take their f***** lives, because they dont like the color of someones skin or because they f**** felt like it. People who care more about a fetus and their right to bare arms then the life of innocent people. We shouldnt have to live in fear when it will happen again, because it will. I really really do not understand any of this, I do not understand how these bastards always find away to justify why we dont need tighter gun laws or why someone needs a military style weapon. The best these f***** republicans can do is send thoughts and prayers, sorry but they have yet to work and our families, children and innocent people are being murdered in the process.
This obsession over firearms in the off chance you need to eject some tyrannical ruler from power is farcical. You do have countless tyrants in place holding the lives of everyone hostage in the shape of senators. How is the access to guns going to fix this?
The only "notable folks" are the families of these children and the staff at the school. Who cares about "celebrities" efforts to use this tragedy to remind the world they exist> It is DISGUSTING in the extreme.
Can someone explain why this keeps happening in America. I don't know a lot about the topic but public shootings there seems to be make the news a lot.
The US has this wonderful doctrine called the Second Amendment, which to a certain cult of people is more important than the Bible. It guarantees the right to bear arms and ensures a well-regulated militia. Except the "well-regulated" bit gets overlooked. It's an easy hot button topic "The Democrats want to take our god-given right to guns" (yes, I have seen these exact words used in argument). And those making sure policy never changes as are the NRA (National Rifle Association - which seems to think AR47s are the same thing as the flintlock rifles actually used when the 2nd was written) who spend an absolute SHITTON of money on lobbying the Republican party to ensure they keep their guns and the Republicans keep their power It's culturally ingrained in a way not seen in any other country.
Load More Replies... One 7 year old died from a lawn dart in the 80s and the US still has a ban on lawn darts because of it. But the much more deadly semi automatic rifles are a human right apparently.
I don't understand the gun laws in the USA.Here in NZ we had a terrorist attack where a gunman went into some mosques and killed people.We banned certain sorts of guns after that,the government purchased them back from the owners .Of course not everyone would give up their guns but they managed to get alot back
This is a state in which teaching children history is deemed to be too dangerous for them, and in which making children wear masks at school to protect them from COVID is deemed to be too traumatizing. It also reopened schools way too early during COVID because the Republicans were concerned about "emotional trauma" to the kids from staying home.
It's a sad thought but two months ago there was a school shooting at a school with in my school district. It's just becoming part of everyday life, it could effect everyone and will. My heart bleeds just knowing what is becoming the new normal. Lots of love to the people that lost someone
Someone suggested putting a control gun bill to a vote tight away and letting all these "thoughts and prayers" politicians vote against. Let them put their name against a bill that will save children's lives.
The gun lobbyists will wave money and demands in the face of the politicians to make them back down.
Load More Replies... This is MORE than just a "gun law" thing. This is also a mental health thing. Note that I am *not* saying "mental illness", because people doing this don't have schizophrenia, or bipolar, or OCD or anything like that... and people with mental illness exist in other countries without mass killings. I'm saying "mental health". What's the difference? Consider people born blind, vs people becoming blind due to a workplace accident. The first is similar world-wide. The second is preventable. Very few of the people committing these atrocities were "born evil", they were psychologically broken by American society. That is preventable. Access to guns is one aspect, but less people in other countries WANT to do something like this in the first place. Both issues need to be tackled, stop people's mental health from deteriorating like this, AND if that fails, stop making it easy for them to follow through with their plans.
When an immigrant has held a Green Card for 5 years they are eligible to become a US citizen. They have to study to take a test. Some of those questions are about the various ammendments to the Constitution. They have to know this stuff. Pass the test. I would guess there are a shocking number of people who were born and raised in the US who wouldn't pass the test. Especially on what the 2nd ammendment actually says. Here it is. The brackets are mine to clarify. "In forming a controlled militia (a citizen army with a hierarchy of command) in defense of the free State ( freedom of the US), the government shall not infringe on the right of people to bear arms". It was written at a time when they were still concerned about a repeat British invasion. So, translation: people! If the freedom of the country is so at risk that controlled militias are needed, then we're not going to stop you from getting as many into your hands as you can get. We're defending our freedom.
Part 2: if you're doing that, we shall not infringe on your right to have them. Ergo, if your NOT doing that, then we shall, ie can, put limitations on your right to bear arms. Yes, we can tell you that you may not own weapons used in war. Your not forming a controlled militia to defend the country. At which point we sure as hell can (shall) lay down the law. The first part of the 2nd ammendment has been cut out and shredded as if it no longer exists. The words are still written there. That means the entire thing is in effect until you change it. ALL of America needs to abide by the ENTIRE 2nd ammendment, including the gun crazies. They don't like the first part, so they won't even quote it when you ask them what the 2nd ammendment says. From a 🇨🇦, who despite everything, still loves the US. I've lived there and I know that underneath all this insanity there are still really good people.
Load More Replies... As many have pointed out, thoughts and prayers aren't helping. But apparently everyone thinks that tweets will?
It's unfortunate that I have to feel like a pregnant woman would have had to be gunned down in this last incident in order to get the attention of certain groups....then again...it probably wouldnt matter.
Murica, can't drink a beer under 18 and show a nipple on tv, but please give 16 year old kids automatic guns.
Cops are armed cowards...they ran from fire in Parkland...they ran from fire at Robb elementary. They are brave only when dominating people with brown or black skin....and women. Cops are cowards, with guns. They are not heroes.
Yeah, I get it that they deal with local homeless and teen thugs...some who are armed...but when it comes to dealing with assault weapons and massive killings, they hide...they hide.
Load More Replies... The scariest part is that I have family in Texas... They have school aged kids.
I am a teacher in a public school. School shootings have occurred in America since 1764, before it was even the US. The issue is MENTAL HEALTH! We need to address all health issues, including mental health. School shooters want recognition, credit, and a large body count. The media feeds this machine like no other, and needs to address the way they cover these events. You can all banter, argue, and post your political views. Yelling and arguing will not help. Statements to garner more likes will not help. The real issue is MENTAL HEALTH, and the way mental health issues are stigmatized in the US.
No. The issue is that absolutely anyone can not only get a gun, but an assault weapon! There can be no mass shootings, no gun violence if there are NO GUNS. We are the only country that endures these mass shootings. Hint: it's not because we have more wildly overlooked mental illness, it's because we have GUNS!
Load More Replies...