'We just have to heal a different way': Santa Fe, Parkland diverge after school shootings

[hack89]

Many of Carvey’s classmates — along with their parents — agree with her. In contrast to the immediate aftermath of the Feb. 14 massacre in Parkland, Florida, when student survivors kicked off a national call for tougher gun control laws on social media and in street protests, there are few calls for new gun laws in Santa Fe.

The stark differences in the responses to the mass shootings just three months apart serve as a reminder that in many parts of the country, including this section of rural southeast Texas, guns are woven into the history, upbringing and culture, and the relationship with guns gets passed down through the generations.

Parkland, on the other hand, is an upper-middle-class suburb in Florida’s Democrat-voting Broward County. It’s not uncommon for families to have a gun at home for protection, but most students don’t grow up learning how to shoot.

The contrast illustrates the obstacles facing gun control proposals in a country that is deeply divided over whether firearms are part of the problem of school shootings or part of its solution.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/we-just-have-heal-different-way-santa-fe-parkland-diverge-n876416

Interesting article that shows how complex people's attitudes on guns are.

[LonePirate]

1. I think brainwashed is a better term than complex.

There is little difference between guns and religion in rural America.

[hack89]

4. I wouldn't know. I don't come from a religious or rural background. nt

[rockfordfile]

2. That's terrible biased article.

It's like a put down to Parkland kids. " but most students don’t grow up learning how to shoot." the republican mass murdering kids brought up with guns are the answer culture.

Parkland kids just seem to have more honorable principles.

[bettyellen]

3. I don't know if I'd deem habits passed down as complex- especially since there's a lack of

introspection regarding the real life costs of those habits that are handed down. What’s complex about that?

[msongs]

5. guns r normal so dead kids seen as taking one for the team? its fine if someone

else is blown away so long as its not them

[brush]

6. Seems the parents/adults/culture of the TX kids are stifling protest...

but I'm guessing that this horrific act and traumatization will radicalize some of these kids as far as too easy gun access is concerned.

Too bad the students in Texas didn't follow the Florida kids' lead to keep the pressure on the NRA, the repugs and trump.

[Mariana]

15. I think so, too.

There was a quote from one of the survivors that really struck me. It sure read like she was repeating something she was told. Here's a link to the post:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210639478#post5

"They were joined by Cassandra Garza, a sophomore. She didn't bring a sign with a political slogan, or talk about gun control. All she wanted was to be with her friends, Cassandra said, and "to get together and pray this never happens again."

"I'm young and naïve about politics," the 16-year-old said."

I can just imagine some adult telling this kid, "You have no idea what you're talking about. What do you know about politics? You're too young and naive to understand what's going on."

[appalachiablue]

7. I didn't grow up in a rural area, or with hard views on religion or guns.

Some male relatives had guns I'm sure, but for occasional hunting, skeet shooting and self defense.
They never talked about it to kids or wives, or even mentioned it, and I remember.

It was not a big fricking deal, even though my father was a 7th Army officer trained in automatic weapons & artillery in WWII, one uncle was in the Coast Guard WWII and another served in Korea, medic corps. Earlier members were veterans of WWI and in law enforcement.
The gun culture in this nation and massacring is something far removed from what we experienced only a generation ago.

[JI7]

8. Exactly. It's also turned political

The uses you mention had to do with everyday life and I'm guessing they didn't pose with the guns and play tough guy like you see the gun nuts do today.

I'm guessing they didn't feel the need to show off with the guns while going to the library, post office, picking up some milk and bread at the market etc.

[appalachiablue]

14. No way, None of that, it was unthinkable then. Now it's become

sick and crazy. Politicized as you say, for definite reasons- to disturb, generate hate, fear, insecurity, suspicion and division.
In previous generations men had healthier outlets it seems. Along with their job, home life and community they could engage in more typical 'manly' pursuits (instead of showing off, fetishizing, shooting people!, etc.) like working around the yard or garage, going on a fishing trip or other outdoor outing with family or other guys for recreation. And to me they were much more secure by comparison. In short, They Had a LIFE!

I never saw a family member parked around a radio, TV or computer for hours every day absorbing hate agendas or going to events, 'rallies.' Wives would have complained, fathers would have got on their sons big time for that kind of unhealthy, negative behavior... It's toxic and messed up anymore.

[Kaleva]

9. The response to the Santa Fe shooting here at DU seems much more muted

compared to the Parkland shooting.

[hack89]

10. The Santa Fe kids haven't embraced the DU orthodoxy on guns. Nt

[JI7]

11. Threads are usually a response to news being reported

[Decoy of Fenris]

19. Some of us RKBAers are on a requested "stand down" status from the Control side.

There's a few good eggs there among the chaff, so may as well oblige them. That just keeps the conversation quiet, and in a funny way, the bog-standard back-and-forth between RKBA and Gun Control sides are what keep DU popping as far as gun control goes. Take away the RKBA side and the Gun Control threads sink like bricks; not enough on DU support gun control to keep the threads kicked, let alone lively.

[Kaleva]

27. I think that's a major contributing factor.

There was a lot of back and forth about the Parkland shootings and that contributed to keeping the threads alive and also to the generation of new threads. Now, with the discussion one sided, the threads are off the 1st page rather quickly.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. Comparing and contrasting the reactions seems like a great idea. I'm sure it will be a fruitful

discussion that leads to understanding of shared values across differing cultures, with the added bonus of DUers generally coming out of the whole thing looking stellar.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Fuck Guns and Guns Owners. Their right to a gun does not trump others right to die . . . . .

. . . . of natural causes in old age.

[hack89]

16. So fuck these kids too?

Because they see things differently than you? Ok. That’s a winning message sure to further gun control.

[Stinky The Clown]

17. My statement was quite clear. You've heard it plenty of times.

No age or gender discrimination.

[hack89]

18. That's fine.

I am sure they are happy with the status quo. You just make it easier for them.

[Stinky The Clown]

20. Please don't tell me, specifically, what you think I do.

And I won't tell you, specifically, what I think YOU do.

[hack89]

21. I don't think you intend to make it easier for them to ignore gun control

But it certainly seems reasonable to assume that alienating the future voters whose support you will need is not a positive thing.

[Stinky The Clown]

22. Like smokers needed to be shamed, so do gun owners.

[hack89]

23. That's not going to work.

But you certainly can try.

[Stinky The Clown]

24. Our conversation is done.

[hunter]

25. Made up history, made up religion, nothing their great grandparents would recognize...

... as either responsible gun ownership or Christianity.

Both bought and twisted by grifters; false gun lore by the NRA, and Evangelical Christianity by the corrupt GOP.

The racism and bullshit about Texas origins... well that's always been there.

[lapfog_1]

26. could also have something to do with the fact

that students and parents who speak out for changes to gun laws would be immediately targeted by LOCAL NRA members with death threats and violence.

I'm sure that intimidation is keeping some of the students and their parents from speaking out.

[struggle4progress]

28. A true story I heard recently from an old friend. from rural west Texas about 50 years ago:

Her brother went to a high school party. Another kid got dropped off at the party by his father, bringing his new rifle to show his buddies. The kid pointed his rifle at my friend's brother as a "joke" and pulled the trigger

You can guess the rest

Oops. "I didn't know the gun was loaded and I'm so sorry." Dead brother. Lots of thoughts and prayers. No charges. Just another unavoidable accident

I had known that woman for more than forty years before I learned about it