Another mass shooting? Yawn.

[IdaBriggs]

With respect to the most recent victims (and appropriate condolences, of course), these "isolated incidents" are becoming so common place that the "once a month crime spree du jour" is becoming a staple of the news media.

Everyone is SHOCKED - simply SHOCKED - because it happened AGAIN.

Where *is* the fainting couch?

Remember this, back oh-so-long-ago in December, 2012?

http://www.thenation.com/blog/171774/fifteen-us-mass-shootings-happened-2012-84-dead#

Sixteen US Mass Shootings Happened in 2012, Leaving at Least 88 Dead

Today’s nearly indescribable tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, where twenty-seven people, including eighteen children, were shot to death inside an elementary school, is at least the sixteenth mass shooting to take place in America this year. The death toll is now at eighty-four.

Here is a list of every fatal mass shooting that’s taken place since January 1—defined as multi-victim shootings where those killed were chosen indiscriminately. The tragedies took place at perfectly random places—at churches, movie theatres, soccer tournaments, spas, courthouses and, now, an elementary school. But given the frequency of these awful events, perhaps in the long view their occurrence isn’t so random after all—it’s predictable.

(then lists sixteen of them, ending with Newtown, CT)

Well, it was NINE MONTHS AGO - and lots of things have changed since then, right? Except they really haven't.

Over on Reddit, they have a list of 246 mass shootings (defined as "4 or more people SHOT&quot so far this year, but personally, I think a "mass shooting" should only get counted if people get killed, which brings the "number of times four or more people were killed" down to 29 mass shootings in 2013. If we think of it as "only 29 so far" instead of 246, then we only have to worry about 137 dead people, instead of 327 dead people, and we can totally ignore the 857 people who were "just injured."

http://www.reddit.com/r/GunsAreCool/wiki/2013massshootings
MASS SHOOTINGS IN 2013

The most obscene gun related killing surprisingly often doesn't make the mainstream news at all.

The only requirement is that four or more people are shot in a spree. This may include the gunman himself (because they often suicide by cop or use a gun to kill themselves to escape punishment), or police shootings of civilians around the gunman. The reasoning behind the latter being that if the shooter is arrested, he will often be charged with injuring people the police actually shot, as that is a foreseeable result of a shooting spree.

We count the number shot rather than the number killed because people are still shot by a gun whether they survive or not. The gun lobby benefits from our ability to save those who would otherwise die, even though those gun shot victims will never be the same. The NRA exports their medical costs to society which often pays the costs for the medical care of the wounded. We refuse to ignore the victims of gun violence who survive shooting sprees.

Obviously the number of "mass shootings" has nothing to do with the weapons, right? Because only a fool would think giving someone (usually a man) the ability to KILL LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT RELOADING was a "bad idea" -- heck, if you ask the NRA or their supporters, they would point out that knives and baseball bats kill more people, and everyone should be able to defend themselves against crazy felons with guns.

I have been an office worker since 1984. Earlier this year my workplace - for the first time *EVER* in my career - had me participate in a mandatory "Active Shooter Event Safety Training." My six-year olds have been in "school lockdown" more times than I can count to the point where we don't even notice anymore, and I don't *ever* remember dealing with that while I was growing up. Tornado drills, fire drills and pop quizzes - yes. "Mandatory School Lockdown" situations - no.

So, pardon me if I yawn through the tragic news reports of the latest one du jour. Most of them don't even seem to get any attention unless they shoot in the double digits (7 so far this year!), and the gun nuts think the second amendment gives them the right to roam local department stores with AR-15's strapped on their back (remember this thread? http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022218233), so UNTIL WE DECIDE TO TAKE AWAY THE ABILITY TO FIRE MORE THAN A FEW ROUNDS AT A TIME (and I will let the gun nuts earnestly explain why that isn't possible or necessary), instead of the breathless ratings driven television reportage, I'm going to re-watch the helpful hints in this old thread:

"RUN. HIDE. FIGHT. Surviving an Active Shooter Situation." http://www.democraticunderground.com/12623980

Condolences to the victims and their families. Prayers for the next ones - because based on the current realities, I predicate another "mass shooting/killing" within the next ten days or so.

(Look! I'm psychic! I can do math! 272 days since Newtown / 29 incidents of 4+ killed = average of 9.4 days! )

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. We've gotten so complacent that this one mass shooting barely got national attention. In July 2013.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/27/3525365/seven-dead-after-standoff-shootings.html

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/03/3539629_p2/hialeah-killer-showed-signs-of.html

7 dead, including the gunman, who was...you guessed it....a CCW carrying legal gun owner.

7 dead, and very mild national media attention. Most people in this country don't even know it happened.

Back in April there was a shooting in my office building, a murder suicide, which unfortunately all of which I heard take place. I was shocked and surprised when it happened, but on the other hand, not all that much so. Sandy Hook really brought home gun violence to me (as a dad of two young children) and I just had this awful feeling that at some time in my life I would witness some sort of act of gun violence. I did not know it would be so soon after Sandy Hook.

[IdaBriggs]

4. I am sorry you had to go through that.

I am not sure which is worse - when the victims "know" each other, or when it is random killing.

With the one, you can convince yourself that you have some control over the situation.

With the other, you are at the mercy of the fickle gods of randomness.



Sigh.

[Horse with no Name]

2. Simply put

when we couldn't get anything done when little kids get slaughtered in their play centers in kindergarten, I had to quit caring.

[IdaBriggs]

3. My twins are six. I cannot explain in words my outrage over the fact NOTHING CHANGED

after that incident.

[Jester Messiah]

5. Pretty much says it all...

[img][/img]