However.
Gun ownership per capita in the USA has remained consistent over the last 45 years.
On the other hand, the frequency of mass shootings has significantly increased—especially in the last 10–15 years [information about two thirds of the way down that article: graph reproduced below].
Instead of screaming about gun ownership, perhaps we should be asking what has changed to increase the prevalence of people who want to carry out these mass shootings...?*
Crazy idea, I know.
* And no, I don't have an answer. I have a few suspicions but, in the meantime, I look forward to opprobrium and the occasional sensible comment.
UPDATE: Squander Two was saying something similar some time ago. Do go and read the whole thing...
5 comments:
While an interesting correlation not a complete one - there have been a lot of recent campaigns to increase access and decrease background checks to allow ownership which might skew this result.
Breakdown of social networks. It is sometimes called "atomization". It is happening in Britain and other Western countries as well. When face-to-face support networks disappear, it intensifies negative feelings in an individual. It is amplified by the effect of social media on the internet which displaces genuine human interaction.
There was a book called Bowling Alone published in 2000 about the decline in social participation in the USA.
Plot the rise in use of SSRIs in under 25s vs the number of mass shootings by the same, and you'll have you answer as to why the graph is going up. The US is pumping brain chemistry altering drugs into its children in vast quantities because the parents aren't prepared to do proper parenting and want a quick fix to teenage Johnny's 'difficult' behaviour. These drugs are KNOWN to have bad side effects in young people, their brains have not stopped developing. If you medicate enough people, the very small number of adverse reactions will be significant.
As Sobers says, plus the prevalence of extremely violent computer games, with 3D scenes approaching reality, played by these chemically-coshed youngsters, just might be a factor - they're certainly de-sensitizing.
A good link on just how many children are on mental health meds in the US:
https://www.cchrint.org/psychiatric-drugs/children-on-psychiatric-drugs/
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