Sandy Hook

Dec. 17th, 2012 11:49 pm
anotheranon: (barbarians)
[personal profile] anotheranon
I’ve not been watching too closely because while I’m horrified I’m not shocked (and if I know more details it will feed my already overactive misanthropy). This is, what, the second mass shooting this year? Fourth in ~2 years? Isn’t it terrible that I don’t find this surprising anymore?

A lot of explanations and possible solutions have been proffered. I’ve read about raising kids to be more compassionate, regulating violent movies and video games, tighter gun controls, and I think some of these (especially the latter) might help to some degree, but I suspect American's strange relationship to guns comes from deep seated, cultural values/myths that no law is going to help abolish.



I think in America some people still adhere to the myth of the “frontier”, that guns are needed to protect ourselves from the unknown beyond and other, and that taking away guns is akin to preventing people from taking care of themselves.

I’m not sure what these people are so afraid of that they feel like they need to be armed. I also don’t get how having a gun would function as defense unless it’s in your hand AT ALL TIMES. For my own part, if someone’s holding me at gunpoint it’s far late to ask my assailant to wait a sec while I pull my gun out of my purse or some such.

Do people not trust the police anymore? I know there are corrupt cops and that some neighborhoods (poor, people of color) can't rely on police protection, but is it so bad that it's worth the risk of having your own gun?

I don’t get “stand your ground”. Isn’t the most sensible thing to do when threatened is run away? And if someone’s creeping in my yard, I’ll call the cops. If someone’s in my HOUSE, let them take whatever - it’s not worth risking becoming a murderer over mere stuff. And if they’re there to kill me, see above re: even if I own a gun I’m screwed if I’m not holding it right this second.

I'm reminded that in the 16th c. swordplay writer George Silver was critical of Italian rapier play because they were just too lethal: his argument was that dueling English style satisfied honor without killing anyone, whereas rapiers were designed to kill so quickly and efficiently that it became too easy for young men to die over something as stupid as stepping on someone's foot. Guns are similar to me: designed to do maximum damage with little effort or ability, from a distance. It seems like they’re just too damn easy to use in the heat of the moment without being close enough to even see the “threat” you’re shooting at. And if they're not RIGHT THERE, how much of a threat can they be (unless they have a gun, and this goes in a circle)...

I also think there is an enormous stigma against the mentally ill, and a corresponding unavailability of help for mentally ill people who really do need it. If there’s any argument that universal health care benefits all, Sandy Hook is it: if mentally ill people who are a danger to others get help they are less likely to shoot up small children.

This is just spitballing, I know I'm not showing my work with links or anything, nor do I have answers. I don’t know what kind of mental health policies would help catch potential mass shooters before they snap; I don’t know what needs to change in the culture to make people not feel like they need guns.

Feel free to debate in the comments, but keep it civil.
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