Tue Jun 21, 2016, 09:59 AM

TeddyR (2,493 posts)

"America's gun problem is so much bigger than mass shootings"

The US could end all mass shootings today and its rates of gun violence would still be many times higher than other rich countries.

There is a stark racial disparity in gun violence.

Much of America’s day-to-day gun violence is concentrated in America’s poorest, most racially segregated neighborhoods – places with high rates of unemployment, struggling school systems, and high levels of mistrust between police officers and community members.

African Americans, who represent 13% of the total population, make up more than half of overall gun murder victims. Roughly 15 of the 30 Americans murdered with guns each day are black men.

This is the second part of a series of Guardian stories regarding gun violence in America. Yesterday's story discussed mass shootings and noted that for the Obama administration and a group of Sandy Hook parents the AWB wasn't a priority because it wouldn't make much difference. Today's story makes the point (among many) that the vast majority of firearm murders in the US disproportionately impact African American males. Link - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/21/gun-control-debate-mass-shootings-gun-violence

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7 replies	Author	Time	Post
"America's gun problem is so much bigger than mass shootings" (Original post)	TeddyR	Jun 2016	OP
Sadly gun control efforts seem to be limited to whenever there is a mass shooting in the news	Matrosov	Jun 2016	#1
Because, most of these shootings take place in areas where they are expected	HereSince1628	Jun 2016	#6
AA are also disproportionately impacted by poverty, diabetes, incarceration, crime.	Alex4Martinez	Jun 2016	#2
In the US a black man is 10 more likely to be shot than a non-Hispanic white man	HereSince1628	Jun 2016	#3
Around 80% of gun homicides are gang or drug related	Lee-Lee	Jun 2016	#4
It's certainly pretty highly correlated to both.	HereSince1628	Jun 2016	#7
guns make the powerless feel powerful	maxsolomon	Jun 2016	#5

Response to TeddyR (Original post)

Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:47 AM

Matrosov (1,098 posts)

1. Sadly gun control efforts seem to be limited to whenever there is a mass shooting in the news

As I keep saying, this should be a 24/7/365 effort. Is the gun lobby only active whenever there is a mass shooting in the news? Of course not. Then why do so many of us fall asleep when it comes to the subject of every-day gun violence?

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Response to Matrosov (Reply #1)

Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:02 AM

HereSince1628 (36,063 posts)

6. Because, most of these shootings take place in areas where they are expected

Areas in which 'So Many of Us' don't live and don't think about.

It's only when the shootings take place outside of the areas where they have become 'local news background', involve other than the usual race of victims, or involve so many people that they are newsworthy.

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Response to TeddyR (Original post)

Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:50 AM

Alex4Martinez (1,740 posts)

2. AA are also disproportionately impacted by poverty, diabetes, incarceration, crime.

So, yeah, it makes sense that gun and other forms of violence impact them.

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Response to TeddyR (Original post)

Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:57 AM

HereSince1628 (36,063 posts)

3. In the US a black man is 10 more likely to be shot than a non-Hispanic white man

In liberal, dare I say, even a state viewed from afar as 'progressive' state as WI is, there are worse rates.

In WI a black man is 30, yes THIRTY, times more likely to be shot than a non-Hispanic white man.

And evidence from sites keeping score, such as shootingtracker.com and massshootingtracker.org show that across America well more than half of the multiple homicides that meet LE and FBI criteria as 'mass-shootings' the shooter isn't even known by name and consequently can't be known to be a convicted felon, a mentally disordered person or a terrorist.

What we know are the victims. And that there are way too damn many of those.

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Response to TeddyR (Original post)

Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:59 AM

Lee-Lee (6,324 posts)

4. Around 80% of gun homicides are gang or drug related

It's a symptom of poverty and a failed drug policy.

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Response to Lee-Lee (Reply #4)

Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:03 AM

HereSince1628 (36,063 posts)

7. It's certainly pretty highly correlated to both.

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Response to TeddyR (Original post)

Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:02 AM

maxsolomon (23,553 posts)

5. guns make the powerless feel powerful

they also facilitate making anger into violence - instantly, cheaply and efficiently.

ironic that so many 'responsible' gun owners have had their weapons stolen. every gun starts out legal.

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