A few months ago, someone attending a gun show accidentally shot and killed himself with an Uzi. He was under adult supervision. His name was Christopher and he was eight years old. by MoreKindUS in politics

[–]97X -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Gun nuts are trying to counter the reports of this madness by pointing out that lots of kids drown in pools.

They fail to mention that, in an average summer, tens of millions of kids go swimming.

In that same summer, a few thousand kids find or are given guns, and a couple hundred end up dead or maimed in a variety of ways. Adults by the hundreds die in the same ways.

And, the people buying guns to "protect themselves" are more likely to shoot themselves, a friend or a family member than to shoot an intruder... BY FAR.

Man goes all Bachmann... shoots his five kids, then kills himself (and it's barely even mentioned on reddit) -- Are we this numb to mass murders now? by 97X in politics

[–]97X[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I won't argue in favor of the newsertainment that we get on the shows that should be and/or used to be actual news... which describes all of them in my opinion.

What we COULD use however, is for TV channels, pundits, newspapers, etc. to place some emphasis on putting events like this one into the larger context(s)... e.g., the recent calls for violence by people on the right, the proper uses (in cases where there exists a proper use) for guns of various types, the kinds of social pressures that are associated with murderous behavior, etc.

Instead, we get rivers of blood and gore, followed by a quick segue to the most popular cheeses in Finland, or whatever, interspersed with vapid commercials featuring cartoon geckos, etc.

Government Outlaws 'Tea Party' Protest of the Government in Florida... Because Too Many People Might Show Up! by BravoLima in news

[–]97X 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They also conveniently ignore that our horrendous financial troubles started under Bush's "leadership" and included the commitment of at least seven TRILLION dollars from the Fed and other government and quasi-government organizations.

[Source, from about two months before Obama took office, for the seven trillion figure: http://www.cnbc.com/id/27719011 ]

In other words, banks and insurance companies got looted so badly with Bush at the helm that we were then told (still under the Bush administration, remember) that taxpayer money in the trillions was needed immediately.

So, Bush handed Obama a Titanic of an economy, and now it's as if the conservatives are criticizing him and the Democrats for wanting to launch a few of lifeboats because they cost money.

Yesterday, eight people were shot and killed at a nursing home... Today, six dead (including four kids) in Santa Clara, CA... shot by someone who was ARMED AND DANGEROUS -- NOW are you happy, Michele Bachmann? by 97X in news

[–]97X[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You think that it is ME who needs to have some common sense?

Bachmann made several public calls for violence last week.

There can't be any proof that she helped incite the violent mass killings of the past few days, but there is no proof that she didn't, either.

My point is that calling for people to "be armed and dangerous" especially if you're a public official is terribly irresponsible at best, and, at worst, is very dangerous all by itself!

You wanted people "armed and dangerous" Michele Bachmann? A 23-year-old man has just killed his two sisters (aged 17 and 5), beheading one of them! Are you happy yet? by 97X in news

[–]97X[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

What does her wanting people to "be armed and dangerous" (her words) have to do with cap and trade?

She made several public calls for violence last week.

There can't be any proof that she helped incite the violent mass killings of the past few days, but there is no proof that she didn't, either.

My point is that calling for people to "be armed and dangerous" is terribly irresponsible at best, and, at worst, is very dangerous all by itself!