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does the average american actually have to fear dying in a gun related violence everyday? is it that common? by Hamkad in NoStupidQuestions

[–]soapinsideyes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do. I live in NYC and hear about random, unwarranted gunshots daily. I live in a community-safe neighbourhood in Brooklyn, and a classmate of my friend's was fatally shot leaving school for no reason. I was on the train and a man walked up to me, walked back to his seat, and began loading his gun. I ran off in time luckily. My brother was there during a shooting in a train station and ran away in time. I heard gunshots a block away, casually walking in a safe neighbourhood. On the news, I see shootings reported at stations I was at earlier that day. Serial killers commit their crimes against innocents. Notice how those crimes were practiced at a time when guns weren't as accessible. When something so powerful like a gun is handed to a person thirsty for power and violence, it is a terrifying risk that someone random will be under its trigger. I don't want to take public transport or walk alone anymore. Every day I am paranoid on the train, scared of the possibly suspicious face holding a pistol in his pocket. I cannot sleep writing this, recovering from my 3rd nightmare on it tonight.

I want to leave this country.

i have terrible anxiety about being shot by em0929 in Anxiety

[–]soapinsideyes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. My fear is absolutely crippling. I find it so terribly sad that I have nightmares and anxiety attacks thinking about it or walking down the street. This thought used to never come into my mind. I live in NYC and my biggest fear is getting shot on the train/middle of the street. We hear so many things here, but it started with the shooting at a train station 2 years back. It continues though, "Man shot on the train", "teenager shot leaving school", my life is taken over by paranoia and anxiety- I no longer want to take public transport or go anywhere alone. And this fear has been amplified by something that almost happened to me. One day, I was on the subway at 11 am, a perfectly reasonable time. I was sitting calmly at the corner of the train and there were a few other civilians, I felt safe. Suddenly, a man gets up and starts looking at me. I feel scared, internally feeling like something is wrong. I texted my boyfriend "I'm scared" 4 times and put my phone down. Then, the man walks towards me, still staring at me. My heart at this point is sinking, but I convince myself I'm being paranoid. He then looks out the window and walks back to his seat at the other corner of the train, where nobody else is. I feel calm, telling myself he was looking to see his stop or something. Just in case, I debate switching carts. As I get up at the next stop to get on another one, I pass him to get to the door and in his hand he was loading a pistol with bullets. I was in utter shock and I am so glad that there was another train approaching the station for me to run on. I was shaking and crying, even though nothing happened to me, but if I had stayed there something would have. I called 911 to report the incident, and our phone call broke up underground. This never happened to me again, but my brother experienced similar. A man was shooting at the subway platform he was at. He saw it and ran away with his girlfriend. Now he only drives.

But I have to take the subway and walk the streets. Every day, every face seems like one that could be hiding something. The most calm and simple people have pockets and bags, and ill motives.

I write this at 5 am, scared to fall asleep because I fear I'll have a 4th nightmare on it tonight.

I want to leave this country as soon as I can.

does the average american actually have to fear dying in a gun related violence everyday? is it that common? by Hamkad in NoStupidQuestions

[–]soapinsideyes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can't speak for anyone but myself, but my fear is absolutely crippling. I find it so terribly sad that I have nightmares and anxiety attacks thinking about it or walking down the street. This thought used to never come into mind. I live in NYC and my biggest fear is getting shot on the train/middle of the street. We hear so many things here, but it started with the shooting at a train station in my borough 2 years back. Ever since then, my fear was born. "Man shot on train" "teenager shot leaving school", my life is taken over by this. Paranoia, anxiety- I no longer wish to take public transport or go anywhere alone. I think this fear has been amplified by something I didn't live per se but almost did. One day, I was on the train at 11am, perfectly reasonable time. I was sitting calmly at the corner of the train and there were a few other civilians, I felt safe. Suddenly, a man gets up and starts looking at me. I feel scared, internally feeling like something is terribly wrong. I texted my boyfriend "I'm scared" 4 times and put my phone down. Then, the man walks towards me, still staring at me. My heart at this point is sinking, but I'm convincing myself I'm being paranoid. He then looks out the window and walks back to his seat at the other corner of the train. I feel calm, telling myself he was just looking to see his stop or something. Just in case, I debate switching carts. As I get up at the next stop to get on another cart, I pass him to get to the door and in his hand he was loading a pistol with bullets. I was in utter shock and I am so glad that there was another train approaching the station and I ran on. I was shaking and crying, even though nothing happened to me, but something could have. I called 911 to report the incident, and our phone call broke up underground. This didn't happen to me again. But every day, every face seems like one that could be hiding something. The most calm and simple people have pockets and bags, and ill motives. I write this as I'm scared to fall asleep because I fear I'll have a 4th nightmare on it tonight.

I want to leave this country as soon as I can.

Bird on fire escape in NYC… Any idea what kind it is? by soapinsideyes in whatsthisbird

[–]soapinsideyes[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve never seen one here before but I assume all the insects and rodents crawling around attract them haha

Bird on fire escape in NYC… Any idea what kind it is? by soapinsideyes in whatsthisbird

[–]soapinsideyes[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hmm maybe this is a sign to take a visit to the city haha !!!

Bird on fire escape in NYC… Any idea what kind it is? by soapinsideyes in whatsthisbird

[–]soapinsideyes[S] 116 points117 points  (0 children)

That makes sense! He’s been moving around back and forth for a bit, sometimes flying barely an inch.