Like I said, “in my experience”.

I don’t like guns, would never own one and shouldn’t, as I have said before; however, it’s still my experience that the smaller the places that I have lived, the safer they have been. Those places have a higher percentage of the population carrying or with access to guns. I’ve lived all over Michigan, Florida, Washington, California, Texas, Indiana and near Chicago. I feel much safer in the areas with a legally armed populace. I’m not even arguing the politics of guns because nobody really changes their minds about anything anymore. I’m just saying that for me, I feel safer in those places. YMMV.

It seems like just in the last couple of decades gun ownership as an expression of politics has become more of a thing. Those people I worry about the most.

The people in the rural parts of my state have always been heavily armed for hunting, protecting livestock, home protection where there are no nearby police services etc. I feel very safe around them. I had to tell my New England parents, when they were visiting, not be alarmed in those rural areas if someone has their rifle over their shoulder out and about - they're not showing off, they're not expressing their 2nd amendment rights, they're working or hunting or between one or the other.

Then in a place like Boise you have another category that I never ran into anywhere else - the very well armed, liberal, gun-control supporting, firearm enthusiast. I haven't quite become one of them, but I've enjoyed shooting out in the desert with them (first time I ever touched a gun was out here in my 30s). They are certainly safety-first, have the guns for recreation, and also as a hedge against economic or climate change catastrophe. And really, with what we've experienced the last few years, being in Idaho with NO guns would make me feel kind vulnerable. I don't expect the complete fall of civilization in my lifetime or anything, but, a temporary or gradual emergency bringing about more dangerous conditions locally is much more likely. The party isn't going to last forever. If the pandemic was just a little worse, shipping and food supply would have been an issue. I think it makes sense to have some basic emergency preparations for that kind of thing, and firearms are a part of that.

There were guns everywhere in college. I know my friends had them in the dorm rooms. No big deal. But admittedly, those were different days.

Now in Georgia, I know there's conceal carry everywhere and no problems with that either. The last time I was a perturbed was when I saw open carry at my Kroger parking lot. It's your right but unnecessary.

I think your assertion that the smaller a place is the safer it is might certainly be true, but attributing that to gun ownership seems like quite the leap. There is plenty of science that says the exact opposite, fwiw.

https://www.rand.org/research/gun-po...-policies.html

State gun laws, gun ownership, and mass shootings in the US: cross sectional time series | The BMJ

The burden of firearm violence in the United States: stricter laws result in safer states - PMC

The crime rate in Brownwood is higher than the national average. The same is true for both violent crime and property crime. The number of sexual assaults in that town of less than 20K is atrocious.

We don't have to judge it by vibes or anecdotes. America has the highest per capita civilian gun ownership in the world. It is also the most violent country in the first world.

People can like owning guns because it makes them feel better or it's a fun hobby. But it does not make your community safer. That's a statistical fact.

I literally moved here to Early, TX (population 3,000 or so) yesterday. Today is day number 2. When I say small towns, I’m talking less than 5,000. Mostly less than 3,000. Where I lived in the Sierras of Northern California, the population was less than 500. Everyone had guns, including my in-laws, and there was zero crime.

This morning, I stopped at a gas station here in Early and the guy working at the register was carrying and then at the Red Wagon for breakfast, half the people there were too. I bet nobody goes in and robs those places.

I just

I mean, some places probably aren't going to get robbed very often because who the heck would go out there?

There you have it. Everyone carries, no crime. Similar to Deadwood in the 19th century.

I hate being around people open carrying. I don't trust people not to lose their shit because a waitress forgot to bring ranch dressing or something. Awhile back, I left a dog park because a weird guy was there with his AR for no reason whatsoever. I hate it.

I hope you like it down there though. I've been through a few times on the way to Hill Country and have eaten at the Schlotzky's several times for some strange reason.

I tend to think diners in rural 3K population towns are on the low-end risk for hold-ups, whether or not anyone has a gun in the place. That just doesn't scream "SCORE!" to me or, I imagine, most robbers.

I just noticed that my post got cut off.

“I just asked someone about Brownwood, and they said it has more to do with drugs than anything. Brownwood is on the way over to Abilene and is in the middle of a stretch of nothing. I don’t know and I don’t care. I doubt I’ll change your mind and I doubt you’ll change what I’ve experienced. My post is an observation.”

Like I said, it was an observation of where I’ve been and how safe I’ve felt. I don’t care if people want to mock me. Mock all you want. That’s the reason why I hate politics and would never join a party. I look at issues and vote based on them, not by party line bullshit. I’m all over the place based on my individual crazy beliefs. I’d be excommunicated from both parties. Some of my beliefs are very liberal and some are very conservative. I guess I’m weird. I just think politics create assholes, especially in the internet age. I disregard assholes and self-righteous mockery. As far as I’m concerned, people that clown other people’s views can go fuck themselves.

Even in a small town, meth, benzodiazepines and opioids will make people do a lot of things. That’s the problem in smaller areas: drugs, not guns.

Yeah, my small hometown doesn't have much in the way of gun violence but there's a shit ton of drug-related theft.

I don't think data is available for 2023 yet. But in 2022, Early, Texas had a higher homicide rate than Chicago.

Nobodies mocking you, Schimidty. You are giving an opinion based on a feeling, and that's fine. As for me, I am as well. I am in and out of houses all the time of gun owners. I see the gun sitting on the nightstand, the one sitting by the sofa, the AR-15 loaded and propped up next to the window encase of an invasion, and the children's toys in every room. The chances a kid is killed by one of those guns is many times higher than the chance they will ever use it for protection. I do not trust the reasoning of the average gun enthusiast.

Links?

From early googling I find that in 2022 Chicago's murder rate was almost three times that of Texas.

You were talking about small towns and mentioned Early. There was 1 murder in Early in 2022 which makes their murder rate higher than Chicago and most major cities.

I would also add that for Texas and all its guns, it is considerably more dangerous than the state of New York and California in terms of homicide rate.

There is really no statistic out there that shows more guns means less murders. Not mocking you either, those are just the statistics. If guns made communities safer, we should he the safest country in the world.

To me that’s a sensible viewpoint (maybe that makes me crazy too though TBF :D ). I do lean one side of centre, but every election look at how the party in power has done, what the alternative is and what both stand for.

In the UK this year this means there’s only one choice: our current government has been in dead-man-walking mode for at least a year now.

There’s no point in blindly following one group regardless of what they say and do just because they wear blue/red - that’s crazy

I feel the same way Schmidty, I take parties out of it and rank candidates by how they align most to my beliefs, which are very moderate. I guess some people's views align perfectly with parties and that's fine, just doesn't work for me.

When you folks say you pick candidates based on how they align to your beliefs, do you mean what they espouse to be their beliefs, or what they end up voting for in Congress (or wherever)? Because sometimes those things are surprisingly different.

Yet another shooting by gun yahoos

This one they took out cops and paramedics after calling in.

So it seems the winning answer of the "what was the motive of the KC shooting?" was that golden oldie...Gang Violence.

Fuck all those punks death penatly the lot of them, even the teens.

Punks diss one guy saying "what are you looking at", then punk goes up and starts pointing fingers at them, then drawing a gun, then one chases another unarmed guy and they all take out guns and start firing.

FUCK THEM ALL!

Fixed it for you :)

The armorer in the Baldwin case was convicted today of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

:(

I do believe majority of fault lies with her.

Baldwin should never have been handed a weapon with real bullets.

Baldwin has problems as the producer, but actors should never do anything with a weapon that they aren't told to do. Actors checking guns is much less safe long-term.

whoa of COURSE it wasn't baldwin's fault. Collectively there is always supposed to be everyone making sure all guns are safe. I've used starter pistols before in theatre and have seen similar used. I have frequently seen safety issues around fake guns ignored....especially when you deal with moronic community theatres and such. I am sad because it sucks that someone is going to jail for this too because it is a heartbreaking issue. An accident. WHY THE HELL IS THERE A REAL BULLET ON A SET?!~?!? THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION into this. If you use replicas if you use real authentic historical pieces (which you really shouldn't because they could explode and break at any time) It's just horrible. Really that's also why it is said you should NEVER point a gun at anyone even if it is fake. You point it so that it looks like you are pointing it. However camera people ....that's something harder to work around. I seriously would like to hear details of this before I rant any more as I don't really know much. Just sad :(

Personal responsibility. He did it. I’ve only fired off rounds twice in my life. When I was 10. My father figure had me shoot a .22 which was easy, and then a .44 magnum, which knocked me to the ground onto my ass. I wasn’t ready, and at that point wasn’t accountable as an adult. But if I were accountable and adult, and fired off a .44 and accidentally killed somebody, do you believe that my affluence and fame should save me from at least a manslaughter charge?

Is it because he fits a certain stereotype that is easy?

He definitely shares blame. But the armorer has more, call it 80-20, 70-30.

It is reasonable to assume, acting on a set, if the armorer gives you a weapon to assume it’s not loaded with a real bullet.

Now if Baldwin knew there were live rounds, that is different. I don’t believe he did.

Gun handling on a set is very regimented and the last thing you want is individuals taking it upon themselves to alter the weapon in any way. Actors are taught to take the gun only from the armorer or armorer's assistant, never open or alter the gun, never leave it outside of your possession, only point it where told to point it, and return it to the armorer or assistant as soon as the scene is over.

That puts all the responsibility into the hands of the armorer and that's the most safe procedure. Actors get fired for stepping outside the processes established by the armorer. I know I wouldn't stay on a set where anybody has the freedom to examine and alter the weapons.

Again, as a producer, Baldwin is responsible for the way the set ran, but as an actor, his job is to do as little with the weapon as possible.

I disagree with the jail time. Not every tragedy requires someone going to jail. What exactly does it accomplish? Just bar the armorer from working as an armorer or something.

Baldwin should absolutely be sued as the producer and I'm pretty sure he has been.

Great responses about Baldwin.

I do believe that he is monetarily and executively responsible, and that the “armorer” is responsible; however, perhaps the rich, white liberal guy who clicks all of the boxes, had control and just said, “Fuck it” and killed should be more at risk of litigation than the person that didn’t have all of that and just fucked up. Should she be prosecuted and convicted. Of course.

But maybe we should stop giving joke decisions to people simply because they have money and are good for Your agenda.

Why does it matter that he's rich, white, and liberal?

Is there a sliding scale based on demographics?

If Chuck Norris shot and killed someone on set would it be OK because "it's Chuck Norris, what did you think was going to happen?"

it fits his narrative

Come on. You ain’t dumb.

Clicked into what clicks the box for YOU perhaps?

The armorer is responsible. I don't know what the proper punishment is. But her actions led to the death.

Baldwin is trickier. Was he careless? Did he do something that was reckless on set? If he followed all protocols and they just gave him a gun with a live bullet, I don't know how he deserves the blame. There is a video they played in court where he does seem a bit aggressive. But still, it probably doesn't cross your mind that there are real bullets even on set.

I don't think Baldwin's status has helped him in any way. I think if you're looking at a lens like that, the issue is why do people like the armorer get charged and sent to prison for involuntary manslaughter but the Sackler family doesn't? There is definitely a level you reach where you are no longer responsible for anything you ever do.

Holiday Mass Shooting comin at you

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Additional charges filed against man in killing of Uber driver he mistakenly believed was a scammer | CNN

I guess it is time for Uber drivers/delivery drivers to become fearful for the life and assuming that their customers have a gun cause it seems the drivers should be and the customers do.

what the fuck does EVERYONE have a dashcam now?

so is it murder if you don't intend to kill or don't plan it? I thought murder was actually planning it and everything else was manslaughter

or 2nd/3rd degree

Almost every Uber I've been in has a dashcam these days. Even seen some cams pointed at the backseat. Guessing it's a liability thing and they seem pretty cheap on Amazon.

It looks like he was charged with felony murder because the death occured while he was committing multiple felonies. $200k bond seems incredibly low considering how many serious crimes he's charged with.

Gotta have a dashcam cause people are nuts. I had a person report me as drunk to get a refund on an $9 ride.

To paraphrase the youngsters, Video or it did not happen. Hell, even with video we don't believe what is on the video if we don't see video of things that led up to the videotaped incidents. And again, that is before we get to the idea of AI/video editing.

The relative in jail scam seems to have evolved. Last year, it was simply one of calling parents to tell them their child was in jail and convincing them to CashApp the scammer bail money and a deposit for a high price attorney. I am curious how it moved to killing the scamee and the scame's family.

Savanna, Georgia makes a common sense law that require people to lock cars with guns in them (I think it should be illegal to leave a gun unattended in a car period, but at least this is a step in the right direction) and requiring people to report firearm thefts. The State of Georgia (aka the NRA's mouthpieces) says that just goes too far. We can't require gun owners to have any kind of responsibility, can we?

Attorney General Chris Carr has joined the fight over whether city councils and other local governmental bodies in Georgia can ban gun owners from leaving their firearms in unlocked cars. #gapolhttps://t.co/5I6QVTde1z

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) May 5, 2024

Who doesn't lock their car as a normal part of their day? Sure, when I was a kid living in small town Iowa in the 60's and 70's we didn't, nor did we lock the house even if we left town. I don't think my parents locked the house or car after us kids moved out and they past in the early 90's. I moved away in '79 and locked both the car and house from day one.

public policy around guns is not about being rational... it's just one of those issues that he fully devolved into signaling

an R in Georgia hears about this happening and sees an opportunity to grab the spotlight in a way that will shine well with his political supporters, maybe get him attention as someone who ought to move up in the party

a D in Illinois hears about something similar and sees an an opportunity to grab the spotlight in a way that will shine well with her political supporters, maybe get her attention as someone who ought to move up in the party