Something I just don't understand.

[miller.lyte]

This has bothered me for a long while every time I see any sensationalized act of violence on the media.

Any time it involves or centralizes around a firearm, everyone points the finger at the firearm; mental health and other underlying causes are either ignored or discussed after emotions have settled, and that's that.

When I say "everyone," I'm not just referring to political figureheads who have a set agenda on gun control. I see this all the time in the comments of all sorts of news outlets, I hear people discussing it amongst themselves and on social media. There's an overwhelming amount of talk of mental health, focus on underlying causes of the incident, and even sympathy and excuses for the offender.

But all of that talk goes the way of the dodo when there's an incident involving guns. That's really the only time I ever see anyone pointing the finger at the weapon instead of the nutjob behind it.

I can understand the extreme antis and why they will typically point the finger at guns, but as it has been discussed here many a time, there are far more fence-sitters than staunch antis, yet I have yet to see anyone putting the blame to cars, knives, or bombs (or the availability thereof) except when it comes to guns. One would think with as many neutral folks out there, the would be as much talk of mental health about gun violence as there is any other type, but there's not.

Basically what I'm asking is, why do guns seem to get singled out by everyone but pro-gunners when it comes to incidents, when given any other weapon their sentiments are entirely different?

I haven't been alive all that long, I'm only in my 20s. Has it always been this way? If not, what changed? It doesn't make sense to me.

 

[wgaynor]

Hoplophobia

 

[Sam Cade]

Food for thought from the UK:

Do you know anyone who carries a knife?

The next victim could be you, someone you know, a friend or a family member. Knives are not a game and can be lethal. Ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and help us to make the streets safer

http://www.northumbria.police.uk/ebeat/myhub/besafe/knives/index.asp

It serves the goals of the Statists to direct attention to the tool used and away from the social ills that led to the commission of the crime.

 

[Midwest]

"National Knife Amnesty" ???

 

[Sam Cade]

"National Knife Amnesty" ???

Yep. The UK has been regularly having "Knife Amnestys" at various levels for a decade now.



It is the logical outgrown of the State's desire to vilify the object.

Basically what I'm asking is, why do guns seem to get singled out by everyone but pro-gunners when it comes to incidents, when given any other weapon their sentiments are entirely different?

Once any organization reaches a certain critical size the primary function of that organization is to ensure its own continued existence and increase the amount of power that the organization wields. The State can achieve both of those goals by decreasing the presence of arms under the control of private citizenry. This goal is best facilitated by warping public opinion against the private ownership of arms so that the citizens will willingly disarm.

 

[2A Citizen]

This has bothered me for a long while every time I see any sensationalized act of violence on the media.

Any time it involves or centralizes around a firearm, everyone points the finger at the firearm; mental health and other underlying causes are either ignored or discussed after emotions have settled, and that's that.

When I say "everyone," I'm not just referring to political figureheads who have a set agenda on gun control. I see this all the time in the comments of all sorts of news outlets, I hear people discussing it amongst themselves and on social media. There's an overwhelming amount of talk of mental health, focus on underlying causes of the incident, and even sympathy and excuses for the offender.

But all of that talk goes the way of the dodo when there's an incident involving guns. That's really the only time I ever see anyone pointing the finger at the weapon instead of the nutjob behind it.

I can understand the extreme antis and why they will typically point the finger at guns, but as it has been discussed here many a time, there are far more fence-sitters than staunch antis, yet I have yet to see anyone putting the blame to cars, knives, or bombs (or the availability thereof) except when it comes to guns. One would think with as many neutral folks out there, the would be as much talk of mental health about gun violence as there is any other type, but there's not.

Basically what I'm asking is, why do guns seem to get singled out by everyone but pro-gunners when it comes to incidents, when given any other weapon their sentiments are entirely different?

I haven't been alive all that long, I'm only in my 20s. Has it always been this way? If not, what changed? It doesn't make sense to me.

Great Question! I suspect if you were to Google this question you'd find perhaps many differing opinions on the sociological changes over the course of your lifetime.
But no, it hasn't always been this way. For certain when I was a kid and something occurred folks would point to the gun alright, but they'd be more inclined to wonder where he stole it or where he got it, very soon segueing onto his hoped for punishment, etc. The focus was more on punishment for crime than tool used for the crime.

I feel certain you've noticed that we as in the 'American-Society WE' don't really go for common sense. We eschew Gender roles. We reward Youth and Beauty while severing the head off of the Wise, tossing them along with their ideas out like so much trash.

And we pay a price for all this. The price we pay is your question and it's relevance. It will take a cataclysmic event to realign us with common sense. I'm not a great apocalyptic doomsayer. I just don't see a reasonable way out with either the FAR left or the FAR right always telling us the sky is falling. The Sky isn't falling. We, the people simply have loosed/bore/elected/tolerated an army of Azzholes that haven't got common sense in mind. They have greed in mind. And they think it's normal.

Practically all institutions play a role in this; religion, politics, family to name a few.

I'm not a lover of analogies, but let me give you a for instance. I owned a garage back in the 80's and 90's. 14 years worth. The big catch phrase at the time was, "Grow Your Business." My Business did grow. But I never set out to grow it. It grew naturally, because I and my employees performed better. But we never grew huge. We grew only as far as I could personally trust it. I would have grown it more if I could have found more trustworthy mechanics. My relationships with my customers was paramount and the most important thing to me. If you had talent, and good common courtesy and common sense I might have hired you. One of my mechanics was a former Julliard student. But in the locale I didn't have those kinds of choice people to hire from.
My Buddy down the street often advertised 29.95 Tune ups and the like.
I asked him one day, "Bobby, why do you do that? How on earth can you do a tune up for 29.95?" He said, "Tom we don't. We just put that out that there to bring them in." Doesn't matter what you call it; loss leader. Bait and switch, or my personal-label for it; lying. It's simply greed. All those bumper stickers that say all politics is local ain't lying. Greed is ubiquitous. And common sense no longer rules the day.

The Anti gunners that you mention are just looking for someone or some "thing" to blame, that's all.
ETA: as opposed to looking in the mirror and taking some blame or personal responsibility.
Whereas as you pointed out, Mental health is one of many culprits for our societal ills.

Me? I say it all starts at home; family, upbringing.

 

[bergmen]

My brother sent this to me:

"We are told NOT TO judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics."

BUT...

"We are encouraged TO judge ALL Gun Owners by the actions of a few lunatics."

Kind of along the same lines.

Dan

 

[Rock185]

Reference the UK, 3-4 years ago, an "Anti-Stab" knife with an unusual point was was developed in Britain. Should certainly be availble for sale by now for any of you that might be anxious to order one. No, really, I'm not kidding...

BTW, several years ago, I was acquainted with an immigrant from Britain who work at another part of the airport where I worked. He said he thought a person was more likely to be assaulted in Britain than in the U.S. Then said, "but of course, we don't have guns". I was just suprised that he thought Britain was actually more violent than the U.S. I would not have bet on a Brit having that view, or admitting it if he did. While assigned nearby, I was asked to show a visiting Bristish police officer around our unit. Nice guy, got to chat with him as I showed him arround. He told me he had never fired a gun and wouldn't want to carry one because somebody might take it away from him and hurt him with it. Consistent with the attitude expressed on the "turn in your knife before someone turns it on you" in poster". Different world view I guess...