Hi Ari. We did not have guns in our home growing up. Not sure if this has anything to do with anything, but my parents were European, and they never bought into the American gun culture. I don’t think they understood it. And I sure don’t. But a couple of years ago, at a family dinner, my nephew was so excited to surprise me with something. He took my hand and proudly led me to a room with a hidden safe. He opened it, and to my horror, inside were several, legally purchased what I think are machine guns. Nausea and sadness set in. He couldn’t understand my reaction as much as I couldn’t understand his pride and need to have these. Politically, we are worlds apart, and on gun control (which should not be political and is not always political), we are too.
How do we change this culture? Even if we have stricter gun control measures, how do we change people’s desire for, need for, obsession with guns?
My dad had a gun cabinet and I hunted as a kid. I also played duck hunt on my Nintendo (!!!). Today, when I see the video games and violence we expose kids to on TV it takes my breath away. I work on international crimes -many of which involve intentional violence perpetrated on a massive scale - the reality is that guns in the stream of commerce increase the lethality of intencional violence. We need to take guns - especially the most lethal ones - out of the stream of commerce to reduce gun violence and intentional killings and stop normalizing and even glorifying violence. Oh, and COVID has exposed and exacerbated the mental health crisis in the US, a crisis that we have increasingly leaned on the criminal legal system to address - which, of course, is inadequate. Our regulation of guns must also ensure that individuals struggling with mental health issues do not possess or otherwise have access to firearms.
Ari, thanks for this article on America’s gun epidemic and the law. I always feel a pit in my stomach because someone I knew from high school was killed in mass shooting (she was going to class when this horrible event happened - she was a Nursing student). I feel very sad for her family (she left her husband and four kids). I don’t think that I will ever understand the Americans’ obsession to guns including the AR-15. It did not take Canada and New Zealand long to ban assault rifles. Because the NRA are best friends with some members of the Congress, it will be difficult to ban assault weapons (follow the money). If the killing school children and teachers (CT) or nine church members (SC) did not move Congress to ban assault weapons, sadly nothing will move them to do something about the gun epidemic of our country.
This is such an important issue. I have tried to figure out this obsession with assault weapons. For me I view it through the lens of a type of addiction. The downside of escalating gun violence doesn’t seem to matter. I think this addiction like most addictions is triggered in times of stress and confusion. Owning a bigger more powerful gun provides some temporary relief only to be replaced by the anxiety induced by threats of taking guns away. For me the collective trauma and heartache caused by assault weapons outweighs its collective good for a country. Truthfully after Sandy Hook murder of first graders I have little hope for rational assault weapon legislation.
My dad was an occasional hunter, so he owned one shotgun. Just one, that he kept unloaded in his closet. We never feared its presence in our home. The thought of a military style AR-15 in our home is extremely frightening. I will never understand the mindset of someone owning a weapon that is so deadly. After all these mass shootings that have occurred in our country, nothing is ever done. I fear things will continue to get worse. God protect us.🙏
My grandfather served overseas in WWII. He owned one pistol after the war but only used it on New Years Eve, shooting skyward to celebrate. But, he, too was a member of the NRA!!! Back in the 50s, before it became politicized, the NRA was mostly hunters and gun enthusiasts.
However, in the mid-1960s, grandfather's aunt(!) routinely carried a pistol in her shopping bag for.... protection.
Hi Ari! Dorothy Bennett here! At 76 I thought I was too old to learn, but Ari, watching the BEAT and reading your newsletter is just like being in a classroom because I am learning so much needed information. Thank you Ari for the great topics you cover in the newsletter as well as on the Beat. That was a really great show today, and it was fun! Keep up the good work handsome!
My dad was a WW2 and Korean War vet. He had an army glock proudly displayed on top of his bar. It didn't bother me, I fact I liked shooting guns at my grandfather's place. When John Lennon was murdered I sold my pistol vowing never again to guns. Now, my community is terrorized every day by these awful war machines. My great niece and 3 of her friends were murdered by a lunatic with a gun two weeks ago. My country is collapsing , too many innocents killed by this pandemic of firearms. I'm sick. I don't know how to stop this.
My dad had a handgun when I was a kid, but we never saw it. Unfortunately, I now live in Texas where anybody can walk around with a gun. I'm so tired of seeing sad stories about little children being shot with unsecured guns. I'm going to have to move- it's too embarrassing to be from here, especially with a governor who is always spouting nonsense and lies and who refuses to help keep children safe.
Hi Ari, it is important to keep attention on the issue of gun violence in America. There are too many guns in society, too many people who think they need them, and, even among people who legally own them, too many people who have no idea how to use them and how to store them safely. The relatively recent trend to understand gun violence as a public health issue is a good one. The issue is so complex partially because guns seem to be part of the American mythology and the American identity; yet the reality of so many people, especially young people, killed each year by guns should affect change. I am still stunned that change didn't happen on the national level after Sandy Hook.
Hi Ari, thank you for putting this out there and keeping the light on this very important issue. It's lunacy that we are still dealing with these issues after all the horrible acts that we have seen over the years. Violence is being normalized in this country. For most, it is something seen on TV or in the newspaper, however, more families are being directly affected by the violence. I fear that things will get worse before they get better. A good place to start is getting these war weapons out of circulation. Keep talking about this and maybe, someday, we can do something. Thanks again Ari!! Have a great day!!
Ari, there is only one word to describe the use of a gun. “DEATH” whether it is fatal or not, what it does to a human being’s physical, emotional, and mental state is damage beyond repair. Yet, it continues to multiply and does the same thing over and over.
My family had shotguns for hunting. My brothers however would say their going hunting and never left the bars. Lol Mom proved it, one year she removed all the bullets from their gun case and replaced it socks & shoes. When questioned about how the hunt went, they didn't even know what she had done... I have cousins etc that were sheriff's/Police. They all know I won't get into a car with them or hang out in their houses, especially if theirs partying going on. I as so spooked by guns.. around here it's getting to be that it's not even safe to be in a car at nite due to drive by shootings. Pretty sad...
I grew up in West Texas, a haven in my youth for responsible gun owners but now a nest of irresponsible gun nuts. As a child, I was taught to respect handguns and rifles, and I shot my first bullfrog (I'm sorry now!) at age 5. I was given a BB pistol in my adolescence, shot only tin cans and the occasional tarantula. As a teen, I accompanied my father on dove, quail and deer hunts; we didn't have much money, so the critters killed provided much-needed protein for our family. I could shoot the birds with no qualms, but the first time I saw a beautiful deer through the scope -- even having a sure-kill shot -- I intentionally missed, and the deer escaped. My dad knew I couldn't pull the trigger on such a stunning, innocent creature. As a single career woman living in a sketchy neighborhood, I bought a Saturday Night Special; luckily, I never needed to use it. I still have that six-shooter, a reminder that it was bought strictly for protection. I can't imagine firing a weapon like an AR-15.
I did not grow up around guns. ALL guns scare me. I respect people hunting and wanting one for protection but Ugh, just one big problem here in the U.S. oh I feel bad for the animals being hunted. So unfair. Just my opinion. 🤪😂
Hi Ari, the only firing weapon a person should own is a hand gun to protect ones home . If one is a hunter for food , a rifle or shot gun which is registered can be owned. AR-15 or similar weapons should be issued to police or military while on duty . I see absolutely no reason for the Neo-Nazi or other such groups to own guns of any caliber .
Hi Ari. We did not have guns in our home growing up. Not sure if this has anything to do with anything, but my parents were European, and they never bought into the American gun culture. I don’t think they understood it. And I sure don’t. But a couple of years ago, at a family dinner, my nephew was so excited to surprise me with something. He took my hand and proudly led me to a room with a hidden safe. He opened it, and to my horror, inside were several, legally purchased what I think are machine guns. Nausea and sadness set in. He couldn’t understand my reaction as much as I couldn’t understand his pride and need to have these. Politically, we are worlds apart, and on gun control (which should not be political and is not always political), we are too.
How do we change this culture? Even if we have stricter gun control measures, how do we change people’s desire for, need for, obsession with guns?
My dad had a gun cabinet and I hunted as a kid. I also played duck hunt on my Nintendo (!!!). Today, when I see the video games and violence we expose kids to on TV it takes my breath away. I work on international crimes -many of which involve intentional violence perpetrated on a massive scale - the reality is that guns in the stream of commerce increase the lethality of intencional violence. We need to take guns - especially the most lethal ones - out of the stream of commerce to reduce gun violence and intentional killings and stop normalizing and even glorifying violence. Oh, and COVID has exposed and exacerbated the mental health crisis in the US, a crisis that we have increasingly leaned on the criminal legal system to address - which, of course, is inadequate. Our regulation of guns must also ensure that individuals struggling with mental health issues do not possess or otherwise have access to firearms.
Ari, thanks for this article on America’s gun epidemic and the law. I always feel a pit in my stomach because someone I knew from high school was killed in mass shooting (she was going to class when this horrible event happened - she was a Nursing student). I feel very sad for her family (she left her husband and four kids). I don’t think that I will ever understand the Americans’ obsession to guns including the AR-15. It did not take Canada and New Zealand long to ban assault rifles. Because the NRA are best friends with some members of the Congress, it will be difficult to ban assault weapons (follow the money). If the killing school children and teachers (CT) or nine church members (SC) did not move Congress to ban assault weapons, sadly nothing will move them to do something about the gun epidemic of our country.
This is such an important issue. I have tried to figure out this obsession with assault weapons. For me I view it through the lens of a type of addiction. The downside of escalating gun violence doesn’t seem to matter. I think this addiction like most addictions is triggered in times of stress and confusion. Owning a bigger more powerful gun provides some temporary relief only to be replaced by the anxiety induced by threats of taking guns away. For me the collective trauma and heartache caused by assault weapons outweighs its collective good for a country. Truthfully after Sandy Hook murder of first graders I have little hope for rational assault weapon legislation.
My dad was an occasional hunter, so he owned one shotgun. Just one, that he kept unloaded in his closet. We never feared its presence in our home. The thought of a military style AR-15 in our home is extremely frightening. I will never understand the mindset of someone owning a weapon that is so deadly. After all these mass shootings that have occurred in our country, nothing is ever done. I fear things will continue to get worse. God protect us.🙏
My grandfather served overseas in WWII. He owned one pistol after the war but only used it on New Years Eve, shooting skyward to celebrate. But, he, too was a member of the NRA!!! Back in the 50s, before it became politicized, the NRA was mostly hunters and gun enthusiasts.
However, in the mid-1960s, grandfather's aunt(!) routinely carried a pistol in her shopping bag for.... protection.
Hi Ari! Dorothy Bennett here! At 76 I thought I was too old to learn, but Ari, watching the BEAT and reading your newsletter is just like being in a classroom because I am learning so much needed information. Thank you Ari for the great topics you cover in the newsletter as well as on the Beat. That was a really great show today, and it was fun! Keep up the good work handsome!
My dad was a WW2 and Korean War vet. He had an army glock proudly displayed on top of his bar. It didn't bother me, I fact I liked shooting guns at my grandfather's place. When John Lennon was murdered I sold my pistol vowing never again to guns. Now, my community is terrorized every day by these awful war machines. My great niece and 3 of her friends were murdered by a lunatic with a gun two weeks ago. My country is collapsing , too many innocents killed by this pandemic of firearms. I'm sick. I don't know how to stop this.
My dad had a handgun when I was a kid, but we never saw it. Unfortunately, I now live in Texas where anybody can walk around with a gun. I'm so tired of seeing sad stories about little children being shot with unsecured guns. I'm going to have to move- it's too embarrassing to be from here, especially with a governor who is always spouting nonsense and lies and who refuses to help keep children safe.
Hi Ari, it is important to keep attention on the issue of gun violence in America. There are too many guns in society, too many people who think they need them, and, even among people who legally own them, too many people who have no idea how to use them and how to store them safely. The relatively recent trend to understand gun violence as a public health issue is a good one. The issue is so complex partially because guns seem to be part of the American mythology and the American identity; yet the reality of so many people, especially young people, killed each year by guns should affect change. I am still stunned that change didn't happen on the national level after Sandy Hook.
Hi Ari, thank you for putting this out there and keeping the light on this very important issue. It's lunacy that we are still dealing with these issues after all the horrible acts that we have seen over the years. Violence is being normalized in this country. For most, it is something seen on TV or in the newspaper, however, more families are being directly affected by the violence. I fear that things will get worse before they get better. A good place to start is getting these war weapons out of circulation. Keep talking about this and maybe, someday, we can do something. Thanks again Ari!! Have a great day!!
Ari, there is only one word to describe the use of a gun. “DEATH” whether it is fatal or not, what it does to a human being’s physical, emotional, and mental state is damage beyond repair. Yet, it continues to multiply and does the same thing over and over.
What is the answer?
My family had shotguns for hunting. My brothers however would say their going hunting and never left the bars. Lol Mom proved it, one year she removed all the bullets from their gun case and replaced it socks & shoes. When questioned about how the hunt went, they didn't even know what she had done... I have cousins etc that were sheriff's/Police. They all know I won't get into a car with them or hang out in their houses, especially if theirs partying going on. I as so spooked by guns.. around here it's getting to be that it's not even safe to be in a car at nite due to drive by shootings. Pretty sad...
I grew up in West Texas, a haven in my youth for responsible gun owners but now a nest of irresponsible gun nuts. As a child, I was taught to respect handguns and rifles, and I shot my first bullfrog (I'm sorry now!) at age 5. I was given a BB pistol in my adolescence, shot only tin cans and the occasional tarantula. As a teen, I accompanied my father on dove, quail and deer hunts; we didn't have much money, so the critters killed provided much-needed protein for our family. I could shoot the birds with no qualms, but the first time I saw a beautiful deer through the scope -- even having a sure-kill shot -- I intentionally missed, and the deer escaped. My dad knew I couldn't pull the trigger on such a stunning, innocent creature. As a single career woman living in a sketchy neighborhood, I bought a Saturday Night Special; luckily, I never needed to use it. I still have that six-shooter, a reminder that it was bought strictly for protection. I can't imagine firing a weapon like an AR-15.
I did not grow up around guns. ALL guns scare me. I respect people hunting and wanting one for protection but Ugh, just one big problem here in the U.S. oh I feel bad for the animals being hunted. So unfair. Just my opinion. 🤪😂
Hi Ari, the only firing weapon a person should own is a hand gun to protect ones home . If one is a hunter for food , a rifle or shot gun which is registered can be owned. AR-15 or similar weapons should be issued to police or military while on duty . I see absolutely no reason for the Neo-Nazi or other such groups to own guns of any caliber .