While it doesn't go into detail too much I find it jarring that there isn't some larger political movement to tighten these laws. I've been involved in a few small campaigns about gun reform and stuff like that, but Jersey is pretty tight with their gun laws already. I find that the mentality now is just that this is how it has been and how its going to be. To me that is a terrifying ideology.
Every movement that starts is overshadowed by NRA countermovements. Huge numbers of rural, conservative Americans believe more guns means less shootings, and no evidence, facts, or even the death of their own children will dissuade them. That's exactly the problem—ideology. Putting theory above practice. These people hold the theory that more guns means more safety, and they base their beliefs and actions on that theory, not on the practical, real world, in which their theory is simply not true.there isn't some larger political movement to tighten these laws.
that is a terrifying ideology.
The fundamental issue is that "meaningful gun reform" is different from "gun reform." Point to the Brady Bill on this graph: Now look at this graph: ...and recognize that the data here is disputed, controversial, and argued about by both sides... and their reform was of the "not fucking around" kind. So. Let's: - buy back all the guns we can - prohibit the import and sale of new semiautomatic rifles - require permits for everything - implement a 4-week waiting period - eliminate gun shows - license owners ...and bad things will still happen. To be perfectly clear: I would wholeheartedly support "meaningful" gun reform. I spent my teens in that crazy "trenchcoat mafia" zone. But part of the reason nothing happens is "do something" isn't good enough. We need to "do something severe" and that's a lot harder. Consider the shitshow we had over bloody health insurance. Now imagine the 'wingers if you said "oh, by the way if you want to own a gun you need a license with your photo on it... and a permit for every weapon. And we're melting down every semi-auto we can find and you'll never be able to buy another." Assume everybody agrees to it, the end result will be assault weapons become crazy stupid expensive, not impossible to find.
The only real pattern seems to be "bought their guns legally" and had some crime or mental illness history. Aaron Alexis even tried and failed to get treated twice. Making mental health services accessible and free-of-charge might have improved at least five of those scenarios. There were two or three shooters that could have been prevented if the background checks hadn't failed in some way. What would've stopped Vester Flanagan? The shooting was his first crime. (There were some indications he was an asshole, but no charges or mental problems.) This is why people think that these shootings are never going away.