People wonder why it is that America has the most guns per capita and the most mass shootings in the world. My opinion is that our nation has developed, since its inception an extreme (even comparing the entirety of human history) culture of violence.
To say the U.S. is the most violent culture in history is a gross misconception of history which seems to be an integral part of the current pop culture. One only need to mention the Vikings, the Czar, the Mongolians, Germany or just about any other society in history to observe violence and conquest. To then turn to the ownership of guns just look at Switzerland where virtually every citizen is a member of the military along with gun ownership.
This is totally misdirected; the fact is we are raising a generation of people more dedicated to skewing history than the realities of life. I would agree on the point that the video games tend to encourage violent behavior.
Our society has largely sugar-coated the violent aspects. But we did create nuclear weapons, didn't we? It's not a 'gross misconception at all. Thank you for your response.
My BIL’s parents were from Switzerland. As I understand it from his father, while it is true that every male citizen (he’s old school) between 16 and 70 are in the military, they do not have weapons in their house. All weapons are kept in a depot controlled by the community! It’s not the guns…it’s the access to the guns. In England, target shooting is a big sport. BUT all the guns never leave the club. They are locked up and a member has to request their gun from the lock keeper. AND in most countries if the world that allow private ownership of guns, most people own one or two. In the USA in 2018 there were 390 MILLION guns in circulation. There are approximately 329.5 million people in the USA….there are 120.5 guns for every 100 citizens. In 2007 (the last report I could find) it was reported that just 3% of the population owned 133 MILLION guns. Tgat report indicated a gun ownership of between 8 guns snd 140 guns. Used to be that most people owned guns for HUNTING ANIMALS now most claim it’s for self defense. But how many of those people are quick to pull that gun when someone offends them, or cuts them off in traffic, or even steps on their lawn (all recent cases). What about the guy who killed a young black man who knocked on his door to ask for directions. He was trying to make a delivery. Or the guy who shot into a car outside a 7 Eleven because he didn’t like the music they were playing. Or the guy who shot a young father in a movie theater because the father answered a phone call from their babysitter. Actually, I have begun to think that all mass murderers have one thing in common…and it’s not mental illness. It’s testosterone! ALL recent mass murderers have one thing in common…they are MEN! Perhaps instead of worrying about their mental health we should worry about whether they are “he-men”!
To say the U.S. is the most violent culture in history is a gross misconception of history which seems to be an integral part of the current pop culture. One only need to mention the Vikings, the Czar, the Mongolians, Germany or just about any other society in history to observe violence and conquest. To then turn to the ownership of guns just look at Switzerland where virtually every citizen is a member of the military along with gun ownership.
This is totally misdirected; the fact is we are raising a generation of people more dedicated to skewing history than the realities of life or even confused which bathroom to use. I would agree on the point that the video games tend to encourage violent behavior.
I also think we should look at WHO first settled this country. Most of the men at Jamestown were convicted felons who were sent here instead of prison. Same with the colony of Georgia which was set up as a penal colony as were most of the southern colonies. After the American colonies won independence from Britain tgat all stopped and Britisnvwas forced to send its convicts to other places such as Australia. The difference is that Australia has much stricter gun laws. And yes, I think criminal behavior can be inherited.
"And yes, I think criminal behavior can be inherited."
Interesting. Can we apply your theory to the overwhelming violence in our minority neighborhoods?
What other pearls of wisdom would you like to expound upon. Clearly, you have expertise in early American history. Almost as much as Nikole Hannah-Jones.
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(7) comments
To say the U.S. is the most violent culture in history is a gross misconception of history which seems to be an integral part of the current pop culture. One only need to mention the Vikings, the Czar, the Mongolians, Germany or just about any other society in history to observe violence and conquest. To then turn to the ownership of guns just look at Switzerland where virtually every citizen is a member of the military along with gun ownership.
This is totally misdirected; the fact is we are raising a generation of people more dedicated to skewing history than the realities of life. I would agree on the point that the video games tend to encourage violent behavior.
Our society has largely sugar-coated the violent aspects. But we did create nuclear weapons, didn't we? It's not a 'gross misconception at all. Thank you for your response.
My BIL’s parents were from Switzerland. As I understand it from his father, while it is true that every male citizen (he’s old school) between 16 and 70 are in the military, they do not have weapons in their house. All weapons are kept in a depot controlled by the community! It’s not the guns…it’s the access to the guns. In England, target shooting is a big sport. BUT all the guns never leave the club. They are locked up and a member has to request their gun from the lock keeper. AND in most countries if the world that allow private ownership of guns, most people own one or two. In the USA in 2018 there were 390 MILLION guns in circulation. There are approximately 329.5 million people in the USA….there are 120.5 guns for every 100 citizens. In 2007 (the last report I could find) it was reported that just 3% of the population owned 133 MILLION guns. Tgat report indicated a gun ownership of between 8 guns snd 140 guns. Used to be that most people owned guns for HUNTING ANIMALS now most claim it’s for self defense. But how many of those people are quick to pull that gun when someone offends them, or cuts them off in traffic, or even steps on their lawn (all recent cases). What about the guy who killed a young black man who knocked on his door to ask for directions. He was trying to make a delivery. Or the guy who shot into a car outside a 7 Eleven because he didn’t like the music they were playing. Or the guy who shot a young father in a movie theater because the father answered a phone call from their babysitter. Actually, I have begun to think that all mass murderers have one thing in common…and it’s not mental illness. It’s testosterone! ALL recent mass murderers have one thing in common…they are MEN! Perhaps instead of worrying about their mental health we should worry about whether they are “he-men”!
To say the U.S. is the most violent culture in history is a gross misconception of history which seems to be an integral part of the current pop culture. One only need to mention the Vikings, the Czar, the Mongolians, Germany or just about any other society in history to observe violence and conquest. To then turn to the ownership of guns just look at Switzerland where virtually every citizen is a member of the military along with gun ownership.
This is totally misdirected; the fact is we are raising a generation of people more dedicated to skewing history than the realities of life or even confused which bathroom to use. I would agree on the point that the video games tend to encourage violent behavior.
I also think we should look at WHO first settled this country. Most of the men at Jamestown were convicted felons who were sent here instead of prison. Same with the colony of Georgia which was set up as a penal colony as were most of the southern colonies. After the American colonies won independence from Britain tgat all stopped and Britisnvwas forced to send its convicts to other places such as Australia. The difference is that Australia has much stricter gun laws. And yes, I think criminal behavior can be inherited.
"And yes, I think criminal behavior can be inherited."
Interesting. Can we apply your theory to the overwhelming violence in our minority neighborhoods?
What other pearls of wisdom would you like to expound upon. Clearly, you have expertise in early American history. Almost as much as Nikole Hannah-Jones.
Let's look at learned behavior and poverty. See www.reourceism.com There are solutions.
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