http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/02/25/2262-gun-related-deaths-since-newtown Comments On: 2,282 Gun Related Deaths Since Newtown by Charles Mudede en-us Copyright 2013 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:00:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by Knat]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:10:32 -0800 The Stranger
I'm sorry that you feel that way.
Posted by Tacoma Traveler]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:40:31 -0800 The Stranger
Thank you!!! It's coming up again! Last year I finally made it to the US Championship!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKRnoXXH…
Posted by scratchmaster joe]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:28:08 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Charles Mudede]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:54:45 -0800 The Stranger
I have been overseas 4 times in the last 9 months.

I have been places you wouldn't recognize as being on planet earth. I have seen our government and military carry out phenomenal humanitarian missions to provide other countries people with food and shelter and education.

You can trust that I am well acquainted with the opinions of people across 5 continents.

Other people's opinions of America have no bearing on the quality of American life. It is their sense of patriotism that causes them to ridicule other countries (player hating). Everyone wants their country to be on top. Whoever is, is the subject of the most ridicule.

My family came to this country from Mexico seeking a better life, and we found it. I know what it is like to go days without food. I know what it is like to not own shoes.

We do need to do many things better, that is a fact. However, my poorest relative, making only $8,000 per year on disability, has all the healthcare she needs, a nice 1 bedroom apartment, and cupboards stocked with food, all fully paid for by the US Government and the State of Washington. Her life looks wealthy by some countries standards. Even some european countries standards...

Our quality of life here is exceptional. Our government (aka ourselves) does more for its people than the vast majority of countries on earth. I'm glad some countries are kicking our ass is certain areas. Everyone needs to come up. It is a good thing. I am not ashamed of that, it does highlight areas for improvement, but improvements are being made. They are not, however, being made by criticism. They are being made by those invested enough to work for a better tomorrow, and not just complain about a crappy today.

The America bashing that goes on here in Seattle and other well to do parts of the country do nothing to improve America. I firmly believe that if a person does not like something, that they should be actively changing it. Rhetoric accomplishes nothing. Self hatred accomplishes nothing.

People that come from the mountains of Zacatecas, like my family, have a very different opinion of America. If we hadn't come here, we would likely be living in abject poverty, and at the whims of the Los Zetas cartel, one of the most violent and powerful criminal organizations in the world. You know, the guys that cut off people's heads and roll them onto police station property? They now run Zacatecas. They own the lives of the people living where we would live, were we still there.

In other words, talk is cheap, action is worthwhile, and the average American has no idea what it is like to actually go without. Especially, especially, especially, my American friends living in Seattle. I hear them complain, but yet they enjoy a very high quality of life, and I do not see them doing anything to change the things they dislike. I only hear them talk. I wish they would talk less and do more.

You are America. Like it or not, your opinions, are American, your ethics, are American, your standards, are American. It is time to stop pretending like American people and American government are separate entities. You are your own government. Act like it.


Posted by scratchmaster joe]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:52:34 -0800 The Stranger
Grow the fuck up. No one owes you anything.
Posted by Theodore Gorath]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2013 07:21:06 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Matt from Denver]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2013 05:34:45 -0800 The Stranger
Our laws should not be made in a parochial fashion, nor should government behave as parent to it's child the citizen. Simply put, we the voting public are not children, nor should we be stripped of our adulthood in terms of our dignity or our strength.

There is inherent condescension in anyone who expresses their relationship with another adult or adults as parental. While I agree that one si greater and the other lesser, the roles are reversed from what you describe. It is the government that is the creation of the citizens, and not the other way around.

And if you are to apologize for such an attitude, do so without qualifiers. I apologize, full stop, is far more sincere than "I'm sorry that you feel that way". The latter is a non-apology, i states that you feel pity for the way another person feels rather than accept responsibility for having wronged them. If you are so keen to declare yourself the adult in the room then act like one by assuming the defining trait of maturity-responsibility for one's actions.Admit the fault, cleanly, apologize for it, and be done with it. Telling me that you feel pity merely adds insult.
Posted by Tacoma Traveler]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2013 03:56:01 -0800 The Stranger
That's right, I'm admitting that there's going to be another shooting. In my house. With a gun pointed at me. With a dude/girl that is saying crazy shit and about to shoot me. Shoot me.

I'd rather die in a "government takeover" than own a gun.

That's right. When the government takes over everything, shoot me. I'll be dead. It's a better life than living in SO MUCH FEAR THAT I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO OWN A GUN.

I feel sorry for those that feel like they need to own a gun.

Find me, shoot me. I am truly saddened by this madness.
Posted by internet user]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2013 02:40:18 -0800 The Stranger
Charles, look back over my posts.
How many times have I pointed out that the staff at The Stranger could be collecting that information for the Seattle area?
Have you done anything about that?
No.
Why is that?
Posted by fairly.unbalanced]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:55:53 -0800 The Stranger
That said, @23, if you really think that the rest of the world criticizing our collective poor decisions (healthcare system, military actions, gun policy, education, etc) is nothing but "player hating", you need to speak with more people who live abroad.
Posted by Knat]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:35:08 -0800 The Stranger
Somebody call 911 and get the free Obamacare psychologists to help these suffering people!
Ya'll voted for that shit, now put it to work.


Posted by GeneStoner]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:17:04 -0800 The Stranger Posted by jt]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:07:44 -0800 The Stranger
Background checks might have cut down on it, though.
Posted by Lack Thereof]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:52:20 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Chris Govella]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:30:33 -0800 The Stranger
I think I failed to get my point across earlier. My analogy about parenting was not directed at any individual, but rather, directed at the process in which we make our laws. Please trust me when I say that I was not being condescending, and I was typing calmly and in good spirits. My point was that laws should be written from a logical perspective, leaving the emotion out.

I'm sorry that I made you so angry. That was not my intention. I do hear what you are saying, and I can agree with a lot of it, I hope you do see some of the good too.

Marriage for all will be a reality in the country very soon. Things move slowly by design here, and I think that is good. Peoples are marginalized and abused, and nobody knows that better than me. I've been through things that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. But these social problems are worked out over time, although too slowly sometimes, but one by one, we have righted many wrongs and will continue to do so.

For me, I try to look on the bright side, to see the good, that helps me get through the nasty stuff. And what I cannot tolerate, I change.

Sometimes I do question America's role in the world, and its attempts at hegemony, and when I do, I just open my history books to remind myself that every country, every culture, has had their turn at domination and abuse, of their own people, of taking other people's lands, destroying other countries. Every country has blood on their hands, and one day, it'll be a different country in our position, and then the world will call them nutz.

Until then, I will change what I cannot tolerate, I will be good to my neighbors, both local and international, and I will operate with good faith and kindness in my heart. That's what gets me through the days when I have a hard time with world events. I only worry about what I am willing to change. Everything else is just too big a burden. And I don't feel right complaining unless I am willing to pour myself into changing it. I only have one life, and I will devote some of it in an attempt at leaving this planet better than I found it, but the rest, I will devote to enjoying myself.

I hope some of that helps explain me, I am just trying to have a friendly conversation, and I genuinely feel bad for upsetting you so. I hope it hasn't soured your evening.
Posted by scratchmaster joe]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:03:40 -0800 The Stranger
You seriously think the The Slog is the most liberal board in America? You think this is how far left it can get? you have no idea.

But how could you? Rush Limbaugh sent you here to play act after all.
Posted by Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:02:54 -0800 The Stranger
Reading this nonsense is like picking a scab. Since I can't afford to fly someplace warm and sunny, I can only hope to hold out until the 5th of July and enjoy my summer.

Then I can resume with this ideological autoerotic bullshit next November 1st.

Sigh.

Fuck.
Posted by CPN]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:55:09 -0800 The Stranger Guns kill people.

People don't kill people.

Therefore, imprison all guns.

Set all murderers free.

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:50:46 -0800 The Stranger
I apologize for not being more clear. It was my intent to attach our economic position to the reasoning of other countries citizens in citing us as nutz, or demonizing us in other ways. I was trying to back up my player hating argument.

I think you and I likely agree on more than we disagree. I appreciate your thoughts. I thank you.
Posted by scratchmaster joe]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:45:58 -0800 The Stranger
It is interesting to cite the Declaration of Independence for this discussion on violence, considering it is our nation's first declaration of war.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, is contained in the preamble. The preamble is not a legally binding part of the declaration. That issue was settled long ago.

The NRA is absolutely playing to the emotions of the American people. Their entire campaign is based upon fear, as an emotion, and the human psyche's natural response to fear. Both as a tactic, and as their own natural feeling on the subject. They are personally driven by emotion, and emotion is also what they are selling. Even if they say "we need to take the emotion out of this debate", they are not saying that in earnest. It is another part of their plan to play on emotions, they know their audience very well. It is not unlike their opposition's marketing strategies.

Emotions are important. They are valid, and worthy of our consideration. Those feeling overwhelming emotion deserve our empathy and assistance. In your feelings on this subject, I agree.

I would argue that emotion has no place in a policy debate, or in creating legislation. I would also argue that my ability to look beyond my own emotions is not an example of an inability to express or understand emotion, but rather, a result of my very deep and profound understanding of my own emotions and those of others. It is because I am in touch with my emotions so very intimately, that I can set them aside and separate myself from their influence and use logic to achieve the desired outcome.

My emotions are extreme, they are intense, I feel in ways that most others do not. If I had a superpower, it would be empathy. Only a person that was once controlled completely by their emotions, can understand the unintended consequences that they can have. I worked very hard studying my emotions (over decades), eventually learning to acknowledge, interpret, and honor my emotions. I eventually reached a point where my emotional self was no longer in control, but working with me, in an almost symbiotic like relationship. I am only a whole person when those two halves are together. But being a whole person, with strong emotions, requires temporary separation when appropriate.

Engaging in meaningful debate and making decisions that will have broad implications for hundreds of millions of people, possibly for hundreds of years to come, is a prime example of an appropriate time to honor, but ultimately separate one's emotions from the issue at hand.

In many types of court cases, a judge has the right, and a duty, to throw out the decision of the jury if the judge feels they made their decision based on emotion and not on the facts.

Emotions are important, but they cloud judgement.

Posted by scratchmaster joe]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:42:11 -0800 The Stranger 2,282 individuals who have been killed by guns since the Newtown massacre.How many slog posts about guns since the Newtown massacre?

That boggles my mind like nothing else.
Posted by Urgutha Forka]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:29:29 -0800 The Stranger
But our lives are more than dollars and cents. And you cannot tell me that the economic dominance of a few is worth the suffering of the many. If you hold as I do that every life has equivalent value, then you will be appalled at the way we treat our fellow citizens. not to mention the way we treat everybody else.

When we are the richest in terms of the lowest rates of preventable deaths, we will be the richest country in the world. When our Gross National Happiness per capita exceeds that of other nations, we will rule the world. When the cleanliness of our cities is the envy of the world, and our lack of poverty the dream of nations, we will have won.

We are not anywhere close to that success. Now come, instead of resting on illusory laurels or adopting condescending attitudes toward one another, lets you and I get to work on pulling this country in the direction of real freedom.
Posted by Tacoma Traveler]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:04:20 -0800 The Stranger
I understand that, the nuances of American success and failure is a subject which I keep up on. There are a great many things we are doing poorly. But that doesn't change our status as the world's dominating economy. It might someday if we don't invest more in education, but for the foreseable future, our spot is all but guaranteed.
Posted by scratchmaster joe]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:55:14 -0800 The Stranger
see, that's why we need 200 million guns all over, they give us soooooo much sweeeeet li berty, a few gun deahts are well worth it for all this expansion of liberty and the standing up for voting rights, equality, all our rights! yessir indeed, those gun nuts were leading the civil rights marches, too!
Posted by what gun nuts think]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:53:37 -0800 The Stranger