Oct 27, 2023·edited Oct 27, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair
One of the first times I ever questioned the position of the overwhelming Republican political majority I grew up in was while reading an essay about guns and suicide during my first year of college. Like you point to, it said that many people who experience intense suicidal ideation will survive unharmed if they can ride the emotional wave out without having access to a deadly weapon — primarily, a gun. I don’t remember the name of the article or the name of the author, but I still remember where I was when I read it because the argument struck so deep. I knew it was true and that I would never feel at ease with the Republican fetish for guns again.
I grew up in America and now live in Ireland, where even the regular police don’t carry guns/firearms. Even mace is illegal here. I feel safe, and never worry about getting shot or being robbed at gun point. I wish Americans could understand they are living under the tyranny of guns and gun violence, and that there’s a better way.
I felt the same about the UK when I moved from South Africa. When I go to heathrow now and see police with massive rifles it is a shock - abnormal even.
I grew up in South Africa during apartheid and almost every single white family had guns. My father had 3 and he would put his handgun under his seat when we took long car trips. Every single time my sister and I would sneak that gun out and play with it in the back of the car (my god the thought now as an adult makes me feel ill). Now, thinking back, it plays into the whole white supremacist settler mindset - I MUST protect this land I’ve stolen.
I grew up south of Chicago, just beyond the outer reach of the suburbs. In the 70s and 80s, we had a more substantial Black population than more rural counties "downstate." It used to drive me crazy in high school and college when a friend from the next county south insisted the only way he could safely visit my town was with a rifle and tire iron under the seat of the car. It's been decades since I talked to him, but I know that he has been jailed for his white supremacist activities, among other things. The gun ownership mindset and white supremacy absolutely go hand in hand.
I'm tired of the democrats feeling like they have to say shit like "we don't want to take your guns away" when I do very much in fact want to take their guns away.
I am 38 years old and I have never in my life witnessed something where I thought, damn, if I only had a gun right now I could just shoot that guy in the head and commit some manslaughter or even murder. The idea that so many people seem excited about getting the opportunity to kill someone is really disgusting.
Agree. 100%. Any "responsible" gun owner should by definition be advocating for required trading, registration, and mandatory insurance at the bare minimum for gun ownership. It is a deadly weapon just like a car and should have with the same regs and rules. A skills test, registration, insured against damage to people or property, etc. Wouldn't any "responsible" gun owner agree??
One of the first times I ever questioned the position of the overwhelming Republican political majority I grew up in was while reading an essay about guns and suicide during my first year of college. Like you point to, it said that many people who experience intense suicidal ideation will survive unharmed if they can ride the emotional wave out without having access to a deadly weapon — primarily, a gun. I don’t remember the name of the article or the name of the author, but I still remember where I was when I read it because the argument struck so deep. I knew it was true and that I would never feel at ease with the Republican fetish for guns again.
I grew up in America and now live in Ireland, where even the regular police don’t carry guns/firearms. Even mace is illegal here. I feel safe, and never worry about getting shot or being robbed at gun point. I wish Americans could understand they are living under the tyranny of guns and gun violence, and that there’s a better way.
I felt the same about the UK when I moved from South Africa. When I go to heathrow now and see police with massive rifles it is a shock - abnormal even.
I grew up in South Africa during apartheid and almost every single white family had guns. My father had 3 and he would put his handgun under his seat when we took long car trips. Every single time my sister and I would sneak that gun out and play with it in the back of the car (my god the thought now as an adult makes me feel ill). Now, thinking back, it plays into the whole white supremacist settler mindset - I MUST protect this land I’ve stolen.
Guns are violence.
I
I grew up south of Chicago, just beyond the outer reach of the suburbs. In the 70s and 80s, we had a more substantial Black population than more rural counties "downstate." It used to drive me crazy in high school and college when a friend from the next county south insisted the only way he could safely visit my town was with a rifle and tire iron under the seat of the car. It's been decades since I talked to him, but I know that he has been jailed for his white supremacist activities, among other things. The gun ownership mindset and white supremacy absolutely go hand in hand.
I'm tired of the democrats feeling like they have to say shit like "we don't want to take your guns away" when I do very much in fact want to take their guns away.
I am 38 years old and I have never in my life witnessed something where I thought, damn, if I only had a gun right now I could just shoot that guy in the head and commit some manslaughter or even murder. The idea that so many people seem excited about getting the opportunity to kill someone is really disgusting.
Agree. 100%. Any "responsible" gun owner should by definition be advocating for required trading, registration, and mandatory insurance at the bare minimum for gun ownership. It is a deadly weapon just like a car and should have with the same regs and rules. A skills test, registration, insured against damage to people or property, etc. Wouldn't any "responsible" gun owner agree??