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Less in "Bible Belt" not due to religion per say, but the social mores' of some of these areas, more strict behavioral expectations and more condemnation for acts that aren't "socially acceptable" perhaps.
Cults, which are morphed from religions (in an extreme way) do have histories of violence, James Jones, Star ship (?) people in Calif., Branch Dividians, etc., etc.
Just saw a YouTube that said there was one mass shooting in the US in the 50's but a whole lot today. And the number one reason given was the "decline of religion."
I think it's because folks that are suicidal are also homicidal, and on the sliding scale of crazy.
Many have self- radicalized. Social media is often a factor. Most do not expect to survive and either off themselves or are killed by LE.
Suicides often happen in localized clusters, especially among younger people.
Every sensational high victim count mass shooter inspires future shootings creating clusters without borders.
Just saw a YouTube that said there was one mass shooting in the US in the 50's but a whole lot today. And the number one reason given was the "decline of religion."
I think it's because folks that are suicidal are also homicidal, and on the sliding scale of crazy.
Mental illness and being raised in a 1 parent family are 2 big factors.
Cell Phones: No real study has ever been done on how much they might be literally affecting our brains.
Psychiatric Drugs: Ritalin, Xanax and the like. People that depend on external, experimental or pharmaceutical means to balance their moods, or those that have it shoveled down their throats by lazy school systems, bio-chemically lose the ability to balance their own moods. The overwhelming majority of mass-shooters were at some point prior, prescribed some mental health drug.
Society: This one might be a bit of a stretch but, more people have to work more hours at harder jobs, for less pay, and lees time with anhone they care about it. I know some people are eggshells but, even rock solid people might crack under this pressure. I don't agree with Bernie much, but he said something to the effect of "Our country has a problem where we prescribe medication for stress instead of offering any remedy for the conditions that cause all the stress."
Manipulation: A lot of what gets fed to people through the mainstream media seems almost designed to scare or anger people, with increasing levels of stupidity if people aren't at each other's throats enough. A recent example, San Francisco officially declared members of the NRA terrorists, because apparently declaring NRA members racist, sexist and / or homophobic isn't angering (therefore distracting) people enough.
...keep in mind, mass murder isn't new, and as a percentage of population (note: I said percentage, the actual number is still way higher since world population ncreased 4 billion in the last 50 years) but again, as a percentage, a lot less people are subject to violence than the dark ages when whole communities were torched, people and property alike.
Cell phones- the per capita cell phone usage has tended to follow population trends. Both China and India have higher per capita cell phone usage. If cell phone use was a root cause of extreme violence, it would be happening in China and India.
Psychiatric Drugs- Most sensational mass shooters were not under the influence at the time of the shooting. Perhaps if some of them had been, they may not have engaged in mass shooting. The Las Vegas mass shooter had been prescribed a low dose generic form of Valium, one of the most prescribed medications in the world.
Society- Work hours/ days have been substantially declining over the past 100 years.
Manipulation- Not likely most if any mass shooters are influenced by anti- gun rhetoric.
I don't see anybody mentioning "hate" yet. The El Paso shooter LITERALLY told investigators that he was targeting Mexicans. He said in his manifesto that America was being "overrun by illegals."
Screw all those other reasons, some (not all) of these shooters are driven by hatred.
Just like the Pittsburgh shooter was trying to "kill as many Jews as possible."
HATRED. Intolerance. Racism.
You think there is more racism today than 100 years ago?
I don't see anybody mentioning "hate" yet. The El Paso shooter LITERALLY told investigators that he was targeting Mexicans. He said in his manifesto that America was being "overrun by illegals."
Screw all those other reasons, some (not all) of these shooters are driven by hatred.
Just like the Pittsburgh shooter was trying to "kill as many Jews as possible."
The "snowflake" society. Young people are raised in a bubble. When they find out that someone does not like them, they lash out. They are a generation of wimps.
Stephen Paddock ( Las Vegas) is the current record holder- the one to beat. He was 64 on the big day.
Just saw a YouTube that said there was one mass shooting in the US in the 50's but a whole lot today. And the number one reason given was the "decline of religion."
I think it's because folks that are suicidal are also homicidal, and on the sliding scale of crazy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RageX
Cell Phones: No real study has ever been done on how much they might be literally affecting our brains.
Psychiatric Drugs: Ritalin, Xanax and the like. People that depend on external, experimental or pharmaceutical means to balance their moods, or those that have it shoveled down their throats by lazy school systems, bio-chemically lose the ability to balance their own moods. The overwhelming majority of mass-shooters were at some point prior, prescribed some mental health drug.
Society: This one might be a bit of a stretch but, more people have to work more hours at harder jobs, for less pay, and lees time with anhone they care about it. I know some people are eggshells but, even rock solid people might crack under this pressure. I don't agree with Bernie much, but he said something to the effect of "Our country has a problem where we prescribe medication for stress instead of offering any remedy for the conditions that cause all the stress."
Manipulation: A lot of what gets fed to people through the mainstream media seems almost designed to scare or anger people, with increasing levels of stupidity if people aren't at each other's throats enough. A recent example, San Francisco officially declared members of the NRA terrorists, because apparently declaring NRA members racist, sexist and / or homophobic isn't angering (therefore distracting) people enough.
...keep in mind, mass murder isn't new, and as a percentage of population (note: I said percentage, the actual number is still way higher since world population ncreased 4 billion in the last 50 years) but again, as a percentage, a lot less people are subject to violence than the dark ages when whole communities were torched, people and property alike.
in the end we have lost respect for human life. and it started with removing prayer from schools, moved on to roe v wade, and the push to late term abortions to be completely legal, to the point of even discussing infanticide.
until we regain that respect for human life, mass shootings will continue.
Cell phones- the per capita cell phone usage has tended to follow population trends. Both China and India have higher per capita cell phone usage. If cell phone use was a root cause of extreme violence, it would be happening in China and India.
Psychiatric Drugs- Most sensational mass shooters were not under the influence at the time of the shooting. Perhaps if some of them had been, they may not have engaged in mass shooting. The Las Vegas mass shooter had been prescribed a low dose generic form of Valium, one of the most prescribed medications in the world.
Society- Work hours/ days have been substantially declining over the past 100 years.
Manipulation- Not likely most if any mass shooters are influenced by anti- gun rhetoric.
At large number of school shooters and/or students who initiated violence at school have have been either taking or withdrawing from psychiatric medication, actually. Here’s a list of 36: https://www.cchrint.org/school-shooters/
Very interesting article about a school bombing in Houston in the 1950s. The reaction to it was very different than today. For one thing, the media reported on the story locally and it may have received a day or two of coverage nationally. There were no copycats. I suspect that heavy media coverage is driving this current wave of mass shootings more than anything else. I know it’s news, but keeping it front and center and highlighting lunatic ravings of these shooters and calling them manifestos only inspires other mentally ill people to do it too.
One very interesting thing about the Poe Elementary bombing was that the teachers and parents had no clue how to deal with it. No one talked to the kids about it afterwards, and the kids were sent back to the school the very next day (the bombing took place outside during recess).
I don’t recommend doing that, but perhaps some less media coverage would be better for the survivors and the would-be copycats.
At least one of the survivors from this school bombing went on to do heinous things.
In 1959, news was a loss leader. No such thing as a for profit 24/7 news cycle.
There was no internet and no social media.
The bomber’s suitcase contained 6 sticks of dynamite. Had he had access to one or more assault weapons and was skilled in the use, the body count might have been far more substantial.
The suicide bomber was an ex con having served multiple prison sentences in Louisiana and Texas. He was an old time safe burgled and familiar with explosives. His ex wife referred to him as a wife beater. Not clear how he had custody of his son. He did not have any records for his son. They shared a small room in a boarding house.
The public wants to know and media delivers.
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