The Current Events Thread

[Madican]

Got a text message from my Dad yesterday.

"Are you near Santa Monica College???"

Wat?

I google "Santa Monica College" and sure enough...another fucking school shooting.

What the hell society? Seriously, what the hell?

He started in his father's house, killed him and his brother, started driving, got out at a stop light with a bus next to him and shot up the bus, drove to Santa Monica College, killed one person on the way to the library, completely missed everyone at said library as they ran, and police gunned him down.

Not what I'd call a school shooting when the majority of the victims were on the road, but yeah. Four dead, including him, and several injured from the bus.

[Kamak]

Got a text message from my Dad yesterday.

"Are you near Santa Monica College???"

Wat?

I google "Santa Monica College" and sure enough...another fucking school shooting.

What the hell society? Seriously, what the hell?

He started in his father's house, killed him and his brother, started driving, got out at a stop light with a bus next to him and shot up the bus, drove to Santa Monica College, killed one person on the way to the library, completely missed everyone at said library as they ran, and police gunned him down.

Not what I'd call a school shooting when the majority of the victims were on the road, but yeah. Four dead, including him, and several injured from the bus.

It's 5 dead including him. There were 4 dead victims. He also shot up a pick up truck (at a red light from what I read) after the bus and apparently killed the driver.

[Madican]

That's new information. Looks like the truck in question was in motion at the time and crashed through a wall when the driver was fatally shot. The passenger is still in critical condition.

Also turns out this was all premeditated. The guy had gear, extra ammo, extra weaponry, and was pretty much "dressed like an ammo ad" according to one witness who avoided his gunfire.

[Lambeth]

I like what David Simon had to say on the whole nsa thing. I think it's funny though that republicans criticized obama for mentioning he wanted to dial down the war on terror. Then this thing pops up and they're criticizing him on it as well, even though it's a clear result of the war on terror.

Republicans: Not very self aware.

[TheStranger]

How is a shooting the result of the War On Terror?

[Syobon]

"the nsa thing" refers to the internet surveilance scandal, not any shooting.

[TheStranger]

Weird, thought he said "NRA"

[Lambeth]

Yeah what he said. I think we should have a war on mass shootings though. Then a war on stupid and meaningless abstract concepts.

[TheStranger]

But they need stupid buzzwords for the news cycle, there arent any problems that cant be solved with military means! Social reforms are too hard

[D-vid]

I like what David Simon had to say on the whole nsa thing. I think it's funny though that republicans criticized obama for mentioning he wanted to dial down the war on terror. Then this thing pops up and they're criticizing him on it as well, even though it's a clear result of the war on terror.

Republicans: Not very self aware.

From watching the Daily show I know that Republicans are on a "Against Everything Obama Does No Matter What It Is" or in short AEODNMWII stance since 2008.

[Madican]

Incredibly hard. Social systems aren't as easily-understood as physical ones. Change one part and you can ruin the others. I don't even think a single person would even be able to figure out the system in its entirety, including the cause and effect of its parts, without spending years on the subject (aka not politicians).

[TheStranger]

Incredibly hard. Social systems aren't as easily-understood as physical ones. Change one part and you can ruin the others. I don't even think a single person would even be able to figure out the system in its entirety, including the cause and effect of its parts, without spending years on the subject (aka not politicians).

Yeah, but the current system of "We're perfect because we've spent a good century convincing ourselves we're perfect, and any kind of social help is COMMUNISM" is pretty bad. Like, really bad.

[Lambeth]

Incredibly hard. Social systems aren't as easily-understood as physical ones. Change one part and you can ruin the others. I don't even think a single person would even be able to figure out the system in its entirety, including the cause and effect of its parts, without spending years on the subject (aka not politicians).

That said preventing mass shootings wouldn't be that difficult.

[Madican]

So you have a way to prevent everyone from ever getting their hands on any kind of gun at all times? Including criminals who get theirs from illegal channels since they're already not allowed to get one under current gun control laws but still manage it? You have a way to stop all smuggling, all lending, all thievery of guns?

Don't spout bullshit.

[Lambeth]

So you have a way to prevent everyone from ever getting their hands on any kind of gun at all times?

What no who said that

Including criminals who get theirs from illegal channels since they're already not allowed to get one under current gun control laws but still manage it?

It's sort of tricky to enforce any sort of regulation when the state right next to yours might have much slimmer law books. So any attempt at change would have to come from the federal side of things. I can't imagine that happening any time soon though.

You have a way to stop all smuggling, all lending, all thievery of guns?

Uh no?

Don't spout bullshit.

Please do not put words in my mouth.