Of Course It’s Not Just Guns

On Wednesday, January 16, 2013 – President Obama announced 23 Executive orders moving toward a more responsible environment surrounding Gun Control for Military Assault Weapons. Finally, recognizing that comprehensive background checks are necessary to REDUCE the availability of firearms in the hands of people who could or would misuse those firearms. The NRA has taken their opportunity to exercise it’s 1st Amendment rights to condemn ANY responsibility applied to their sponsors.

Obama unveils sweeping plan to battle gun violence

NRA is sponsored by a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry that profits from purchases of Military Weapons and profits from armed conflict and from Drug Cartels.  These weapons manufacturers supply the ordinary citizen PLUS Armed Militias, Drug Cartels and Terrorists (by proxy … of course).  This industry really has no interest in any reasons for  conflicts or consequences, they just know that’s where the money is! It’s always about the money.

In America, the weapons industry is funding NRA attacks on President Obama.  NRA resents applying the word RESPONSIBILITY applied to gun ownership.  President acknowledges the rights of responsible gun owners, hunters, sports and collectors.  What the President did NOT say is that America’s Armed Militias will ultimately become Domestic Terrorists … again, NRA, the front for the weapons industry, wants to distract the public from THAT reality.

There are currently 114 Gun Manufacturers in America according to WIKI: Firearms manufacturers in the United States

NRA and the Weapons Industry has recruited a lot of voices to plug their message that ANY gun control is a THREAT! Oregon Sheriff Vows He Will Not Enforce ‘Unconstitutional’ New Gun Control Legislation, and Gun Advocate Larry Pratt Defends NRA Attack Ad: ‘Spot On’ In Proving Obama ‘Hypocrisy’

After the Aurora Theater massacre in July 2012, Forbes article:  The NRA Industrial Complex – … the key to gun industry growth in the last few years is the NRA’s effort to scare gun owners and stop President Obama from being re-elected. NRA’s power comes from the way it spends money to reward politicians, who turn its self-interest into the law of the land and use its money and power to defeat politicians who oppose its will. Guns are an essential ingredient in senseless mass murders like the one in Aurora.  And gun industry money is similarly vital to stifling anyone who dares discuss changes in the law that would keep Rugers and Glocks out of the hands of lunatics like Holmes, Loughner, and Cho. -

After Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre in December 2012, Forbes article: The Gun Industry Needs to Reinvent Itself Before It’s Too Late

The Atlantic: The Struggle Over Gun Control in Congress Begins With These Two Men

There is incomplete data for the average for gun related deaths a day in America, including suicides.  There is a gap in reporting consistency to follow the actual figures as  they happen.  Not all gun deaths are as spectacular as the recent massacres America has suffered recently.

CNN: Analysis: Why gun controls are off the agenda in America

The FBI reported a record-high 2.8 million background checks for gun purchases in December, up from 2 million in November and 1.9 million from December 2011.  Mr. Obama said law-abiding gun owners shouldn’t fear his proposals, due later this week, which he said are only designed to prevent mass shootings such as last month’s rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

THE CHART

Provided by Dr. David Healy, “Welcome to Data Based Medicine”

It’s a little easier to understand when you can see it on this partial list. Click on the link for the entire chart. 

Dr. David Healy, author of The Antidepressant Era, Let Them Eat Prozac, and ‘Pharmageddon,  did a lot of research to create a comprehensive chart of cause and effect of antidepressants and violence in America. Even though this chart list is very incomplete, it does illustrate the predominant connection to a greater formula for disaster, here in America. It is a formula that cannot be stopped easily. Endangering society to reap financial profit is criminal!  Among those profiting from the combination of Drugs, Weapons and Disinformation is Doctors, Lawyers, Gun Manufacturers, Drug Manufacturers, Hollywood, Anarchists and Armageddon Advocates.

Our Personalities Are Constantly Changing, Even if We Think They’re Not

The sad reality about untreated and misunderstood mental conditions is the stigma associated with mental illness, and society’s knee jerk responses to anyone seeking mental health help. So a far larger proportion of mass homicides, including the brutal July 2011 attacks in Norway, the Tucson, Ariz., shooting that wounded Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007, involve perpetrators with mental illness. The proportion far outstrips the rates of mental illness in the population.

So what leads one person to violence but not another? In some cases, it may be the stigma of mental illness that provokes it, by exacerbating existing symptoms of delusion, disconnection from reality, social withdrawal and lack of emotion.  A rare insight into the mind of a patient with schizophrenia comes from a former academic who wrote anonymously about her experience with social stigma from her disease ~ David Dobbs at Wired

Here are some very informative articles addressing the facts surrounding the Gun issue:

Gun Rhetoric vs. Gun Facts

Crime Statistics > Murders (per capita) (most recent) by country

Crime Statistics > Murders with firearms (most recent) by country

I have tried to make such a list for a long time.  2/3 of the murders in the United States are committed with guns, and all of these mass killings, except for September 11, 2001 and the  Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma, have been done with guns. It was only dumb luck that the man who crashed his plane into a Texas I.R.S. Office, did not have more fatalities. It is VERY true that guns are not the only culprit … if someone wants to commit murder and mayhem, they will use whatever they know how to use … or whatever is most convenient.  Guns are the easiest to get.

The massacre of 77 people in Norway was an exception, because there is little history of gun violence in Norway because of strict gun laws. Breivik also bombed government buildings on Oslo.  America has mass gun violence almost on a daily basis.  Seldom do these atrocities get media attention in America, unless it is at a School, Mall or Movie Theater.  America is riveted to the spectacular and is drawn to screaming media coverage.

The numbers would be even more incredible if you include local incidents that have fewer victims to warrant a news story.  The reality that a perfectly normal acting person can be really ACTING NORMAL.  No one knows the true feelings of someone who has a deep down perception of paranoia, rejection or damaged self esteem igniting a desire for revenge.  Human Mental Health changes on a daily basis … someone can snap at a moment’s notice.  Witness all the workplace and Domestic violence … people can use anything to kill another human being.  But, guns are the easiest weapon.

Mental state (Health Care) + Altered state (Drugs) + availability of Deadly ‘Toys’ (Weapons)= Atrocity

No, of course it’s not the gun’s fault. It’s the diminishing human capacity to be accountable for their actions and consider the consequences. Crazy people have easy access to guns.  Stupid people don’t want to prevent that. Stupid people want to associate any gun possession responsibilities with attacks on our 300+ year old Constitution, that reflected the desires of America’s Founding Fathers in the 1700s. 

If America’s Founding Fathers could see us now, 300+ years later … what do you think their priorities would be?  Given the technology advancements to all things America, our Founding Fathers would obviously have worded the Second Amendment a little differently.  Yes, America wants the ability to overthrow a disagreeable government.  Do you really think that is feasible?  Don’t you  think that the government’s technology can overwhelm anything some anarchist can use?  Military weapons in the hands of civilians only allows some sick minded ass-hole to commit mass murders of innocent people.  Even your ordinary murderer uses more practical, personal weapons that mostly target their chosen victim.  They usually don’t wipe out a whole neighborhood, school or mall to dispatch their evil spouse or evil co-worker. 

Military weapons are mass human killing machines and it would be ridiculous to imagine hunting a deer or duck with one.  There would be too little left to eat!  GET REAL! 

Even more important is that too many Modern Americans have lost the ability to identify with other REAL human beings. Modern social interaction has become ‘Wireless’ and ‘Remote’ and hands off.  Self esteem is becoming more and more dependent on devices that connect people remotely.  Social disconnect along with the sensory assault by violent media, marketing the thrill of violence, has changed how modern society perceives each other. 

There are acceptable illnesses and unacceptable illnesses.  Cancer and Heart Disease are the most socially acceptable illnesses, Mental Illness is whispered and socially unacceptable.  However, Mental Illness is the gold mine for pharmaceuticals … the caveat is always the MONEY!  Insurance Industry and Affordable Health Care have payment limits. When those limits are met, the patient is left to their own devices without those costly pharmaceuticals that keep them stabilized.  Eventually the patient is released to family or the streets … until their benefits reset.  That wait, that interruption in treatment, usually results in disaster.

Inadequate oversight and negligence go hand in hand. Endangering society to reap financial profit is criminal! Inadequate oversight is criminal, because it endangers everyone. This is what America has evolved into … exploitation at the cost of health and safety.

Because most people dislike or distrust government, no one wants government to have any control over anything … including our own well being.  There are a great number of Americans who are totally dependent on government assistance … and NO they are NOT all leaches and blood suckers who scam the system because they are lazy bums. Many of them have legitimate illness or age related issues that prevent them from supporting themselves.  Some day you will grow old, too … as long as you survive the ailments provided by modern technology.

There is deliberate inadequate, ineffective oversight concerning the Pharmaceutical Industry. The FDA is not funded to do it’s own testing to verify new drugs or new uses are safe.  FDA has to let the fox report on the chickens.  The results ALWAYS sound too good to be true.  Besides, a LOT of MONEY is riding on a positive result.  And, everyone knows in advance that Pharma Corporations own enough Congressmen and Senators to get past thorough oversight.

There is inadequate responsibility for mental health in America.  Mental Health is a critical part of the HEALTH Industry.  A LOT of Americans don’t trust the HEALTH Industry and don’t want anyone questioning their MENTAL HEALTH.  Mental Health has been demonized and whispered about for over a century in America.  Nothing can ever happen unless there is a willingness to participate.  America does not have the guts to participate in genuine mental health diagnosis or treatment.  Those that do are exposed to the Big Pharma/Health Care/Insurance three headed Mafia.

Don’t forget we are human and if we are healthy and socially functional, we have the ability to recognize our options. Those who ‘snap’ cannot see any options. So they act out their frustrations or imaginary fears. Some mentally ill can see no other courses of action available … the consequences of their actions are no longer important.  Undiagnosed Mental Health issues are America’s Armageddon.  They remain untreated. ~^^~

The finger pointing is not that convenient.  It is a systematic failure that puts deadly ‘toys’ in the hands of people who should not have them.  It is a formula … as you can see on Dr Healy’s Chart.
These don’t just happen in schools. I wrote an article about an example here in Austin, a guy off his meds got hold of a gun and killed an actor.

America’s mental state needs to be addressed, but that will never happen under the current corporate leadership. Corporations have figured out how to profit from these atrocities. More drugs, more guns, more sick people not being diagnosed or treated.

I repeat: Among those profiting from the combination of Drugs, Weapons and Disinformation is Doctors, Lawyers, Gun Manufacturers, Drug Manufacturers, Hollywood, Anarchists and Armageddon Advocates.

The term “drug wars” often refers to violent cartels which bully, bribe and slaughter in the name of  illegal drug profits. But another drug war is assailing America, and no machine guns are used. Rather, it’s a war inflicted by huge pharmaceutical companies — often foreign-based — which knowingly sell deadly, defective drugs for years while reaping monstrous profits. ~ Jim Adler.

So, profiteers are on a roll as long as they can keep America’s Mental Health on tilt.

How Overconfidence and Paranoia Become Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

It would be interesting to look at extremist militia groups, regarding paranoia and self-fulfilling prophecies, especially in light of the current revival of interest in gun control issues. It seems to me that such groups who fear that the government (or UN stormtroopers) will come to take away their guns and so create groups that practice paramilitary training and hoard firearms are creating exactly the conditions that will draw the attention of law enforcement. The more radicalized their speech and practices become, the more likely it would be that government agencies would be informed and investigate or seek informants to monitor such groups. In their minds, this would seem to confirm their paranoid visions of a police state out to squash 2nd Amendment rights and free speech. ~ sk3