22 die in another US mass shooting

[reader]

Although details are incomplete, 22 persons have died in a mass shooting in the US state of Maine.

Although both political parties can be expected to condemn the killings, no gun control legislation will emerge. 

From the Lewiston Sun Journal

LEWISTON — At least 22 people were killed in multiple shootings Wednesday night in Lewiston, Androscoggin County Sheriff Eric Samson confirmed.

That number could rise, he said.

Maine State Police are searching for Robert Card, 40, in connection with the two shootings at Sparetime Recreation and Schemengees Bar & Grille.

Card, who lives in Bowdoin, is a trained firearms instructor who police believe is in the U.S. Army Reserve out of Saco. He recently reported mental health issues, including hearing voices, and made threats to shoot the National Guard base in Saco, according to state police, who said he spent two weeks at a mental health facility this summer.

https://www.sunjournal.com/2023/10/25/multiple-victims-reported-following-shootings-in-lewiston/

[vinapu]

10 hours ago, reader said:

Although both political parties can be expected to condemn the killings, no gun control legislation will emerge. 

 

Certainly not. macabre dance will continue until the same will happen on NRA convention or some gun show. Then there's small chance sobering thoughts will start appear but I don't expect it before 2057

[caeron]

 

Th US has had 30K+ gun deaths in the US per year for decades. Decades.  Recently, we're pushing 50K. 

This nation is insane, and most of us don't even know it. Pretty sure the rest of the world knows crazy when it sees it though...

 

[unicorn]

3 hours ago, caeron said:

 

Th US has had 30K+ gun deaths in the US per year for decades. Decades.  Recently, we're pushing 50K. 

This nation is insane, and most of us don't even know it. Pretty sure the rest of the world knows crazy when it sees it though...

 

[vinapu]

4 hours ago, caeron said:

 

Th US has had 30K+ gun deaths in the US per year for decades. Decades.  Recently, we're pushing 50K. 

 

commendable contribution for reduction of overpopulation

[reader]

But they are quickly replaced by thousands who cross over Mexico border daily. Despite horrible gun deaths, migrants from Central and South America find US much safer than remaining home. Despite what GOP claims, they empower the economy as they are absorbed into workforce.

[Keithambrose]

15 hours ago, caeron said:

 

Th US has had 30K+ gun deaths in the US per year for decades. Decades.  Recently, we're pushing 50K. 

This nation is insane, and most of us don't even know it. Pretty sure the rest of the world knows crazy when it sees it though...

 

Interestingly, and alarmingly, opioid related deaths per annum are even higher!

[Thomas_88]

22 hours ago, caeron said:

 

...we're pushing 50K...

 

It will get worse I think, because more guns get into circulation & especially with the problems in the Middle East.

[vinapu]

12 hours ago, reader said:

But they are quickly replaced by thousands who cross over Mexico border daily. Despite horrible gun deaths, migrants from Central and South America find US much safer than remaining home. Despite what GOP claims, they empower the economy as they are absorbed into workforce.

fully agree on both accounts. Sad fact is , there's always hotter hell. US gun deaths compared to UK are horrible , look another way to Honduras or El Salvador  and USA suddenly looks as oasis of calm and serenity.

We often tend to forget that such calm and serene country as Thailand is one of deadliest when comes to road deaths. There are scores of member on this forum who profess to never take motorsai taxi or prefer to go to Pattaya by bus to avoid car travel there. 

But scientists from Berkley and State Lomonosov University , after long  research independently confirmed with certainty that one can't drown in the sea in Laos and Lesotho

[Keithambrose]

3 hours ago, vinapu said:

fully agree on both accounts. Sad fact is , there's always hotter hell. US gun deaths compared to UK are horrible , look another way to Honduras or El Salvador  and USA suddenly looks as oasis of calm and serenity.

We often tend to forget that such calm and serene country as Thailand is one of deadliest when comes to road deaths. There are scores of member on this forum who profess to never take motorsai taxi or prefer to go to Pattaya by bus to avoid car travel there. 

But scientists from Berkley and State Lomonosov University , after long  research independently confirmed with certainty that one can't drown in the sea in Laos and Lesotho

Or Andorra, and a few others!

[reader]

CNN — 

The US Army reservist accused of killing 18 people and injuring 13 others in a shooting rampage in Maine this week was found dead Friday evening – apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot – after a two-day manhunt, a state official said.

Robert Card, accused of committing Wednesday’s massacre at a bowling alley and a restaurant in Lewiston, Maine, was found dead around 7:45 p.m. Friday near the Androscoggin River in the Lisbon Falls area, some 10 miles Lewiston, state Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck told reporters.

[vinapu]

8 hours ago, reader said:

CNN — 

The US Army reservist accused of killing 18 people and injuring 13 others in a shooting rampage in Maine this week was found dead Friday evening – apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot – after a two-day manhunt, a state official said.

Robert Card, accused of committing Wednesday’s massacre at a bowling alley and a restaurant in Lewiston, Maine, was found dead around 

no consolation to 18 dead and their families but at least some sense of closure for survivors

[PeterRS]

The usual GOP retort to the humongous number of mass killings in the USA following the 'thoughts and prayers' platitudes is "mental health." Well in this case the killer's mental problems were known in advance, yet nothing was done! And with the mental health of the perpetrators of most of these mass murders is never really known - or is known to people like immediate family who will not report it - the gun lobby continues to rub its hands in glee and loves its increasing profits.

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, PeterRS said:

The usual GOP retort to the humongous number of mass killings in the USA following the 'thoughts and prayers' platitudes is "mental health." Well in this case the killer's mental problems were known in advance, yet nothing was done! And with the mental health of the perpetrators of most of these mass murders is never really known - or is known to people like immediate family who will not report it - the gun lobby continues to rub its hands in glee and loves its increasing profits.

whole nation allowing such mayhem has mental health issue as a nation 

[reader]

The “gun lobby” has morphed from an organization primarily thought of as the NRA and firearms manufacturers to a populist movement taking on strong political overtones. Despite entering bankruptcy for financial misfeasance and losing many members, the. NRA continues to be a potent voice and enabling politicians— primarily from red states—rationale for their views. What has changed is that funding the political races has seen money flow directly from voters to their candidates without necessarily passing through the IRA. Other opportunistic groups have surfaced and also attract funds from the same voters.

Gun control is a “third rail” that politicians of all stripes in red and swing (purple) states are cautioned to avoid. They almost always heed that warning, ensuring no change going forward

Many will be surprised to learn that the American version of the NRA was based on a British group of the same name. The US version was chartered in 1871. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rifle_Association

[PeterRS]

1 hour ago, reader said:

Many will be surprised to learn that the American version of the NRA was based on a British group of the same name. The US version was chartered in 1871. 

Why surprised? That was 1871. Now it is 2023. Britain has passed legislation making registration of firearms some of the strictest in the world. It was a massacre in Dunblane in 1996 that killed 16 primary school children and one teacher that led to even stricter gun control legislation in the UK. Sydney's website GunPolicy.org estimates there are 5.03 guns in the UK per 100 people. The US has 120.5 guns per 100 people.

According to ABC News, the USA has had 565 mass shootings with loss of lives in 2023 alone. Britain has had none!

[reader]

I was surprised about the origination of the NRA (as I think many others are unaware of its history just before Civil War).

Not surprised that GB instituted gun reforms in wake of Dunblane massacre which is certainly commendable on its part.

[Keithambrose]

Didn't NZ do the same?

[PeterRS]

Certainly Australia did the same after the 1996 massacre in Hobart that killed 35 people. Apart from tightening gun laws it instituted a  buyback and amnesty with almost 600,000 guns being handed in to authorities. Since then there have been two more amnesties. In 2017 a 3-month amnesty had 57,000 weopons being handed in. In January this year, after what was the first year of a permanent firearms amnesty 17,000 weaopons were handed in.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/21/over-17000-weapons-surrendered-in-first-year-of-australian-firearms-amnesty