Meg Macfarlane
flexghost.BREAKING: mass shooting in Lakeland, Florida. 4 shooters leaving 10 injured 2 critical
Earlier today, Republicans introduced a bill removing all permit and training requirements to conceal carry guns
NothingToSeeHere@flexghost Because Republicans will see this as a Wild West moment where, if those 9 people were carrying guns, they would have been able to “defend” themselves.
Ammosexuals do not see a problem that more guns can’t fix.
@transformedme if only there was a good five year old with a gun
@flexghost They’re all five year olds with a gun. The false sense of security stunts their maturity.
Larry Sadler@grey_ghost I dare you to go on any of the conservative outlets when there’s a mass shooting. Look at the comments
It’s almost as if they don’t live in this reality. Literally saying the government is coming for your guns, and there should be no restrictions all while people are being slaughtered in our reality
JohnW@flexghost @grey_ghost I knew a guy. Used to be best friends. We were a pair of hippies. He was always into guns, but not radically at first.
He changed along the way. Became fascist, more of a gun radical. We were no longer friends at this point.
Then he caught Lyme Disease and went to 2nd stage. It did something to his brain. He went from a radical to an extremist and was willing to go on a shooting rampage for anyone who tried to take his guns.
Then he caught Covid and died.
Moral of the story. People with low or impaired brain function are MUCH more likely to turn extremist. I witnessed a decades worth of transition first hand.
@grey_ghost @the_Effekt I’m so sorry in so many ways. Im glad you distanced yourself but at the same time this is a good lesson and example
@flexghost @grey_ghost Thanks, I appreciate it. But I was long gone from his life by then. It had become a wreck.
@the_Effekt @flexghost
I've seen first hand the difference between an armed and unarmed person. I had a friend that when we went out he was just as meek and mild as I am. For whatever reason he eventually bought a handgun, and overtime his personality changed. He started acting like he could do anything. Eventually it got him killed, though not by a gun. He got involved in a situation, escalated it and was stabbed.
He had no illnesses, no mental instability, it was the gun.
I've seen first hand the difference between an armed and unarmed person. I had a friend that when we went out he was just as meek and mild as I am. For whatever reason he eventually bought a handgun, and overtime his personality changed. He started acting like he could do anything. Eventually it got him killed, though not by a gun. He got involved in a situation, escalated it and was stabbed.
He had no illnesses, no mental instability, it was the gun.
Eric Lawton@grey_ghost @the_Effekt @flexghost
Even cars do that for a lot of people.
You see far more aggressive behaviour on the roads than in other social settings.
SomersetWhovian 🇺🇦💙@the_Effekt @flexghost @grey_ghost
I'm so sorry about your friend.
It is a reminder that vulnerable or marginalised people are often in more danger of being radicalised. For the person who's been overlooked, or bullied, extremist groups can give them a sense of belonging which they haven't had before. We've seen it in this country with the far right, and with criminal gangs. Vulnerability can and will be exploited.
@ClaireCopperman @flexghost @grey_ghost I appreciate it, but no sympathy needed. I hadn't seen him for 8 years before he died. When his fascist tendencies developed, I was treated as the inferior one so I left. I only heard about his death through a mutual friend.
@the_Effekt
Cutting out a toxic person like that is the only thing to do. I guess the sympathy was more for the earlier loss of your friend to extremism.
Cutting out a toxic person like that is the only thing to do. I guess the sympathy was more for the earlier loss of your friend to extremism.
@ClaireCopperman We had a lot of good times before that. Fellow musicians in a band together. Hitting all the cool spots in Baltimore (before it became a cesspool). I do miss those times.
I very clearly remember the turning point for me. We were at a nightclub that he always went to. Got to know the bar owners, etc... He got someone kicked out for dressing differently. No other reason. A guy I had been talking to previously.
The idea of just being friends after that started to sour and I saw it more and more as time went on.
Rory@flexghost Jeez... All republicans have not done yet, is tell the public: Get a gun, and kill, or try to kill. And of course, yell out "whoo-hoo" while they do it...
@customer228 watch them melt down and turn this into “libs trying to take m’guns!”
NeveranR@flexghost Floridians don’t need no stinking PERMITS!!!
philtor 🇺🇦🌻@flexghost If a militia were to be "well regulated" wouldn't that imply that they'd need to be trained?
Humble Fan of Atty. Woojust in FL?
@BillMcGuire we got plenty of shootings for the whole nation don’t you worry
what, me worry? I live in TEXAS.
Seanannigans@flexghost Just think, if that bill had already passed, this wouldn't have happened. 
Scenario
Michael FenichelWell, this wreaks...
You're talking Republicans in FL?
Where there is already "stand your ground" (producing new #GQP media darlings)? Where the governor is shutting down the ability to educate, & criminalizing books (with felony consequences for serving 'woke' ideas, nee #truth )....
And where science/medical facts are best practice are also now banned? That place of 'freedom'?
Lakeland is/was a favorite place, more swamp and non-human nature than not. But it's the 'humans'. :(
@drmike I’m sorry that humans ruined your favorite spot… They tend to do that everywhere
Itwasntme@flexghost The GOP is cold and dead. It’s time.
@itwasntme can’t argue with that
Unprecedented 2023
Derek@flexghost For the love of baby jesus, we need to issue a level 4 travel advisory for anyone remotely liberal planning a trip to Florida. All Democrats must prepare to leave immediately.