Robert Reich

The GOP’s response to gun violence:

Arm the teachers!
Arm the ministers!
Arm the children!

These are not serious solutions, just convenient, never ending excuses for inaction. The assault weapons ban must be reinstated — the greed of gun manufacturers be damned.

Mar 28, 2023 at 2:53pmWeb
Show threadNick@NorthLondonMar 28, 2023
@rbreich The right way to frame this issue is to say it's a public health danger.
If pollution was killing people, the solution wouldn't be to pour more pollution into the water or air.
If a virus was endemic and killing people, the solution wouldn't be more exposure (although some might say so)
Guns kill people in the hands of mentally ill people - so restrict them
Assault rifles aren't sports related, they're war related - ban them
Then bring in product liability for guns.
JFDI
Show threadBethanyMar 28, 2023
@rbreich if they can’t trust teachers to pick books or curriculum how can they trust them with a gun?
Show threadEva ChandaMar 28, 2023
@rbreich A teacher commented that they don't even trust teachers with books, so why would they trust them with guns?
Show threadSara DMar 28, 2023
@rbreich @erchanda
All I know is that I could *not* imagine my 5’2” 50-something art teacher with a gun. And I *don’t* want to imagine my 6’2” anger-management-challenged loud-mouthed phys-ed teacher with a gun either.
Show threadJonathon BartonMar 28, 2023

@rbreich
Robert,
**Change My View**

An assault weapons ban is political theater and does nothing to solve actual firearm violence.

IMO:
- Everyone should own an AR-15.
- Nobody should own a 9mm handgun¹.

Murders by Rifle² 2015-2019:
1,573

Murders by Pistol 2015-2019:
33,075

Murders with rifles comprise *less than 5 percent* of all murders, and an AW ban would STILL not prevent Rifle Murders, since some were definitely murdered by non-assault-rifles.

Show threadJonathon BartonMar 28, 2023

@rbreich
Footnotes and Links:

¹ By "Nobody" I mean NOBODY. Police on duty included. You wanna shoot someone, officer? Then mean it. Get your rifle out of the trunk and be intentful about it.
1. No police officer should have the ability to execute someone without a trial just...strapped to their body 24/7 where it can be a snap decision.
2. You can shoot, but you have to deliberately retrieve it from a secure container as a separate step.

² ..."Assault" or not...

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8.xls

Expanded Homicide Data Table 8

FBI
Show threadSara DMar 28, 2023
@rbreich
I wouldn’t call arming teachers, ministers, and children inaction. Inaction would be better than *that*.
Show threadmarca56Mar 28, 2023
@rbreich methinks the “mental health” argument is projection on the part of these stupid, old, feckless @gop losers
Show threadStevePaints-N-SkatesMar 28, 2023
@marca56 @rbreich
On. The. Nose.
Show threadI❤️Science! 🇨🇦Mar 28, 2023
@rbreich It is so blatantly obvious to anyone reading the statistics that more guns does NOT lead to less mass shootings. Yes, places with stronger gun control do have mass shootings, but nothing to the degree of the US.
I teach in Canada. I feel safe in my school. We can focus more on learning and less on active shooter drills.
I do not understand the right or need to carry a firearm wherever I go. It baffles my mind.
Show threadJazmanMar 28, 2023

@rbreich

Illinois is fighting to get assault weapons out of schools and other places (ie Highland Park) but the 2nd Amendment contingents think they should be the Duttons of the Midwest.

Show threadGlennMar 28, 2023
@rbreich We need to enforce red flag laws and buying lots of guns and ammunition should be a red flag.
Show threadStevens R MillerMar 28, 2023
@rbreich
Show threadRickMar 28, 2023
@rbreich In Chicago, it is easier for a gang banger to get a semi-automatic from Indiana, than for his grandmother to have her prescription filled in Canada.
Show threadExtinction (our fate)Mar 28, 2023
@rbreich Arm the Democrats then! No gun registry? No limit on Democrat arsenals against Christo-fascists!
Show threadjoeMar 28, 2023

@rbreich Those aren't solutions.

They're revenue streams.

Show threadKNERDMar 28, 2023

@rbreich

So let's blame spoons and forks for obesity, pen & pencil for spelling errors?

Not to mention there are more deaths from automobiles and medical malpractice than deaths from people killing others with a gun. Let's ban cars and doctors!

Show threadTheRandomGamerTRGMar 28, 2023
@rbreich I don't see how arming both children and teachers could be positive. Unless 'positive' means effective at reducing student count ig.
Show threadMugsysRapSheet Blog ☑️Mar 28, 2023

@rbreich It's not the guns. It's the ammunition.

A gun w/o bullets is just a stick. A single round of .223 AR15 ammunition costs just $0.76! #EndMassShootings by making bullets more expensive. If you agree a ban on High Capacity clips works, then you support bullet control. #SaveTheChildren #ThinkOutsideTheBox #TaxGunpowder #TaxCordite

Show threadBishop6 (Ed Alan T.)Mar 28, 2023
@rbreich The same teachers who they don't trust to select books for their children, somehow they will now trust to handle a gun in defense of their children. That's Republican logic for you.
Show threadGrandpa DonMar 28, 2023
@rbreich
and I'll add the sensitivities of gun fetishes be damned. Recalling Heston's "cold dead hands" line, I say "ok."
Show threadshanenMar 28, 2023

@rbreich

But it's become impossible to talk with each other about anything serious. Per https://wt.social/post/us-politics/h39b7v85600092142147

The End Of Civil Discussion?

WT.Social news -> Perhaps leading to the end of civilization? Or perhaps I have missed a recent breakthrough in psychology regarding<br />

WikiTribune
Show threadJ. J. CunisMar 28, 2023

@rbreich An old species with a new name - "Pigalhores" and their parasites - the "pusthulates" of Sphincterstan. More soon.

--

Show threadGeekmoto13Mar 28, 2023
@rbreich: what part of "Shall not be infringed" do you not understand, banning will do nothing, crimnals dont follow the law as it is. making me give up a right, is a costly mistake and something you can not do
Show threadgavinisdie Mar 28, 2023
@rbreich Republicans really be living in fortnite
Show threadKNERDMar 28, 2023

@rbreich

Let's not forget Democrats were in charge of the the Congress and Legislative branch 2021-2022 , but oh blame Republicans for gun violence

Show threadHYPER⛧Mar 28, 2023

@rbreich

Leading causes of death in America:
- Heart Disease
- Cancer
- Getting an education
- Existing

As an Australian, I legitimately cannot fathom the level of dense fuckwittery that goes behind American gun policy.

Show threadSouthern LeftistMar 28, 2023

@rbreich
We arm everyone, and it'll be a Wild Western-y Joh Wick movie!

In all seriousness, gun violence is serious; it ain't "woke" or "trans" that's causing it.

It's the lack of control, background checks, and basic safety procedure.

And they say we libs don't wanna keep people safe! Such hypocrisy!

Show threadLorian TaylorMar 29, 2023
@rbreich
Tell that to Biden please!!
Show threadBernardMar 29, 2023
@rbreich
Show threadBernardMar 29, 2023
@rbreich
Show threadJayson MasseyMar 29, 2023

@rbreich It's worse than that. They are not excuses....it's an ad for their donors.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-politicians-receive-mega-donations-pro-gun-supporters/story?id=85023124

In Texas and beyond, many politicians receive mega donations from pro-gun supporters

Texas' two senators are among congress' top recipients of pro-gun contributions.

ABC News