# A big middle finger to the people who took advantage to politicize the school shooting **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 19, 2018, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107 "2018-02-19T09:00:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/201 "2018-02-20T14:13:21Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Are you in favor of “states rights” when it comes to marijuana regulation? Which is a harmless diversion, and which kills children? Sort it out and get back to me. States rights has been a cover for enough horrendous shit already. Pot isn’t states rights anyway. It’s about everybody vs Jefferson Beauregard Sessions. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/202 "2018-02-20T14:19:10Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > As for the thread, is just me expressing my annoyance > Because when ever a shooting comes up, the problem is once the talk is done is done. Is done for browny points, is not discussed seriously… > > I want to see actually people discuss it more civil and calmly and have it driven by their politics… > > Sorry if this came out as a troll thread to anyone. > And as much i am trying to stay off political talk, problem is everything is turning political too quickly, even one of my teacher schools complains about how much information is not based off an agenda, no seriously I am not even kidding. > > Is also almost as if you can’t maintain a neutral stance anymore, you’re labeled a racist or a mangina by both sides… And this can create a lot of stress… We have sovereign citizens, far right wing extremists and neo Nazis. Many of them want to kill someone -anyone. We have mass killings by the aforementioned, who had easy access to guns. They are killing people who had nothing to do with anything. We have a “leadership” that was bought and paid for by the “gun lobby”, and so they won’t DO anything. AND the gun nuts threaten to start killing MORE people and overthrowing the country if they don’t get their fucking toys. The time for civility is over. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/203 "2018-02-20T14:21:45Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Those who write that our guns protect the _hoi polloi_ from our own oppressive government are ignorant of both the nature of the American Revolution and the nature of present-day American governance. > > Questions: > > (1) Of the two recent autocrats, Obama the Messiah and Trump the Smartest President Ever, _which one would be more likely to use strong armed force against residents of the U.S._? > > (2) Among Americans who do own guns and are prepared to use them against police, whose oppressive policies would they be more likely to oppose? Obama’s or Trump’s? > > Let’s continue the discussion of 2nd Amendment and Revolution AFTER those two questions are answered. crickets ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/204 "2018-02-20T14:31:55Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > One can’t logically be for or against states rights based on a whim. Actually, one can. It depends on how significant a principle one thinks ‘states rights’ is, whether one is pro or con. If it’s way down there in the range where whims are more important, then yes you can, and it’s completely logical. 😃 Just because states’ rights as a principle is a BFD to some people, doesn’t mean it’s a BFD to everyone else. I simply don’t recognize your hierarchy of values that puts states’ rights in a high place. Most of us have a considerable number of other principles that rank well above states’ rights. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/205 "2018-02-20T14:33:34Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Go stick a cactus in your dried up orifice of choice. If only us liberals would learn to be as civil as conservatives are, we could finally have that wonderful discussion where we’d solve everything! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/206 "2018-02-20T14:39:14Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Most of us have a considerable number of other principles that rank well above states’ rights. Those of us who see it as the historical rationalization of regionalized legal slavery and oppression do not consider it a principle in itself at all. Nor do those of us who’ve actually read the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/207 "2018-02-20T14:43:21Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Send prayers to the victims, save your shit for later According to an ever growing number of newly galvanized young people, your “prayers” are worthless bullshit. Instead, DO SOMETHING. It’s harder to get a driver’s license or even a fishing license than it is to get a gun. The NRA, which is simply a front organization for the Arms Dealers of America, doesn’t want any training requirements, and they don’t want background checks. The CDC is not allowed to research the situation as a health concern for Americans, and law enforcement cannot computerize their records on guns. You can go to a gun show and, no matter what your age, buy any weapon there without any background check or paperwork. That’s the “best effort” we can muster to stop the slaughter of our children? Like I say, save your prayers. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/208 "2018-02-20T14:50:39Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Talented enough to get rich and famous with it. 😉 Yes, and so is Moneyboy. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/209 "2018-02-20T15:02:40Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > According to an ever growing number of newly galvanized young people, your “prayers” are worthless bullshit. Instead, DO SOMETHING. Exactly. And according to the prophet Isaiah, the Lord said something rather similar once upon a time: > [@Isaiah 1:11-17](#): > > Your countless sacrifices, what are they to me? says the Lord. > I am sated with whole-offerings of rams and the fat of buffaloes; > I have no desire for the blood of bulls, of sheep and of he-goats. > Whenever you come to enter my presence - who asked you for this? > No more shall you trample my courts. > The offer of your gifts is useless, the reek of sacrifice is abhorrent to me. > New moons and sabbaths and assemblies, sacred seasons and ceremonies, > I cannot endure. > I cannot tolerate your new moons and your festivals; > they have become a burden to me, and I can put up with them no longer. > When you lift your hands outspread in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you. > Though you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. > There is blood on your hands; wash yourselves and be clean. > Put away the evil of your deeds, away out of my sight. > Cease to do evil and learn to do right, > pursue justice and champion the oppressed; > give the orphan his rights, plead the widow’s cause. Thoughts and prayers are fine once you’ve done what you can do, or if you’re not in a position to do anything. But ‘thoughts and prayers’ from our lawmakers in particular, who are charged with promoting the general welfare - which surely involves doing something about people being mowed down like grass by random nutjobs - there is blood on their hands. I sincerely doubt that the Lord wants to hear their thoughts and prayers. He wants them to cease to do evil and learn to do right, pursue justice and champion the oppressed. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/210 "2018-02-20T19:25:00Z")
For real this thread is like a merry go round. As for when would it be appropiate to do gun talk, I say 2 to 3 days later. I think is easier to just do gun talk for browny points because how constant they are and because well some of us aren’t working with the government of course ---
**Author:** ![Haldurson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/51bf81/32.png) [@Haldurson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haldurson)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/211 "2018-02-20T21:25:34Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > S > Send prayers to the victims, save your shit for later Prayers can’t stop bullets. > **[Neil deGrasse Tyson Drops Science on ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ Crowd After...](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/neil-degrasse-tyson-drops-science-thoughts-prayers-crowd-012249106.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=fb)** > > Neil deGrasse Tyson has a message for the world after the school shooting that left 17 dead in Florida on Wednesday — prayers may be all well and good, but they aren’t terribly efficient in protecting America’s kids from gun violence. On Friday, two... Furthermore, I’m tired of the hypocrites sending their thoughts and prayers to victims while receiving ridiculous campaign contributions from the NRA to make sure that such shootings continue unabated without any action: > **[FACT CHECK: Did Politicians Tweeting 'Thoughts and Prayers' Receive Millions...](https://www.snopes.com/news/2018/02/15/thoughts-prayers-nra-congress/)** > > After a mass shooting at a Florida school, comedy writer Bess Kalb made a powerful point about campaign donations with a series of tweets. Thoughts and prayers may make YOU feel better, but it shows an actual callous disregard for the victims if it is not combined with political action to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again. This is the ONLY country that has this problem. I am SICK of people saying that we should have no reaction to the tragedy. That we should do nothing. That the problem is unsolvable. And so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because people don’t do anything except make it easier to buy more guns without restriction. Feel free to send your thoughts and prayers. But if you want a clear conscience, ACT. Make sure the politicians STOP taking money from the NRA to do NOTHING to solve this problem. Make sure that real substantial action is taken. Don’t be a hypocrite. ACT! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/212 "2018-02-20T21:29:58Z")
Thoughts and prayers. Is that what the NRA sends to “our” politicians? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/213 "2018-02-20T21:49:49Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Thoughts and prayers. > Is that what the NRA sends to “our” politicians? Yes. Along with large denominations of US currency, endorsed and backed by god, to ensure prompt delivery. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/214 "2018-02-20T22:07:01Z")
I know which party gets my thoughts and prayers, and which gets my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/215 "2018-02-20T22:16:50Z")
Also here is more I got to say America is a much larger country than any European nation ever. And we have a lot of wilderness, open space, and many different types of populations. This is why, for instance, it is almost impossible for anyone to buy a legal gun in NY City. Probably because proximity and population make guns more dangerous in an inner city such as the Big Apple. America is a nation that is 40 times the size of Great Britain, and has not only a Federal Constitution, but 50 different state constitutions. People, government, laws, and logistics are different here. Americans have been heavily armed with all kinds of heavy duty, hardcore weapons for almost 250 years. It is only in the recent decades we have had serious, widespread problems like the one in Florida. So categorically assuming its the guns themselves that are the problem is myopic. The fact remains that the fundamental cultural differences between America and the other western nations are (a) Americans have an irrational fear/distrust of their own government and (b) desire for, familiarity with, and protectiveness of, guns. These are obviously obstacles to changing gun laws. My contention is that they are the ONLY obstacles to changing gun laws, and that there is nothing sacred or immutable about them. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/216 "2018-02-20T23:13:26Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Also here is more I got to say > America is a much larger country than any European nation ever. And we have a lot of wilderness, open space, and many different types of populations. This is why, for instance, it is almost impossible for anyone to buy a legal gun in NY City. Probably because proximity and population make guns more dangerous in an inner city such as the Big Apple. > America is a nation that is 40 times the size of Great Britain, and has not only a Federal Constitution, but 50 different state constitutions. People, government, laws, and logistics are different here. Americans have been heavily armed with all kinds of heavy duty, hardcore weapons for almost 250 years. It is only in the recent decades we have had serious, widespread problems like the one in Florida. So categorically assuming its the guns themselves that are the problem is myopic. > The fact remains that the fundamental cultural differences between America and the other western nations are (a) Americans have an irrational fear/distrust of their own government and (b) desire for, familiarity with, and protectiveness of, guns. These are obviously obstacles to changing gun laws. My contention is that they are the ONLY obstacles to changing gun laws, and that there is nothing sacred or immutable about them. …is it just me or does this look like it was written by a completely different person? What game are you playing at Luciano700? ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/217 "2018-02-20T23:32:13Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …is it just me or does this look like it was written by a completely different person? > > What game are you playing at Luciano700? I am not playing a game lol. Is just I am more used to formal writing in longer sentences because of essays. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/218 "2018-02-20T23:33:16Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …is it just me or does this look like it was written by a completely different person? > > What game are you playing at Luciano700? Sometimes he cuts and pastes; sometimes he bangs it out on the keyboard with his thumbs. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/219 "2018-02-20T23:34:21Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Sometimes he cuts and pastes; sometimes he bangs it out on the keyboard with his thumbs. Lol k ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2018, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107/220 "2018-02-21T00:36:09Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Also here is more I got to say > America is a much larger country than any European nation ever. [Not even close.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_area#Countries_and_dependencies_by_area) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-middle-finger-to-the-people-who-took-advantage-to-politicize-the-school-shooting/809107.md?page=12)