I was just curious. The NRA has a number of courses in small arms use, as well as self defense. We also train law enforcement and hold competitions strictly for law enforcement (as well as citizens).
There was a school shooting but you’d hardly know it
- Thread starter Darth Omar
- Start date
I was just curious. The NRA has a number of courses in small arms use, as well as self defense. We also train law enforcement and hold competitions strictly for law enforcement (as well as citizens).
cawacko
Well-known member
LR, I believe you and I are just a few years apart in age so we grew up about the same time. School shootings were less frequent in our time and definitely didn’t get the national exposure it does now. I know a lot people believe it’s the access to guns that is the cause but we had access to guns in our day as well. I don’t think it’s a coincidnece that all these have occurred after the creation of the internet and then social media. (To repeat I’m not suggesting if they go away this all stops, just that they have played a role).
You’ve been a teacher for a long time. How much of a role do you believe cultural changes have played in all this as opposed to just access to guns?
This guy was not an NRA instructor though during conversation I learned that he and I were not lifetime members.
No, the solution would have to involve something that exactly no one ever talks about. We need better access to mental healthcare. Another part of the problem is the way we all treat each other nowadays. No one has any respect for each other and everyone thinks it's cool to be an asshole. You don't even need to look any further than this forum to find examples of what I am talking about.
I have a healthy mindset when it comes to online posting. I don't let it bother me. There are others, however, who don't have the mental stamina to take what others are dishing out. It only takes so long, and then they start lashing out. Some with words and behaviors, others with weapons.
It’s definitely cultural change that is responsible, IMO. Even more than national exposure or the grandiose offered by the Internet, I really think a marked change in culture is the reason so many finally “break” and actually commit such acts of violence. I’m sure the thoughts have been there with such disturbed people all along but they never acted them out like they do now even though there was plenty of access to guns and ammo. As a high schooler I had bought 3 guns and always had available in excess of 1000 rounds of ammunition for them. I say that just to point out the ease of acquiring guns and ammo back then. It is actually harder for someone of that age to get those things now.
We have gone from the day when I would take my rifle and ammo on the bus on Fridays (I would give the bolt to the bus driver when I got on) so I could ride the bus to my friend’s house to spend the weekend to a kid being suspended for a week because he left a paintball gun visible in the vehicle he drove to school.
Kids are more emotionally unstable than they were 30+ years ago when I started teaching. They are way more dramatic. Every situation they face seems more life and death. And yes, there is less teaching of what is right and what is wrong....from home, from people in authority (yep, there are some idiot teachers out there who act similarly) to people in government, to ... I believe all of this contributes.
I don't know how things are now, but I don't think everyone that took the training course needed to be a life member, just remain a member in good standing. I was a certified instructor for over 20 yrs, but left it run out when I went to work for a food service company delivering food and restaurant supplies. They offer a lot more courses now than they did back then (mid 80's). My discipline was Hi-Power Rifle.
cawacko
Well-known member
Wow, great response. Appreciate ya.
It has become much more difficult for good parents to discipline their children these days. Smack your kid on his ass, he gets you arrested for child abuse. My parents would still be locked up! But the thought of shooting someone never crossed my mind and I had easy access to all my father's guns and the ammo. The guns hung on my bedroom walls, the ammo in a dresser drawer.
I believe social media does have something to do with it, same with being a "copy cat." These kids don't realize the consequences for their actions, they think they can just press reset and it all goes away, but it doesn't. I believe that is part of the "mental health" issue. As for these adult forums, I think most take it with a grain of salt. Those that don't are harmless (I hope!).
Great post!
Outstanding. LR always is.
It has become much more difficult to raise a child now. You have to become very creative in the teaching methods.
Social media is a huge problem. Matthew is not allowed to have a social media account of any kind. That may sound harsh to today's parents, but I don't really care. Yes, this is an adult forum, but where did the kids learn to use these tactics? They know and see more than they let on.
The schools in my area have been working really hard and have anti-bullying campaigns currently on-going. I am beginning to see the results of those campaigns in a GOOD way. Matt is better able to make friends now because of it. Parents? Not so accepting. What kind of a message does that send to our kids? The name-callers and the ostracizers? Adults. I have had far more problems with supposed adults than I have had with children. Matthew and I have been called the R-word more times than I can count. I have been told that he doesn't belong in stores, etc. Don't get me started on social media. I have been told even worse things there than in person.
How about those transgender teens? They know that adults disapprove of them. Nothing has to be said. Just read some of the comments on this very thread. Kids hear their parents saying those very things. Guess what they do with that information? They use it. There is far too much anger in the world, and it is more evident than ever.
cawacko
Well-known member
I'm a big fan of David Bahnsen. He's portfolio manager who manages over $1 billion in client funds and has a brilliant financial mind. More important he is a USC Trojan grad.
He wrote a great book called Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction To Blame And How You Can Cure It. I'm sure you would love it.
But I really appreciate his tweets from this morning and I think they are right up the alley to which you speak in your last paragraph.
""My wife & I were honored last night to break bread w/ @Scaramucci @DeidreScaramuc2 @ValerieJarrett @NikkiHaley @salkhanacademy @DarrellIssa and a handful of other policy folks, electeds. We went around the table after dinner to share what we felt the #1 challenge we face may be.""
""Answers ranged from “political polarization” to “climate/environment” to “educational opportunity” - all reasonable answers worthy of the additional conversation they provoked.
My answer was that if I were to limit myself to just one thing most problematic in these current times,""
""it was the hollowing out of mediating institutions - of civil society - of family, church, and community - that was leaving us so polarized, so centralized, and so devoid of dynamism, morality, and empathy as a people.""
I borrowed from @Jonahnro to say that what keeps me up is “the lack of gratitude that has made us forget what created the legacy we now live off.”
Whether I am hanging out with my buddies, my family, my employees, or a bunch of mover and shakers, I really do pray from the bottom of my heart that somehow, someway, God can use my life to advance the cause of a free and virtuous society. It is to that end that I work
I'm sure it is. When my ex-wife said she wanted a kid or a dog, we got a Basset Hound.
Yes, I agree social media has a lot to do with it. Kids are kids and they can be cruel.
Our schools are pushing the bullying programs very hard, there have been about 4 or 5 suicides over the last 2 years. Sad that kids turn to that at such young ages.
There weren't transgenders when I was in school, they'd probably get more shit from us than they do now. Personally, I don't approve of it, but that's my opinion.
Oh, yes. Puppy dogs are much easier! LOL!
Well, from a parenting perspective, I can tell you that when kids get home from school, that should be a time to decompress and have a break from all that happens there. They can't do that if they are also being bullied on social media. I refuse to expose Matt to that. It's very heartbreaking that kids are turning to suicide as their escape from bullying. It SHOULD be a wake-up call to parents, but collectively, we are pretty stupid.
I agree. I don't blame you for not letting Matt on social media. I will not join facebook or twitter myself. There weren't near the suicides or shootings back in my HS days, we didn't have cell phones either.
cawacko
Well-known member
My 25 year old co-worker was telling me his sister is a fifth grade teacher and she said there is peer pressure to have an Instagram account at that age. To me that’s like WTF?! I’m not smart enough to solve all of societies ills but I don’t see how having an IG account at that age is necessary or in any way a good thing
No, once school ended for the day, we were completely done. We have a lot of things planned, including reducing time spent on electronics. We both have scooters, we be dangerous!
OH NO! You two on scooters? Just kidding
I'm sure you two have a blast.Many kids today don't go out and play like we did. We'd eat a light supper and out the door we'd go.
Eagle_Eye
Well-known member
Morning Aimee. Sadly kids are turning from suicide and turning to mass shooting because of bullying. The latest Colorado shooting is an example.
No, there is no way in hell that an Instagram account is a good thing for someone that young. My son doesn't even have a cell-phone. He's in Middle School now. Peer pressure is incredible!