I don’t think sympathy is a forced reaction. It’s automatic. Sympathy, horror. What if I or my loved ones had been there- which is always a possibility? What if my friends who live there had been there? How horrible to be in a random place and be a victim of something like this. Yes- same with all these shootings. I am not desensitized to them and each one raises more fear that life is a total crapshoot.
ABC news is reporting that Florida has a bill that would allow guns to be carried on college campuses and in airports. Let’s hope it doesn’t pass.
You can legally check an unloaded gun, in a hard case, but I’m not sure if ammo can also be checked. If it can, that provision may disappear now and I won’t mind at all.
The shooter told the FBI that his mind was being controlled by the CIA and the US government who were forcing him to watch ISIS videos. They sent him to a psychiatric hospital. It seems like something was done, but it appears the ball was dropped if this man was able to travel freely with a firearm.
Also, he flew from Alaska to Florida and changed planes in Minneapolis. There was no plane change or stop over in Canada.
@tating You do know that the press is reporting that shooter is an American with a) puerto rican heritage, b) a US military vet, and c) has a known history of mental illness, right?
I don’t think it’s automatic either. I do think that all of us would be utterly overcome if we allowed ourselves to grieve every bit of horror in the world. There isn’t enough life in any of us for that. A certain amount of protective shield is a life defense.
Ya, but if this is your airport 99% of the time, it feels scary and personal.
Sorry, I have had mass shootings literally all of my life. I am numb to it. I don’t not feel bad for the families but I’m not mourning either. It is nothing personal. It is the fact that people are killed by gun violence every single day in this country. What are we supposed to do- mourn every day?
Sorry, I just can’t do that. I just don’t have the energy to be horrified every time something like this happens. We’re not going to do anything about this as a country so I will continue to be numb to it. My heart can’t break every time.
This is not to diminish the feelings of anyone who is hurt. I was hurt by Orlando and I cried many times watching that. But that’s because it was my community that was attacked. My good friend lost a father figure- who I didn’t know but I mourned with my friend. So I understand the people that are mourning over this, who are affected by this, but it’s just not all of us.
64 could still be an ISIS sympathizer or wannabes. Forced to watch ISIS videos? Right.
I understand that and I think we all do that to a certain extent. What we don’t do is basically say, “Tough luck folks! I sure hope it doesn’t affect my precheck lines!”
Guns are everywhere in Florida. Many people have concealed carry permits, but if you are going hunting or fishing you can have a gun, without a permit, if it is NOT concealed. You see people walking on public piers, on paths in the woods, in boats or on boat ramps with their guns showing. You can’t even put it under a shirt or jacket, it has to be showing. You have to have a fishing or hunting license, but not one for the gun.
My understanding for guns as check baggage is that it is okay as long as the gun is permitted at both the departure state and the arrival state, and you must declare the gun when you check the luggage. There was a case recently where a guy had a checked and declared gun as he was going to a gun show in Pennsylvania, but he landed in NJ and he wasn’t allowed to have the gun there. He was fighting the arrest.
My daughter returned to college today right around 12:30. She was waiting for her boyfriend near the luggage pick up. Luckily, they flew into Orlando rather than FLL. Their school is a little closer to Orlando, but it is really only an extra 30 minutes to FLL so everyone checks all the fares to find the best.
@GnocchiB
Anderson Cooper just interviewed him on CNN. What an extraordinary story. He was so lucky.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Let’s move off any discussion of 2nd Amendment and gun control laws please. Several posts deleted.
I can only speak for myself, but that is not what I take away from emilybee’s posts on the subject.
I, for one, an heartily sick and tired of moments of silence and crocodile tears and “prayers” from people who won’t get off their metaphorical asses and do something about guns and gun culture in the US.
@patsmom thanks for the head’s up. I just found the link:
I’ll see him at a previously scheduled 10th grade parent meeting next week. I’m sure the current seniors/parents are thankful that he’s OK (and that this happened after most RD apps were due). I mean, if there’s ever a “good time” for a college counselor to be caught up in something this traumatic, early January is probably it.
It seems mass several shootings over the last few years have been ex-military. Of course I have no proof but these endless tours of duty are probably taking their toll on members. You hear the horror stories of vets having to fight for services upon their return, and many who can’t find jobs. It’s enough to send very strong individuals over the edge. Something has to be done!
Ding ding ding.
I about wanted to throw up when I heard FL’s gov say that they’ll do “everything they can” to ensure this “never happens again.”
Yeah. OK. Sure.
Prayers aren’t bringing back the victims of gun violence nor do they protect future victims.
My calls and emails do nothing in my area because I live in a very pro-gun place. So I do what I can. I’ve worked on crisis lines. I’ve worked in mental health. I’ve worked in IPV. In other words, I do rather than pray. I’m so sick of reading about prayers and thoughts.
The FL Gov also said this: “The main thing is to pray for those in the hospital fighting for their lives, so they make it”
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Wholeheartedly agree with you, @romanigypsyeyes. I find all this prayer talk and unwillingness to take action on making changes hypocritical.
That FL Governor. Like I need another excuse to never ever set foot in Florida again.
According to what I read, it sounds as if this guy had just signed up for the National Guard in Alaska. It didn’t sound as if he were a combat veteran.
That could be wrong, of course.
According to numerous news reports, he was in the National Guard in PR, deployed to Iraq 2010/11, was then in Army Reserves, then the Alaska National Guard in 2014 from which he was discharged 4 months ago.