From The Archives -- Memorial Day For Flu Victims
Program Note: I wrote the following article 13 years ago, for Memorial Day. It was a historic look back that was mostly prompted by a visit to Cobh, Ireland. But then it branched off into a different subject related to World War I. I ran this article again two years ago, and had really hoped that by now we'd have all moved on. Unfortunately, we're not completely out of the woods yet, so I thought it was worth running one more time. Hope everyone has a happy and safe Memorial Day, and I'll see you all back here tomorrow when new columns will resume.
Originally published May 25, 2009
On a lonely hill outside the small town of Cobh, Ireland (pronounced: "cove"), is a mass grave marked by three somber headstones. As mass graves go, it's a fairly small one; holding not tens of thousands or even thousands, but merely a few hundred bodies. But the relative size of the grave on the scale of human misery is beside the point -- because while few, their deaths had monumental consequences for America. The dead were civilians, not soldiers (more on them in a minute). But their deaths deserve memorializing today just as much as those we remember who wore the uniform of our country. Because this is the final resting place of the people onboard the Lusitania.
Cobh itself is a town steeped in history, mostly because of its geography. It is situated next to what is reputed to be the second-largest natural deepwater harbor in the world (Sydney's, the residents will grudgingly admit, is larger). Meaning it was the last port of call for the great oceangoing ships of a century ago. For instance, Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic (where Leo DiCaprio boarded, in the film of the same name -- although, due to the English propensity for renaming everything in sight to suit their fancy, it was called "Queenstown" at the time). And, earlier, it was the departure point for millions of Irish emigrants. There is a statue in Cobh depicting the first person processed through America's Ellis Island; a young Irish immigrant girl, with her brothers (a copy of this statue stands on Ellis Island, as well).
But although the town of Cobh itself cheerfully welcomes tourists with more than the usual amount of Irish charm, the graveyard which lies outside the village is not a cheerful place at all. There are individual headstones for the officers of the Lusitania, but most of the passengers were never identified and their final resting place is a grim reminder of the event which caused America to enter World War I.
Which brings us to remembering America's military. After 128 American civilians were killed in the sinking of the Lusitania, America mobilized over four million men for the fight in Europe. Almost 120,000 of them would wind up in graves themselves rather than returning to their homes.
But what many do not realize about this stark death toll is that over half of American military fatalities happened not on a battlefield, but instead due to the Spanish Influenza worldwide pandemic of 1918-1919. While estimates of the war dead and the cause of their deaths vary (due to the age and non-mechanical nature of the records involved), the Department of Defense official tally is 116,516 fatalities (53,402 killed in action, 63,114 non-combat fatalities). More American soldiers were almost certainly killed by the flu than by enemy bullets, in other words.
The young men mobilized for the war effort were sent to boot camps in America for their training, before being sent "over there." This had the effect of drawing together large groups of people from all over America (in an age where travel was much less common than today, to put it mildly), and housing them in close quarters with minimal facilities. Exactly what you should not do in the middle of a pandemic, in other words. Thrown together in this fashion, the flu virus ran rampant among the new troops. Many of our war dead never set foot in Europe, because they were dead long before their fellow recruits ever were deployed. The Spanish Influenza was an abnormally quick killer, with infected people sometimes dying within hours of contracting the disease. And one of the most susceptible groups of people were the young -- people in their twenties or teens.
Meaning the virus was particularly deadly to our troops.
The reason I have chosen to remember them today is that they deserve every single bit of respect and memorialization as the American fighting men who died in the trenches in Europe. Through no fault of their own, they were struck down by a microscopic killer before they had the chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with their fellow troops under fire. Their country called, they heard the call, and they answered. And they made the ultimate sacrifice for it.
Without getting into the history and/or morality of America's involvement in World War I (since today is not the day for such arguments), I have been thinking about these military flu victims for a while now, ever since the "swine flu" hype in the news recently. I was surprised, when I sat down to write this, to find a story from CNN about the World War I American flu deaths. In it, they quote (from letters home) Martin Aloysius Culhane's first-hand account of what the boot recruits were going through:
"Since noon today our camp has been under quarantine to prevent an epidemic of Spanish influenza. We have had no cases thus far but it is the intention of the medical officers to prevent any case of the disease from making an appearance. All the men who have even slight colds have been put into separate barrack which, of course, were immediately christened 'the TB ward' by the rest of the company."
This was from a letter dated September 28, 1918. By October, Culhane had caught the flu himself, and had recovered. He then wrote home asking a friend to attend a mutual buddy's wake who had succumbed to the flu's scourge (Culhane would survive getting the flu twice, and would later return home without ever being shipped over to Europe):
"...the death of a very good friend, my Bunkie, Thomas Birdie. His body will go north today, I think. At his side, say a few prayers for the repose of his soul."
Today, while memorializing all the fallen in America's wars over the centuries, let us also remember the ones who were cut down before they even made it to the battlefield. Because the service of those killed by a lethal virus should be seen with just as much respect -- and deserves just as much honor -- as the ones killed by human enemies.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
yeah, it's amazing how often history rhymes. with pie!
Kick,
Glad you could respond!! It's so awesome..
}}}A person who kills multiple people in a mass murder incident is mentally ill..{{{
Or a paid mercenary, officer/enlisted soldier, religious bigot, scumbag terrorist, or any number of other things not indicative whatsoever of being necessarily mentally ill.
Again, not factually accurate..
I guess your lapses continue.. Sorry to see that...
You obviously didn't actually READ my comment.
But hay.. Try again.. It's always great to hear from you! :D
}}}But not all people who kill multiple people are mentally ill..{{{
You should really pick a lane unless you enjoy the state of appearing to speak out of both sides of your ass. :D
Not at all.. You are simply having a reading comprehension problem..
If you actually READ what I typed out, you would see that there is no contradiction at all.
JL, you want to explain it to her? :D
You haven't made a distinction between "people" and "people" yet... but rather keep claiming people who kill multiple other people are by definition mentally ill.
Once again, your reading comprehension (or lack thereof) fails you...
The distinction is not in the "people".. The distinction is between those who KILL multiple people and those who MURDER multiple people..
That distinction (and there IS a distinction, as you SHOULD know) negates your entire argument..
But, I'll give you an "E" for effort.. :D
Those who MURDER multiple people are, by definition, mentally ill..
Those who KILL multiple people are not necessarily mentally ill..
I have, on occasion been forced to kill.. But I have never murdered anyone..
The rest of your drivel is nothing but personal attacks..
Something that we no longer tolerate here in Weigantia..
That is part of the OLD Weigantia and you are, apparently, as well..
Please do come back when you can comport yourself with some civility, mm kay??
And NOW Biden's Handlers want to ban the MOST POPULAR handgun caliber in the US!!
Biden says there’s ‘no rational basis’ for owning popular type of handgun, appears to suggest ban
Biden calls 9mm ‘high-caliber weapons,’ suggests banning them
President Biden visited the site of a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas over the weekend
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-9mm-guns-texas-uvalde-mass-shooting
A .45 is acceptable, but the 9mm HAS to go!!
BBBWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Clearly, Biden's Handlers are trying to negate ANY advantage that their baby killing may have given Democrats..
Russ,
And just because Heller says the militia lines at the beginning of the 2nd are “explanatory” (which is strange for you to say militias cannot be required since that is exactly the example that is given) that doesn’t mean that there cannot be armories in communities where guns must be stored.
And why not enforce where you have to go to an Internet Cafe to post on the Internet.. Enforce a law that you can't post on the Internet from home..
:eyeroll:
But why stop there..
Using ya'all's MORONIC 2nd argument, the founding fathers could could not have POSSIBLY conceived of the Internet, so OBVIOUSLY the 1st Amendment doesn't apply to postings on the Internet..
Do ya see how UTTERLY STOOPID and MORONIC your argument is?? :eyeroll:
Also, a national gun registry does not mean the government is going to come for your guns…unless you have reason why you should not be armed. The only way we can hope to stop those with mental illnesses from committing these mass shootings is if we know that they have the guns.
You can tell by ATF Form 4473.. DUH... :eyeroll:
But since there is no mental health database open to LEOs (because YOUR Democrats fight against that tooth and nail!!) your argument is moot..
As in INVALID... Non Factual... Non Serious...
Let me lay out the facts for you people because obviously Kick is not the only one suffering momentary (or more likely situational) reading comprehension problems..
There are no more anti-gun laws you can pass that are allowable under the 2nd and will prevent or help prevent Crowd Based Mass Shootings..
Democrats will NEVER be able to ban 9mm handguns nationally/federally..
Democrats will NEVER be able to ban semi-automatic rifles nationally/federally..
Keeping and bearing firearms is an INDIVIDUAL RIGHT separate and distinct from ANY militia.. THIS is the law of the land..
Until Democrats quit their hysterical anti-gun crusade and concentrate on the REAL culprit of these Crowd Based Mass Shootings, mental illness, these shootings will continue to occur..
These are FACTS that no amount of hysterical fear mongering, whining, foot stamping or bitching will change..
Get used to it..
As someone who has said that they support abortion with restrictions,
Not factually accurate..
But YOU are someone who has said that you support baby killing with restrictions..
So, you are talking about yourself here..
And once again, Biden shows WHY he needs his Handlers...
"You couldn’t buy a cannon when the Second Amendment was passed. You couldn’t go out and purchase a lot of weaponry."
-Joe Biden
Not factually accurate, Biden..
You COULD buy and own a cannon when the 2nd Amendment passed.. You could even own a navy ship FULL of cannons if you could afford it..
THIS is exactly why it's impossible to deal with Democrats on this issue
They are so frakin' IGNORANT and MORONIC of the FACTS..
By that thinking, we’ve had helicopters since the 1500’s. Concepts and prototypes do not mean the item is available to the masses. There is nothing that indicates Madison knew of the “weapon” when penning the 2nd.
Except that Madison was a very intelligent person so there is NOTHING to think that the framers of the 2nd DIDN'T know about the concepts...
But they couldn't have known about the Internet, so obviously, according to ya'all's MORONIC argument, the 1st Amendment doesn't apply to the Internet, right genius?? :epic eyeroll:
"A man's got to know his limitations"
-Clint Eastwood, MAGNUM FORCE
Obviously Democrats don't have a CLUE about their limitations..
When it comes to guns, Democrats are CLUELESS that they're clueless.. :eyeroll:
You people REALLY need to face the reality and face the facts...
If Democrats couldn't push thru any of their anti-gun agenda after Sandy Hook when they had a BIGGER lock on Congress.....????
What makes ya'all honestly believe that Democrats can do anything NOW??
When their "majority" in both sides of Congress are razor thin???
You people are simply dreaming..
Canadian PM Trudeau announces legislation to ‘freeze’ handgun ownership, buy back ‘assault-style weapons’
The minister of public safety called it Canada's 'most significant action on gun violence in a generation'
https://www.foxnews.com/world/canadas-trudeau-freeze-handgun-ownership-mandatory-buybacks
Too bad Canada doesn't have a 2nd Amendment..
Adolph Trudeau is going to leave law-abiding Canadians at the mercy of the lawless element..
Sucks for law abiding Canadians..
A disarmed society is a controllable society..
History is replete with examples..
And we all know how the Canadian Government treated THEIR indigenous peoples... :eyeroll:
About 55,000 new handguns have been registered annually in Canada over the last decade, Mendicino said.
And THAT'S why you will never see National Gun Registration in the US beyond ATF Form 4473...
DUH.... :eyeroll:
Now, let's look to the future..
Let's postulate the scenario whereas future progressives have a lock on all branches of government and attempts a gun ban...
Approx 120 MILLION Americans own approx 400 million guns..
Now, WHAT do YA'ALL think would happen if a Progressive Administration tried to enforce a gun ban???
"You're meddling with powers you cannot possibly comprehend."
-Marcus Brody, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE
To put the matter succinctly, if you Democrats try to enforce ANY kind of gun ban...???
Well, let's just say that the Thomas Jefferson quote about the Tree Of Liberty will likely come to pass...
Be VERY careful what ya'all wish for... You may get it...
And ya'all won't like what happens next..
Biden is throwing Zelensky and Ukraine to the wolves.. Or, in this case, to the bear...
Biden's refusal to send rockets to Ukraine shows 'complete lack of strategy' from White House: Victoria Coates
Biden will not provide advanced long-range rocket systems to Ukraine, he announced Monday
https://www.foxnews.com/media/biden-refusal-send-rockets-ukraine-shows-complete-lack-strategy-white-house-victoria-coates
After spewing BS and propaganda left and right about how he will support Ukraine to the hilt, Biden's Handlers are now ignoring Ukraine's needs..
It's not surprising... We knew back during the Afghanistan clusterfrak that Biden and his handlers were mental midgets..
Biden and his handlers are simply being true to form now with Ukraine..
And Democrats actually BELIEVE they will do OK in November?? :D
Delusional... :D
It’s really remarkable. I mean, from the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, President Biden has repeatedly told Vladimir Putin what he will and will not do, and meanwhile, Putin's put everything on the table up to and including nuclear weapons.
And here we are telling him, "Oh, we are not going to provoke you." It’s just emblematic of the administration’s complete lack of strategy on Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has a plan. He has a strategy, he wants to win. The administration has no plan and they're not unleashing what weapon Putin's truly afraid of, which is our stable, clean U.S. energy and instead, they’re continuing to thwart the development of that, while he threatens to starve off Europe. Again, it just makes no sense.
-VICTORIA COATES, Trump Deputy National Security Adviser
Biden and his handlers are in WAY over their heads...
Putin has them wrapped around his little finger... :eyeroll:
And THIS is what Democrat governance looks like..
:eyeroll:
Los Angeles: Shameless Sephora robbers empty shelves, fill trash bags in front of shoppers
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed multiple robberies took place at the Los Cerritos Center
https://www.foxnews.com/us/los-angeles-sephora-robbers-trash-bags
Democrats could not be more incompetent if they tried!!
New video shows Texas school shooter Salvador Ramos holding bag of dead cats
One Uvalde classmate describes Ramos as being 'violent towards women' and 'scary'
https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-video-shows-texas-school-shooter-salvador-ramos-holding-bag-dead-cats
Yea, there was NOTHING about mental illness with this scumbag shooter.. :eyeroll:
Biden slammed for claiming there's 'no rational basis' for 9mm bullets: ‘We’re banning handguns now?’
Biden also repeated his claim that the Second Amendment is not 'absolute' on Memorial Day
https://www.foxnews.com/media/biden-9mm-bullets-second-amendment-banning-handguns
There is simply NO WAY that a handgun ban will pass Constitutional muster..
Buden's Handlers are simply having another wet dream...
:^/
"The .22 caliber bullet will lodge in the lungs and we can get it out. A 9mm bullet blows the lung out of the body. The idea of a high caliber weapon, there is simply no rational basis for it in terms of self-protection, hunting."
-Biden
Says the moron who suggested fire a couple shotgun rounds in the air to scare away a home invasion. :eyeroll:
Does Biden realize what a SHOTGUN blast will do to a human's lungs? :^/
Like I said.. It's IMPOSSIBLE to have an intelligent conversation with a Democrat on the issues of guns...
They are completely and utterly IGNORANT on the subject..
"The .22 caliber bullet will lodge in the lungs and we can get it out. A 9mm bullet blows the lung out of the body. The idea of a high caliber weapon, there is simply no rational basis for it in terms of self-protection, hunting."
EXCEPT for the fact that a 260lb man about to rape a woman can shake off the effects of even a couple .22s to the chest..
Whereas a hollow point 9mm round to the chest or head will stop the attacker dead.. Literally..
Law abiding gun owners should have access to ANY and ALL weapons that the scumbag criminals have access to..
Tell ya what, Dumbocrats...
Get a handle on the huge explosion of blatant crime that is occurring under DEMOCRAT governance...
Insure that criminals won't have access to guns...
THEN.... and ONLY THEN... will a gun ban work..
Until that happens.. Until Democrats can get the exploding crime under control and GUARANTEE that criminals will not have any guns..???
Shove your gun ban up your collective asses!!
JL,
Ya see!!???
Feelings and progressive crap simply does not make good Trek!!
Enemy vessels!!! Dead red shirts!!! Phasers!!! Photon Torpedoes!! CAPTAIN I CAN'T HOLD HER TOGETHER!!!
THAT makes good Trek!! :D
Exclusive: Supreme Court leak investigation heats up as clerks are asked for phone records in unprecedented move
https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/31/politics/supreme-court-roe-v-wade-leak-phone-records/index.html
Authorities are closing in on the "wise latina"!!!
Nail her to the wall!!!
TEXT THREAT Shocking new mugshot shows Florida student, 10, arrested for threatening mass shooting five days after Texas massacre
https://www.the-sun.com/news/5454595/new-mugshot-shows-florida-student-mass-shooting-texas-school/
This is what happens when Democrat indoctrination fraks up our schools and our children...
When Democrats treat kids as adults, kids think they can ACT like adults.. :eyeroll:
Liz Cheney's 'uphill' path to re-election runs through Trump
Even as her renomination looks unlikely, her allies insist she's focused on winning in Wyoming — not on creating a platform to run for president in 2024.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/liz-cheneys-uphill-path-re-election-runs-trump-rcna31053
Liz Cheney is toast...
She should run as a Democrat... :^/
Ya mess with da bull.. Ya get da horns!!!
I mean, com' on man!!
President Trump won Wyoming by the largest margin of any other states...
Does Liz think she really has a chance?? :eyeroll:
So, maybe we get a DEATH TO Roe v Wade!!! today?? :D
It's going to be nice to see that piece of garbage thrown on the trash heap of history where it belongs..
And from Democrat Water Carrier NBC...
Inside a Biden White House adrift
Amid a rolling series of calamities and sinking approval ratings, the president’s feeling lately is that he just can’t catch a break — and that angst is rippling through his party.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-white-house-adrift-rcna30121
Even Democrat propaganda outlets acknowledge how bad Biden's Handlers are doing...
https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2022-05/220527-Ron-Klain-ew-242p-721f6b.jpg
Ha!! The moron is still wearing a mask!!!
Whatta Marroon...
Even KLAIN acknowledges how bad Biden's Handlers are doing on COVID....
Yep..
It PROVES that Biden is suffering from dementia/senility and is not fully in charge...
Rare pushback from Biden..
But Biden's Handlers merely gave Biden an ice cream cone and Biden was mollified...
Yea.. You Democrats picked a real winner here.. :eyeroll:
https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2022-05/220523-formula-shortage-ew-633p-6c9195.jpg
Democrat incompetence on full display.. :^/
But!! But!! But!!! Biden was spose to be BETTER than President Trump...
:epic eyeroll:
Hillary's "DEPLORABLE" moment redux...
I am constantly amazed at the DEPTHS of the stoopidity of Democrats that they could not see this coming..
This is EXACTLY what happens when bubble-enclosed focus groups simply provide confirmation bias...
After Uvalde America Needs Revival, Not Gun Control
The Democrats’ gun control proposals all have one thing in common: they have failed everywhere they have been tried and will not stop school shootings by determined psychos.
https://supermacro.substack.com/p/after-uvalde-america-needs-revival?s=r
"Failed... Failed... EPICLY FAILED"
-NASA Doctor (RIP), ARMAGEDDON
There is only ONE policy that will work to stop school shootings..
SECURITY...
A good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun every time..
NO ONE who knows anything about firearms would think that a 9mm is a "high caliber" weapon..
As I pointed out, .45 is considered a high caliber weapon.. 40mm is considered a decent caliber weapon..
9mm??? That's the women's caliber of choice.. Less recoil.. Less kick.. (MUCH less Kick :D)
9mm = High Caliber???
BBBWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
Ol Senile/Dementia riddled Biden spews inane fact-less comments once again...
Of course, that sick son of a bitch Beto is Weigantian's Most Impressive Democrat...
I wish I could say I was surprised... But alas it's par for the course. :eyeroll:
THIS is how to protect schools..
Assuredly infinitely more effective than Democrat gun bans that will never happen..
Poll: Liz Cheney Losing to Trump-Backed Hageman
A poll conducted by WPA Intelligence for Club for Growth PAC shows former President Donald Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman leading incumbent Rep. Liz Cheney by 30 points in Wyoming’s Republican primary for its at-large House district.
https://www.newsmax.com/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?guid=f9a0db74-daf7-4cd0-8e77-717b52575791&SiteName=Newsmax&maxsidesize=600
Poor sad Liz... She's gonna be out of a job!!!
Couldn't happen to a more deserving moron...
Democrats embrace of Darth Cheney didn't get them ANYWHERE!!! :D
Gotta love the irony...
Going after 9mm firearms means going after handguns, not just rifles..
"Well.. Good luck with that..."
-Jim Carrey, BRUCE ALMIGHTY
Good luck, Democrats.. :^/
Setting yerselves up for another massive BROKE BACK BETTER esque failure...
"The so-called clean-up campaign undermines me and smothers the authenticity that fueled my rise. Worse, it feeds a Republican talking point that I'm not fully in command."
-Joe Biden
Well, Biden is right about something anyways..
Biden reportedly growing frustrated that aides 'rush to explain' his statements, worried he looks weak
Biden contradicts WH assertion he 'was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia' in Warsaw
https://www.foxnews.com/media/joe-biden-frustrated-white-house-aides-walking-back-statements-weak-report
Again.. Biden is 100% factually accurate..
It DOES make him look weak...
@m,
There are plenty of good political episodes too, it's just tougher to do well. The episode 'In the pale moonlight' from ds9 is still one of the best of any trek series ever.
@don,
Regarding offense and defense I must agree. You've demonstrated admirably how to be both as offensive and defensive as humanly possible, simultaneously.
Congratulations, have some pie as your reward.
There are plenty of good political episodes too, it's just tougher to do well. The episode 'In the pale moonlight' from ds9 is still one of the best of any trek series ever.
I'll have to re-watch it.. I have been meaning to binge watch the whole DS9 series...
But by FAR, my fav episode of DS9 is TRIALS AND TRIBBLE-LATIONS.... :D
Durham should have fought for a change of venue..
Michael Sussmann found not guilty of charges brought by Special Prosecutor John Durham
Sussmann had been accused of lying to the FBI
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sussmann-verdict
No jury in DC is going to convict a Democrat.
Plus the fact that the Democrat judge wouldn't allow the most crucial evidence..
Oh well.. Durham is FAR from done..
Record high: California average gas price surpasses $6
https://www.fox5ny.com/news/california-average-gas-price-surpasses-6-record-high-says-aaa
Figures.. Democrat run state...
Sucks to be in California..
And why not enforce where you have to go to an Internet Cafe to post on the Internet.. Enforce a law that you can't post on the Internet from home..
Except armories were used everywhere at the time the 2nd was written. If the FF’s had any issue with them being used to store firearms, you’d think they would have clarified it then.
Your example above proves how ridiculous you are willing to look to defend Republican talking points. You equate exercising free speech with firing a gun. Armories were where guns were stored within the city limits. Get your gun from the armory and go fire it outside of the city limits all you want.
Except armories were used everywhere at the time the 2nd was written. If the FF’s had any issue with them being used to store firearms, you’d think they would have clarified it then.
And Internet Cafes are everywhere now... What's yer point???
The SCOTUS has determined that owning a firearm is an INDIVIDUAL RIGHT completely unrelated to any militia..
So, right off the bat, you are wrong..
Your example above proves how ridiculous you are willing to look to defend Republican talking points. You equate exercising free speech with firing a gun. Armories were where guns were stored within the city limits. Get your gun from the armory and go fire it outside of the city limits all you want.
Except for the SCOTUS ruling..
And, I completely agree.. My Free Speech example IS ridiculous...
JUST AS ridiculous as your "armory" bullshit..
You Democrats lost.. Accept your loss with dignity..
Your whining and crying and hysterically stamping your feet is so childish..
Says the moron who suggested fire a couple shotgun rounds in the air to scare away a home invasion. :eyeroll:
Does Biden realize what a SHOTGUN blast will do to a human's lungs? :^/
If Biden is firing shotgun rounds into the air, why are you asking medical questions that has multiple answers based on distance of the shooter when fired? Suicide by shotgun destroys the chest cavity. Hunting accidents typically result in buckshot to the upper torso that do not reach the major organs. Sadly, because Trump decided that it’s OK to use lead in buckshot, shotguns do not need to strike internally to kill!
Like I said.. It's IMPOSSIBLE to have an intelligent conversation with a Democrat on the issues of guns...
Michale, it’s IMPOSSIBLE for you to have an intelligent conversation on any issue…PERIOD!
You keep pointing out how Democrats have failed to pass any legislation to address these problems, but where are the Republicans’ ideas on fixing what is obviously broken? Ted Cruz wants schools buildings to have only one entrance/exit because, well, he’s just a fugly moron.
Law abiding gun owners should have access to ANY and ALL weapons that the scumbag criminals have access to..
If I wasn’t sure how I felt about requiring a person pass an psych exam in order to purchase a gun before, this post definitely makes it clear how badly that is needed! You think you should have access to chemical weapons and land mines, huh?
“Law abiding gun owners” having access to assault rifles is how they were able to become “scumbag criminals”. If we prevented the law abiding citizen from being able to purchase assault rifles, then they would not be able to turn into “scumbag criminals” that kill 19 people.
Texas doesn’t believe someone under 21 can be trusted to purchase and consume alcohol on their own… but 18 year olds can be trusted to purchase multiple assault rifles and enough ammo to wipe out a large village.
We require auto makers to put safety devices on their products to make using them safer. It’s time for gun makers to be forced to do the same!
If Biden is firing shotgun rounds into the air, why are you asking medical questions that has multiple answers based on distance of the shooter when fired?
Just as there are multiple answers when a 9mm hits someone based on distance..
Biden didn't make any distinction.. Why is a distinction necessary for me??
Ahh yes.. Your Party slavery..
Michale, it’s IMPOSSIBLE for you to have an intelligent conversation on any issue…PERIOD!
Yes.. That is your opinion.. Unsupported by ANY facts whatsoever..
Whereas my statement is a statement of FACT with MULTIPLE facts to support the statement..
You keep pointing out how Democrats have failed to pass any legislation to address these problems, but where are the Republicans’ ideas on fixing what is obviously broken?
There is nothing broken..
How many TENS OF THOUSANDS of people are killed by cars every year??
Are cars "broken"??
No..
It's just the reality we live in in the here and now..
If I wasn’t sure how I felt about requiring a person pass an psych exam in order to purchase a gun before, this post definitely makes it clear how badly that is needed! You think you should have access to chemical weapons and land mines, huh?
If every day criminals have access to them, then yes..
But you know that every day criminals DON'T use chemical weapons and land mines as a matter of course.
Talk about being mentally unstable.. You should look in a mirror.. :eyeroll:
If we prevented the law abiding citizen from being able to purchase assault rifles, then they would not be able to turn into “scumbag criminals” that kill 19 people.
First of all, that is a COMPLETELY FACT-LESS statement..
They still may turn into scumbag criminals.. They'll simply use a different weapon.. Like a car or arson or any one of a multitude of ways to commit mass murder..
Meanwhile, YOU have just disarmed law abiding citizens and left them at the mercy of ALREADY scumbag criminals who will steal the guns.
Russ, you need to face reality here.. YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR GUN BAN.. PERIOD.. FULL STOP... END TRANS
We require auto makers to put safety devices on their products to make using them safer. It’s time for gun makers to be forced to do the same!
For example...????
Oh please, PLEASE!!! PLEASE be stoopid enough to bring up SMART GUNS.. PLEASE!!! :eyeroll:
We require auto makers to put safety devices on their products to make using them safer. It’s time for gun makers to be forced to do the same!
OK Fine.. You want to treat guns like cars.. I am all for it..
First off, I don't have to register a gun or have a license or insurance for all my guns, as long as they are on private property..
That ALSO means I can have ANY gun, weapon or firearm that I can afford.. From a .22 Saturday Night Special to a nuclear missile.. I can have full automatic guns, tanks, SAMs, you name it.. As long as I can pay for them, I am fully legal to own them... And you HYSTERICAL Democrats can't say shit about it..
And, as long as they are not on public grounds, the government can't do SQUAT about ANY of it.
So, tell me.. STILL want to treat guns like cars?? :eyeroll:
This is EXACTLY what I am talking about.. You Democrats SIMPLY DON'T THINK THINGS THRU!!!
The ignorance and stoopidity of Democrats is mind-boggling!!
So, just to repeat for the cheap seats...
DEMOCRATS.... WILL NOT... GET THEIR GUN BAN....
It simply WILL NOT happen...
Democrats can whine and cry and stamp their feet all they want..
But as long as the SCOTUS is 6-3 American then you Democrats will NEVER.... EVER... get your gun ban..
ANY law that CAN be passed that is allowable under the 2nd and will actually prevent or help prevent Crowd Based Mass Shootings HAS been already passed...
PERIOD... FULL STOP... END TRANS...
Thinking otherwise is simply another Democrat wet dream.. The SAME kind of wet dream that ya'all's Build Back Broke was.. The same kind of wet dream that ya'all's legalized voter cheating laws were...
It's nothing but a pleasant feeling that ends up just making a big mess for Democrats..
A mess that will be readily apparent in November... :D
Oh, we will have some REAL fun then, eh!? :D
@m,
I think you're a bit confused as to which party is trying to legalize cheating in an election. Hint, it's the same party that's been caught actually committing multiple instances of voter fraud, and that ain't the Democrats.
I think you're a bit confused as to which party is trying to legalize cheating in an election. Hint, it's the same party that's been caught actually committing multiple instances of voter fraud, and that ain't the Democrats.
It was Democrats who tried to pass NO VOTER ID laws.. THAT is a cheating law..
It was Democrats who committed the fraud when they censored the Hunter Biden laptop..
It was Democrats who BOUGHT entire election boards and stocked them SOLELY with Democrat operatives.
THOSE actions actually had an effect on the election..
What you are talking about is nothing compared to the fraud by Democrats..
2022 and 2024 will show what actual legitimate elections look like..
Legitimate elections produce GOP victories.. :D
Michale
2
Glad you could respond!! It's so awesome..
Yes, I am awesome.
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Again, not factually accurate..
You have yet to prove your statement that people who commit mass murders are "mentally ill." Furthermore, my statement was totally factually accurate. I reiterate that people who commit mass murders can be all of those things that I listed and not necessarily mentally ill. You continue to claim it's not accurate, so what we have here is yet another one of those incidents where you seem too ignorant to realize how stupid you sound.
You need your nose rubbed in this? Fine with me.
Paid mercenaries and soldiers commit mass murder for wages and are not necessarily mentally ill... just hired to do a job.
Current events:
Knock yourself out proving those mercenaries/soldiers are "mentally ill" (your term, certainly not mine). These mercenaries and soldiers are lining up civilians and killing them for cash. Wouldn't think I would have to explain this to a person who claims he's a Jack Reacher-type combat super soldier, but here we are.
Religious bigots commit mass murders on an all too frequent basis. People who commit mass murders of religious groups are generally full of resentment; however, hatred for others isn't indicative of mental illness.
*
Prove that the religious bigot murderer is mentally ill and not just full of hatred for people of Jewish faith. He has yet to go on trial, but last I heard he wasn't going to pursue an insanity or intellectual disability defense. Hatred and stupidity aren't a mental illness.
Terrorists who commit mass murders aren't necessarily mentally ill; they're killing in the name of their group. Hatred isn't a mental illness.
I guess your lapses continue.. Sorry to see that...
You should be sorry for claiming that I'm having lapses for the mere fact that you're obviously clueless that a mass murderer isn't necessarily mentally ill. I reiterate that mass murderers can be all of those things I listed.
You obviously didn't actually READ my comment.
You obviously believe you know what I read; maybe you should seek psychiatric help for that.
But hay.. Try again.. It's always great to hear from you! :D
You need things explained a lot because you're frequently incorrect. It's hysterical to watch you acting smug when you believe you're correct about something... but you couldn't be more wrong. Heh.
You are simply having a reading comprehension problem..
Nah. I'm just infinitely aware that mass murderers are not necessarily "mentally ill" like you keep claiming in your asinine smugness.
If you actually READ what I typed out, you would see that there is no contradiction at all.
I read it; I instantly recognized your ignorance regarding the subject. You're claiming mass murderers are "mentally ill." I'm claiming mass murderers can be all kinds of other things and are not necessarily mentally ill. You can either clue in to that FACT or remain ignorant. You decide.
JL, you want to explain it to her? :D
"Help me, JL, help me!" Heh. Maybe JL will explain it to you since you're rather obviously clueless... smug, self-satisfied too... and ignorant and insisting on multiple occasions that it's not factually accurate that mercenaries/soldiers can be mass murderers yet not necessarily be mentally ill; insisting it's not factually accurate that religious bigots and terrorists can be mass murderers yet not necessarily be mentally ill.
Maybe JL will explain it to you that you're wrong.
The distinction is not in the "people".. The distinction is between those who KILL multiple people and those who MURDER multiple people..
Oh, I see your problem now, you think multiple murdered people are somehow not also killed people? So that somehow proves in your mind that mercenaries/soldiers can't be murderers who aren't necessarily ill. That's hysterical.
That distinction (and there IS a distinction, as you SHOULD know) negates your entire argument..
No, it absolutely does not. You need war crimes explained to you again, self-proclaimed Jack Reacher? You need to be spoon-fed the FACT that mercenaries/soldiers/hired guns can be mass murderers and not be mentally ill!? You need it explained to you that terrorists can commit mass murders and not necessarily be mentally ill!?
But, I'll give you an "E" for effort.. :D
If we're doing analogies to vowels, I'll give you an "I" for idiot and, of course, IMBECILE.
Those who MURDER multiple people are, by definition, mentally ill..
So you're going to keep spewing this ignorance of yours as if somehow the prattling repetition will magically make it become a fact!? Heh. Still incorrect; repeating it won't change that.
Those who KILL multiple people are not necessarily mentally ill..
At last, you seem to be making progress. Now if you'd just pull your head out of your backside and come to the realization that those who commit mass murder of other people are indeed people who KILL multiple people, that would go a long way for you to stop making ridiculous claims.
I have, on occasion been forced to kill.. But I have never murdered anyone..
Everything is not about you. Sorry to have to break it to you. Heh.
The rest of your drivel is nothing but personal attacks..
No, the rest of my response was in rebuttal to your personal attack of me and your asinine claim that I somehow didn't understand what I was talking about because you claimed I had never "worn the uniform." You are fabricating about something you know nothing about; that is a FACT.
Something that we no longer tolerate here in Weigantia..
If you'll stop inventing bullshit about myself and others not "wearing the uniform" -- of which you know nothing about -- and how that somehow proves something about anyone's intelligence regarding all manner of things you claim your superior knowledge, then I and others on the forum obviously won't have to keep pointing out that you're fabricating and know absolutely nothing about the military service of myself or others.
Most Mass Shooters are Terrorists, Not Mentally Ill
May 31, 2022
Seth D. Norrholm, PhD, Alan D. Blotcky, PhD
The misperception of gunmen as “crazy” is damaging. Here’s why.
COMMENTARY
“We as a state, we as a society, need to do a better job with mental health. Anybody who shoots someone else has a mental health challenge.”1
-Texas Governor Greg Abbott, May 25, 2022
There is a common misperception amplified by mainstream media and government officials that people “go crazy” or enter some altered state of consciousness and start shooting. Rather, executing murderous plots such as mass shootings at schools, grocery stores, places of worship, and public events requires a mind that is lucid and capable of producing rational thought, planning, and logical cognitive processing. For example, the 2017 Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest Festival shooter reportedly had extensive notes on distance, trajectory, and wind changes in his hotel room.2 These shooters are often linked with an adherence to ideas and rhetoric that are bandied about as truth on media outlets. On top of that, elected government officials with massive public platforms echo these “truths” and reinforce their so-called legitimacy. The result is a radicalized—not mentally ill—individual absorbing all of this extremist ideology who then takes advantage of the easy access to guns in America.
Highly publicized incidents of gun violence certainly impact those who are horrified by its gruesome details, its criminality, and its cruelty. On the other hand, those with malevolent ideas may perceive a different picture: That gun violence is justified and warranted by civilians in some cases. The acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse after killing 2 unarmed individuals and wounding another sent a loud and dangerous message: These killings may be justifiable in some cases and viewed as legal and moral.3
It is also important to consider that would-be shooters see what happens when these crimes unfold from execution through legal consequences (if the shooter survives the incident). It may be that the Oxford, Michigan, shooter delivered his preattack messages and blood-curdling doodles as a potential prerequisite to an insanity defense.4 In addition, there are a lot of copycat features to the Uvalde shooting that resemble Sandy Hook in 2012.5 A small number of these teenage shooter situations may be either copycat attempts or a “blaze of glory” means to an end in shooters who may be suicidal.6
The fact of the matter is that ideology, racism, and perceived injustice trump mental illness in many of these cases. To put it bluntly, racism is not mental illness. Because of our deep-rooted history of mistreating populations of color and the maintenance of these beliefs over decades of American history, there has been a legitimate dehumanization of certain individuals7—dehumanization that falsely identifies certain groups as less than human, as enemies, or as needing to be eliminated. This, in part, explains why an 18-year-old white man can gun down an unarmed 86-year-old grandmother in a Buffalo supermarket.8 He did not see past the color of her skin. That is racism—not mental illness. A similar phenomenon occurred in the 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.9 That radicalized shooter saw elderly Jews worshiping on a Saturday morning as a threat. That is anti-Semitism—not mental illness. In the case of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, we saw a confluence of these factors.10 By most of the available evidence, this shooter was a radicalized Muslim with a particular hatred for the LGBTQ+ community. That is a hate crime—not mental illness. Lastly, in some cases, the shooter has a grievance or is trying to correct an injustice, as was the case in the 2021 mass shooting at a San Jose railyard that left 9 of the shooter’s former colleagues dead. That is vengeance—not mental illness.11
We are not saying that some mass shooters are not seriously mentally ill at the time of their violent acts. That is likely the case in some of these horrific events. Some estimates place the number at about 1 in 5 (or 20%) who have serious mental illness when firing.12 Further, the contribution of serious mental illness to violent crimes involving a gun may be as low as 3%.13 In fact, individuals with mental illness are more likely to be the victims—not the perpetrators—of violent crimes.14
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/most-mass-shooters-are-terrorists-not-mentally-ill