Should all American prepare to be shot by guns..How to learn to accept this?

[quietGuy13]

I haven't been shot but

all kinds of shootings and held at gunpoint and stuff that they show in the news. Killings in schoolss too. Guys coming to strangers houses and robbing and killing.

 

So pretty much that can happen to anyone and locked doors don't even matter, usually they can break doors easy or break the windows and get in.

 

And they were also saying how they're robbing Pharmacies more often now.

 

and recently here in my banks and restaurants robbed at gunpoint.

 

I dont know what to do . I' m going crazy but

if there's so much of this crime.. then sooner or later it will happen to anyone of us.

 

How do we learn to accept and to learn that we will be in wheelchair paralyzed or whatever or dead

[Cracker Jack]

Well, crime is an unfortunate part of life, but you can't live your life in constant fear. While those bad things are happening in your area, it doesn't mean you're going to get attacked. You just have to live your life and not worry about what might happen. So no, those options aren't anything you need to learn to accept. No sense in driving yourself crazy over what other idiots are doing.

[Red Arremer]

Stuff watching the news so much, that stuff will make you crazy.

 

Seriously though, the news (especially the TV news) focuses on scary sensationalist stories (and alliterations) like this because they sell. Don't worry about it so much.

[FitChick]

Just buy a bullet proof vest.

[Woggle]

Crime was actually much worse in the 70s and 80s than it is now.

[TripLine]

During the 90s, gun violence was never this high, must be a 2k thing.

[Woggle]

During the 90s, gun violence was never this high, must be a 2k thing.

 

Look at the statistics.

[fucpcg]

You're being silly, statistically speaking. 1,500% more people each year are killed due to bad reaction from prescription medications then to murder, gun or not. 250% more people are killed by drunk drivers. Just to name a few. Stop listening to rap music.

[NeverDated]

I haven't been shot but

all kinds of shootings and held at gunpoint and stuff that they show in the news. Killings in schoolss too. Guys coming to strangers houses and robbing and killing.

There's a reason it's on the news. It doesn't happen very much. If it was so common that we all needed to live in fear, it wouldn't be news. And it's only on there because it sells something.

 

Kind of like flu outbreaks. You see sensational headlines: 36,000 die from flu each year. Actual number ranges from 2,500 to 46,000, depending on the strain. Most people who die of it are elderly or extremely ill to begin with, but even if it was a straight distribution it's less than a .01% chance of dying. But, sensational headlines drive sales of whatever is supposed to "solve" the problem - in the case of the flu, it's shots, antivirals and 'immunity boosters' - and give a good avenue for ad revenue.

 

Typically, around the time of a segment on "high crime rates", you'll see advertisements for home security systems and investment accounts, "crime drama" television shows and, in a really sick turn, products for over-protective parents. I'm always amazed to see a report on crime, then a few minutes later a news segment on the latest and greatest in research on a certain childhood disease/disorder (and a call to contact your pediatrician, because it's "so often missed"). The segment is designed to make you feel the way you do - heightened state of worry and concern - so you'll be more susceptible to the ads following it.

[Feelin Frisky]

If you have HBO you might want to watch the on-demand documentary (free with subscription on most services) on guns in America. I just watched it last night. There is a percentage of the population that is seriously paranoid and it amazes me that in such a documentary, which partly address the politics of guns---NRA, gun lobby, gun owners associations etc, the word paranoia never was uttered. I was stuck by one tubby little baldy with glasses who says he watches TV strapped and puts his gun on first thing in the morning and it's the last thing he takes off at night--because "you never know". There were even people in the video who claimed Jesus said we have the right to assault weapons.

 

There are more guns today than ever. I think there is actually less violence than when I was a kid. There's just more media and more sensationalism. I never owned a gun and don't plan on it. The genie is out of the bottle on guns and America will never be able to put it back in. I think the conversation needs to change to include words like paranoia, and not just rights and laws.

[quietGuy13]

Oh ok guys thanks.

 

But then how do i stop obssessing about it when i want to watch news. they always shove violence and crime in our face.

 

then they put the scary music and the loud sound effects of gun shots etc. They keep shoving that into our faces,, i just want to watch some news.

 

So i guess I'm gonna stop watching . In fact, that's what i do now.

I watch good monring america, and they always sensationalize it and put gun and killing stuff over and over so recently i've switched it to the show "18 kids and counting" cause it's a family show and it's very nice

and happy. I rather watch that than the news.

[NeverDated]

then they put the scary music and the loud sound effects of gun shots etc. They keep shoving that into our faces,, i just want to watch some news.

Read the news instead. I had a similar thing a while ago, except for medical problems. So I started using Google News. I can customize what I want to hear about and then I don't have to worry about being exposed to my worry-triggers.

[AD1980]

If you have HBO you might want to watch the on-demand documentary (free with subscription on most services) on guns in America. I just watched it last night. There is a percentage of the population that is seriously paranoid and it amazes me that in such a documentary, which partly address the politics of guns---NRA, gun lobby, gun owners associations etc, the word paranoia never was uttered. I was stuck by one tubby little baldy with glasses who says he watches TV strapped and puts his gun on first thing in the morning and it's the last thing he takes off at night--because "you never know". There were even people in the video who claimed Jesus said we have the right to assault weapons.

 

There are more guns today than ever. I think there is actually less violence than when I was a kid. There's just more media and more sensationalism. I never owned a gun and don't plan on it. The genie is out of the bottle on guns and America will never be able to put it back in. I think the conversation needs to change to include words like paranoia, and not just rights and laws.

 

 

Ironically the cities with the highest crime rates also have the strictest gun laws

 

The real violent criminals are not getting gun licenses theyre getting it illegally on the streets

[Philosoraptor]

Just accept that you are going to die. It doesn't matter what you do, you are going to die. Once you accept that you can start living life free from worry.

 

I'm actually excited about my death. I plan on having my head blown off by a meteor. It's going to be awesome!

[fucpcg]

I barely survived a heart attack 2.5 years ago, at age 39. Don't worry death IS coming. No need to fear it, just prepare for it. How to prepare? Well let's say you have about 30 minutes between learning you are fighting for your life and going into surgery, and that once you get into surgery there isn't any guarantee you will be coming out. What goes thru your head? What kind of person, friend, lover, brother/sister you were, and what you did in this life that was meaningful, and what you did that you know was wrong. If you mainly think of what you got wrong, and how much better you wish you did, then you know you blew it, and that will be the LONGEST minutes of your life. Doesn't matter how you go, we all will, focus on what you will have to face when destiny calls.

[Madman81]

I haven't been shot but

all kinds of shootings and held at gunpoint and stuff that they show in the news. Killings in schoolss too. Guys coming to strangers houses and robbing and killing.

 

So pretty much that can happen to anyone and locked doors don't even matter, usually they can break doors easy or break the windows and get in.

 

And they were also saying how they're robbing Pharmacies more often now.

 

and recently here in my banks and restaurants robbed at gunpoint.

 

I dont know what to do . I' m going crazy but

if there's so much of this crime.. then sooner or later it will happen to anyone of us.

 

How do we learn to accept and to learn that we will be in wheelchair paralyzed or whatever or dead

Gun violence in the US has declined in recent years, and yet news coverage of gun violence has increased by some crazy percentage. If it bleeds, it leads. Try not to get swept up in the paranoia. As an American, you're not REALLY under attack from everybody around you. There are simply a lot of powerful corporate and political interests that make a killing (pun intended) from a populace living in fear.

Edited April 9, 2012 by Madman81

[silvermane187]

Wow...OP needs to seek some help about this paranoia. Unless you live in New Orleans or Detroit your chances of being shot are very minimal. Even then you have a much better chance of being hit by a car, or getting terminal cancer that will kill you in 2 months. Stop watching the news if you don't have the mental capacity to think critically everytime someone gets shot.

[quankanne]

there's a saying in the profession, "if it bleeds, it ledes ..." meaning a journalist's top involves something gory. Especially when it comes to broadcast media. Hell, I'm a journalist, and I don't even watch the news if I'm not concerned about weather on a particular day. It's too damned depressing.

 

look for other sources of information. The internet's been a fantastic in that sense, because I can read my hometown paper and keep up with stuff there.

 

husband and I also make it a point to watch shows like "Texas Country Reporter" after the Sunday evening news because it celebrates unique offerings by artists or broad-minded thinkers across the state that specifically counters what the local news offers with it's need to lede with blood & gore ...

[OhHey]

Yes, QG! YES!

 

In fact, I'm finishing my home made bunker tomorrow.

[whichwayisup]

You've started threads like this before and you're still alive. Haven't been shot, stabbed or beaten up.

 

Don't worry about things that are out of your control. Unless you put yourself in a dangerous situation (hanging out in unsafe areas in your City), the chances are SO SLIM that something bad is going to happen to you. (crime wise)