While Donald Trump continues to seek a ban against Muslims and to build a multi-billion dollar wall to block Mexicans (all in the purported interest of “protecting America”), many are beginning to recognize that the most pressing threat against Americans is not Mexicans or Muslims, but White American males with guns conducting mass shootings.
Current Events
Let’s face it: Trump’s so-called protective measures are being directed at the wrong people. Or, to put it another way, when it comes to mass shootings there’s a notable trend along racial lines. Perhaps 9 times out of 10, when a black person is angry and attempts violence he takes out his vengeance on the sole person he is angry with. However, when a white person is angry and attempts violence he takes out his vengeance on a large group of innocent adults or even children.
Of all the mass shootings since 1982, statistics show that 54% were committed by white men. Let’s take a look at the facts:
The 1999 Columbine carnage (15 dead) was committed by 2 white males. The 2012 Aurora, CO movie theater massacre (12 dead) was committed by a white male. The 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting (28 dead) was committed by a white male. The 2017 Las Vegas slaughter (59 dead) was committed by a white male. Dylann Roof prayed with members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC before shooting up the place and killing 9. Devin Patrick Kelley walked into the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, TX and killed 26. Both are white males.
The ethnicity of Nikolas Cruz, whose mass shooting spree last week killed 17 students in Parkland, FL, is unknown. However, what we do know is that he was adopted (into the Cruz family) as an infant, holds a deep hatred toward African-Americans and Muslims, is an avid follower of various white supremacist groups, and even trained with several white male supremacists on how to use an AR-15 rifle to maximize death.
We also know that his social media rants include saying “I wanna shoot people with my AR-15,” “I wanna die Fighting killing shit ton of people,” and “I am going to kill law enforcement one day they go after the good people.”
Jordan Jereb, leader of the white-nationalist group Republic of Florida, said that Nikolas Cruz was associated with ROF, having been “brought up” by another member. Jereb added that Cruz had participated in one or more ROF training exercises in the Tallahassee area, even carpooling with other ROF members from South Florida. – Miami New Times News
Current Events
White males are angrily killing massive groups of total strangers at an alarming and repetitive rate. However, the reasoning from Donald Trump and his Republican cohorts (who are in bed with the NRA) is that the issue is mental illness and not guns. In fact, during a visit on Friday with the Florida survivors, Trump refused to even discuss guns but instead vowed to tackle “mental health” issues. His position begs the question: what “psychological issues” could white males be suffering from that no other ethnic group appears to be experiencing on such a widespread basis? Additionally, why are Arab killings considered terrorism, black killings considered gang/thug violence, but white killings considered mental illness?
What are white males so angry about? Why are they so particularly obsessed with military-grade assault weapons? What is it that compels them to shoot and kill innocent adults and children? Why is the toxic cocktail of anger, guns, and mass shootings almost always the act of a white male?
Thanks DJ. Once again you have not shied away from a much needed, thought-provoking, meaningful AND very complex topic of conversation. As always, you have provided Us (your readers) with factual information to take in and process.
Trying to cut my many thoughts on this subject down to a few is a work in progress. But I am working on it. I will, no doubt, be returning to this post later today and probably tomorrow and perhaps even the next day because you have given me much to think about.
In the meantime I do hope other readers will share their thoughts and opinions because this is an extraordinary and vital conversation to have!