“The American youth who open fire on their peers, neighbors, classmates, and teachers offer us the opportunity and the impetus to grapple with a contradiction at the heart of the USA. For what are these “mad” youth doing but applying the approved and honored teachings and techniques of American society…just in the ‘wrong place’ and against the ‘wrong people’? In ‘monstrously’ mis-directing the kind of mass violence that official American ideology incessantly sanctions—so long as it is directed against officially designated ‘terrorists’ abroad or ‘criminals’ at home— these kid-killers confront us with the possibility that America will never be safe so long as it continues to traffic in fear, mass destruction, and racism as national religion and big business, so long as it continues to strip the social safety net, inducing an atomized war of each against all. Not only because terrorists from elsewhere will seek revenge, but because home-grown wannabe American gunslingers see enemies around every corner, and because a system that treats poor people like criminals will ultimately compel some to fill the coffins laid before them.”

The above quote comes form a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of gun crime and mass shootings in America written by Joe Ramsey in the wake of the latest massacre that took place in Roseburg, Oregon.

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Gun still life painting found here. Artist unkown.

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