This is mental illness.

[Celerity]

Link to tweet

https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/child-and-teen-firearm-mortality-in-the-u-s-and-peer-countries/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. One of three things:

1. Abnormal and unfounded profound fear of safety and lives. Paranoia.

2. Abnormal and unfounded desire to destroy, to eliminate individuals or individuals belonging to hated groups.

3. Both #1 and #2.

[calimary]

2. Good grief!

And LOT of it laid out right there.

[ornotna]

3. Yeah, but all those other ones are shithole countries

Sometimes I think we're so far in this pit of hell there is no escaping. It's a sad state we're in.




Just so there's no confusion, that reply title is complete

[gulliver]

4. This is more like trolling than "mental illness"

I'm not a fan of the term "mental illness" used in any context at all. It's a very toxic phrase. (So toxic I'm willing to use the toxic term "toxic" to describe it.)

[hay rick]

14. Maybe delusional is a better term.

A large swath of America has accepted a delusional view of imaginary and real risks. Sadly, some very predatory people seek to profit from creating and sustaining those delusions. Guns slay imaginary demons...climate change is a fairy tale.

I saw a great bumper sticker the other day. It was in a style mimicking the Fox News logo and the message was FEAR SELLS.

[gulliver]

15. The folks in the photo could actually be delusional or predatory

..as you point out. Thanks for the reply.

I completely agree that a lot of people are seeing demons that don't exist for anyone but them.

[3Hotdogs]

65. The problem... the guns are to be used when foolish lib'tards try to attack their property. So --

I have two hundred guns laid out in front of me and a pack of lib'tards have made it to the picket fence where I now have the right to stand my ground. (I'm going to use the space behind the septic tank hill as the space to defend my home and lie flat behind the berm.)

So which gun to I pick up first? What specific ammunition does it- fuck. Did I remember to clean that one last week?

FUKKIN LIB'TARDS !

[jfz9580m]

48. It is definitely an overused term

Last edited Sun Oct 29, 2023, 01:38 PM - Edit history (4)

As is "toxic". In the last decade, along with the proliferation of subpar telehealth and other "services", therapy speak has also sprouted up everywhere.
I am not talking about legitimate psychiatry. I am not anti-psychiatry.

But armchair diagnoses of every damn situation through the lens of mental illness and by everyone who has ever read a self-help book (coupled with voluble charlatans like Dr.Phil going on tv to discuss these matters in the shallowest ways possible) has resulted in an "epidemic" of therapy speak.

Language/discourse have imo in general been a casualty of the internet/social media era. I am not a fan of that type of democratization.

I kinda call bs by now on the chestnut that there is a stigma still in discussing mental health. That is not to denigrate people who really suffer and have found relief in talking about it.

This is one of the better articles I have seen on the net on mental health-it points out what should be obvious-our overcrowded society with its shrinking pool of resources in any realistic sense (and those hijacked by a small pool of rapacious jerks) is sickening:
https://theconversation.com/how-neoliberalism-is-damaging-your-mental-health-90565

Everything is crappy and getting crappier..education being replaced by edtech..decent professionals are swamped. Crappy non services forced on one are a time and resource suck not a help. There is an outdated drug war still ongoing..I could go on.

It is not surprising that this society sickens people.

[duhneece]

61. Is hoarding mental illness?

This looks like hoarding to me.
The worst kind of hoarding.

[malaise]

5. I laugh when I hear Joe Scum talking about the greatest country in the world

That is sheer arrogance not reality.

[spooky3]

7. Agree. That and "American exceptionalism."

Arrogant and untrue.

[malaise]

12. There are things about the US that I love

Folks with skills have more opportunities to develop them there than in many other societies. That said it has its own baggage, challenges and problems as do all other countries.

How do we measure the greatest country on the planet- what indices should we use?

[hlthe2b]

6. Could readily be defeated by a well-timed smoke bomb and teargas...

or even bear spray. But, that doesn't make for the obscene display...

[Qutzupalotl]

8. In fairness, Australia's high motor vehicle death rate

is from driving on the wrong side of the road.

[speak easy]

17. They drive on the Left.

I kinda like that idea.

[ismnotwasm]

9. No, it's a deliberate choice to be hateful

Not mental illness imo

[grumpyduck]

10. What i can't understand

is why so many people seem to have multiple guns. A friend of mine has multiple guns, including two AR15s, in a safe at his home. He can only use one gun at a time. He also has a closetful of ammo.

I've told him that if the feds come for his guns, he's history. Free-standing split ranch house. Just him and his wife. Windows on all four sides. Two guys in front distracting him, and another two going around the back with flash-bangs. Over in a couple of minutes.

Of course, that would be the military. Local cops would probably use a truckload of ammo.

[Cheezoholic]

16. I dont understand people who think they can hide in the house

and shoot back through the windows, you know like every western or cops and robber show on TV. As anyone knows whose built stick built houses, those exterior walls aren't stopping shit unless maybe a bullet hits a 2x4 square on. People are idiots.

[milestogo]

25. This.

And the idea that people in Maine or anywhere else are going out to buy more guns and ammo in response to the Maine shooting is totally irrational and paranoid. It doesn't address the problem of mass shooters.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Only reason Canada in 2nd place is so many US guns available to smuggle in. . . . . nt

[Blues Heron]

13. how much lead dust is in that house?

It may be simply a case of multigenerational lead poisoning on display here. Doesnt each bullet leave a bit of lead dust residue in the air and in the gun?

[Maru Kitteh]

18. I respectfully disagree, and I'm very cautious about labeling aberrant behavior "mental illness"

because I feel like it furthers the stigma already attached to mental health. I believe those people in the photos are simply addicted to a cult that reassures them they are REAL Americans, they are MORE AMERICAN than you are, more American than I am because they have these magic totems to prove it.

So, you know, assholes. Not necessarily mentally ill, but absolutely assholes.

[multigraincracker]

19. My first thought was it is a

yard sale. Have way too many and are down sizing?
Some folks collect butterflies and have thousands. Not for me.

[hay rick]

21. LOL. Sadly, some folks are that casual and careless about guns. Guns are just another kind of trinket.

My first thought when I saw the picture was that long guns are an investment commodity, like gold, for some people.

[milestogo]

26. It should be illegal to sell guns via a yard sale

because it avoids the background check... unless they have worked that into it.

[Traildogbob]

20. Thanks Joe

Obviously the economy is working well for the undereducated. Where else in the world can a small family afford these weapons. The ammo for them alone is more than I made in a year as college faculty. Don’t wanna hear shit about the strangling cost of gas and groceries.

[TwilightZone]

23. The picture likely predates Joe's administration.

It was part of a travel series published a few years ago by Gabriele Galimberti. It's been making the rounds (pun not necessarily intended) ever since.

http://www.gabrielegalimberti.com/the-ameriguns/

[Traildogbob]

29. I know

I Had no belief he bought those the last two years. If so, shoulda been a neon red flag flying over the house with an arrow pointing at it. I bet they will not be able to afford college for those kids. Gonna need more guns and ammo for be civil war.

[TwilightZone]

43. Low-income, but enough to keep buying guns, I guess.

I have an acquaintance like that. He never has any money, but he always seems to be posting on social media about his latest gun buy.

He doesn't seem to make the connection.

[ms liberty]

22. I notice that he's a good 20 years older than her.

Her smirk says she's proud of it all. Ugh.

[Celerity]

58. 1 year older (he was 44, she was 43, when the pic was taken sometime between 2017 and 2019)

https://www.gabrielegalimberti.com/the-ameriguns/




https://54dunkerque.com/gabriele-galimberti/the-ameriguns-photography-texas-002

[ms liberty]

63. Must have been the infantile smirk on her face that fooled me.

[TwilightZone]

24. The picture is part of a series by Gabriele Galimberti

http://www.gabrielegalimberti.com/the-ameriguns/

Some of the other pictures are similarly illuminating.

I don't really agree that it's mental illness. In my experience -- I know a few people who collect guns - it's more like hoarding.

[Celerity]

31. pics

[stuck in the middle]

33. Yeah, I remember when they legalized flamethrowers

Flamethrowers, given up by military, are now being sold to the public
by: CNN Wire

Posted: Aug 13, 2015 / 12:32 PM EDT

Updated: Aug 13, 2015 / 12:32 PM EDT

https://pix11.com/news/flamethrowers-given-up-by-military-are-now-being-sold-to-the-public/

[JoseBalow]

45. Wasn't Elon in the flamethrower business for a while?

[IronLionZion]

66. Musk's company sells one called "not-a-flamethrower"

?si=_sGvHvICA_jWxgXZ

[Wednesdays]

36. Based on the looks of those homes/cars/possessions,

most of those could probably afford their arsenals. Not so sure about the family in the OP.

[North Shore Chicago]

41. !!!!

Fucking gag worthy.

[Deuxcents]

55. I agree.

There is some kind of mentality issues here, whether it’s an illness or obsession to even display their collection even with their kids looking on. This tells me we will never get over this madness.

[misanthrope]

51. Fantastic photos!

Great project by the artist that says a lot our modern reality.

[intheflow]

59. Hoarding is a psychiatric disorder.

It’s absolutely a mental illness.

[Cheezoholic]

27. From that list the #1 and #2 killers of children are vehicles in most comparable countries

And what do nearly all of those countries require. including us?...

1. A license to prove you know how to operate the vehicle
2. The vehicle must be registered with local and/or some kind of state/federal agency
3. Most of those country's require some level of liability insurance

We could do the same here with guns. Especially #3. If I get hit by a car my medical expenses are usually covered by the owners insurance. If I get shot and live who pays my medical bills? If its my insurance my rates can go up especially if I have a disability as a result. Has anyone wondered how much it costs survivors of these shootings? I'd bet its in the high 100s of millions. Plus those 3 if applied to guns, especially number 3, are repuke style free market solutions. Want an AR-15? You gotta posses a special license like a truck driver or even the level of a private pilot and show proof of insurance which would probably cost as much as insuring a 2 million dollar car.
Give a years notice to start the program and people could keep what they could insure and sell/turn over what they can't. We're not going to just get whatever percentage of 400 million weapons assault style weapons encompass off the streets. It's too late.

Just an idea

[grumpyduck]

28. I agree but

it would never work here with the NRA and other groups shoveling money into repukes' war chests.

They and their greed are the problem.

[Cheezoholic]

38. Yes true but part of my point was regulating whats already out there

With over 400 million out there even if we had the house, the Executive and enough in the Senate to kill the filibuster I don't see anyway we could keep those if the fed started confiscating the assault weapons. Like I said I believe its too late. there are far too many. I believe our only choice is to at least get a majority in all 3 branches, sell jt in a way what few sane Senate repukes left could save face on. I think its a choice most Americans would go for, treating weapons like cars. Its one of the reasons we started regulating cars in the early 20th century. People were being killed in hit and runs for example in larger and larger overall numbers and the public demanded a solution. The sad fact is weapons aren't going away so we need to try and regulate some sanity into their possession and use. We already do it for lots of things.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

56. Insurance doesn't cover intentional or illegal acts

Accidental shootings are already covered under most homeowners, renters, and umbrella coverages. The only coverage that does cover intentional acts are for self defense shootings, but even those policies includes an exclusion that any illegal act voids the coverage. Multiple companies offer it and it's cheap.

Both New Jersey and the city if San Diego have tried to implement some insurance requirements and as far as I know, both are tied up in court.

[Alice Kramden]

30. Yikes n/t

[JohnSJ]

32. no kidding, and there is ONE political party who keeps this insanity going

[DET]

34. It's also child abuse (nt)

[intheflow]

60. I was going to say grooming but

child abuse works as well. 😞

[moniss]

35. I'll go with the mental illness label for these folks since

as you look through the sliding glass doors you see the place is jam packed with crap like they are hoarders. Also it looks like while spending a ton on guns they never had the brains to put gutters on the house. So all of the rain water just comes down and looks like it may be running back to the areas where the deck meets the house and whoever put in the doors did a horrible job on the sills. You can see areas all along on the deck that look like mildew etc. is starting as well as along the bottom of the house. That joint is going to loaded with black mold after awhile if not already.

That home-made smoker/grill that numbnuts is leaning on is a converted water tank. Those are heavily galvanized and you can be sure that before he painted it flat black there was no effort to remove the galvanized coating on the inside at least. The first few meals, maybe still, sure must have had some "unique" flavor profiles. But as the fumes from the zinc/lead/cadmium combination were making everybody choke this moron probably just grabbed his latest copy of his NRA magazine and tried to fan them away.

[SWBTATTReg]

37. Good to see that paranoia is in full bloom in this Country, eh? When is enough, enough?

[ProfessorGAC]

39. $$$$$$$$$

I dud tge best I could to count them.
I got 128, so 125 - 200, with some fairly expensive models there.
What are seeing here? $100,000 worth the guns? Ridiculous.

[GoCubsGo]

40. I can't be the only one who knew that exact photo would be in this post

before I even opened it up. It was hard to forget when it showed up in posts here the first time. I feel bad for those kids.

[Cheezoholic]

42. Ive seen suggestions on the net that we ban assault weapons and confiscate all that are out there

If the government tried to confiscate assault weapons There would be Bradly fighting vehicles and SWAT teams in suburban shootouts all over this country. No cop in his right mind would walk up, knock on a door and say "Do you have any AR15's?, can we have them please?". Its impossible to confiscate them. I really don't think some people realize how many of these weapons are out there since the last ban was lifted. It can't be done. The blood of owners, officers and neighbors would be everywhere.
A more immediate impact would be regulating the ammo and magazines and get our shit together on treating mental health pre-Raygun and getting our veterans everything they deserve, and I mean everything. There shouldn't be one honorably discharged vet eating cat food in this country. It's disgraceful and embarrassing.

[sagetea]

47. I've been saying that too!

They all 'claim' to be a 'good guy with a gun' but they will never give them up for the greater good. So, take the ammo, it is not covered in the 2nd.


sage

[SYFROYH]

44. All collectors are a little wacky. Have you met a bitter Beanie Baby collector?

[misanthrope]

52. Agreed

They are obsessive to greater and lesser degrees. For instance, many people don't see anything strange about Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno's level of automobile collection. But to me, if they aren't displaying for others to see, if they are just locking them up and letting them gather dust, what's the point?

If I decided to buy as many guitars as those photo subjects have acquired firearms, my wife would demand I seek professional help. I might agree with her.

[sagetea]

46. Thank you, Celerity!

Book marking for another site where I am having an argument with an idiot!

sage

[True Dough]

62. It's a powerful image

but, just the same, my experience from arguing with idiots online is that it's utter futility, no matter how many points you score.

[Solly Mack]

49. That's what fear and ignorance looks like.

[Sessuch]

50. Mental illness is written into the Constitution

It is called the Second Amendment.

[Aussie105]

53. I love it when numbers like this come out

and show Australia is amongst the sensible countries.

They also show America has a big problem.

What are you going to do about it?
(The sensible countries are watching!)

Enough weapons in those pictures to equip an army!

But who are they waiting to fight? Zombies? Marauding homeless people? Donno.
But eventually the need to identify an enemy and blast away in righteous indignation will rear its ugly head.

I collect baseball caps. Much cheaper and less likely to kill me or a close relative.

[Permanut]

54. Okay, so one GBU 28..

would turn all of these weapons, the house and the occupants into a smoking 300 foot crater. Are we supposed to be impressed by this "firepower"?

These morons think they're going to show the gubmint not to mess with them.

Morons

[vercetti2021]

57. You got two hands

How are you gonna shoot all of those at once you fucking idiots?

[SocialDemocrat61]

64. They got guns!

[IronLionZion]

67. They are resisting tyranny somehow

just in case a drone strike comes for them, they can shoot it. Just like when COVID came, they could shoot the virus.

While these people are collectors who enjoy sport shooting. It just takes one mentally ill family member to grab some weapons and go shoot up a school like what happened in Newtown CT and so many other mass shootings all over America. Sure, a person can be a responsible gun owner but someone else in their house can be a violent psychopath.

[thucythucy]

68. Think of all the things they could have done with the money spent

on their death collections.

This is especially true for the families with kids.

Money for college for the kids or continuing education for the adults.
Money for world travel.
Money for attending plays, concerts, other enriching events.

Their death delusion is such a waste of time and money and energy.

Someday their kids may well hate them for this.

[randr]

69. Make Charlton Hestons wish come true

People should be buried with their arms around all their weapons. We get rid of them in one generation

[Wonder Why]

70. "We have a rodent problem in our house. Beats using traps!"