BehindBlueI's
Grandmaster
- Oct 3, 2012
- 26,608
- 113
That theory works great but what about the KC parade. Broad daylight, lots of people out to have fun, and a dedicated place with police presence. Things are changing.
In some ways, yes, but in terms of danger I don't think it is. The only difference between Charles Whitman and a modern day mass murder is the presence of a bajillion cameras, social media, and a 24 hour news cycle. He's correct that the stupids rule "greatly reduces" the chance but it's never zero. I suspect we're all in agreement to that point.
Even accounting for advances in medical treatment saving more people who would otherwise be counted as a homicide, rates are significantly better today than in the 70s and 80s, or even the 1920s. We are objectively safer today than in the vast majority of the preceding century. It just doesn't feel that way because every crime nationwide is on the news cycle making it feel more impactful.
Like you said, there's not much freedom in being afraid to go do stuff. You're still way more likely to get wiped out by a drunk on the road to X event than get gunned down at X event. If I wanted to go to an NFL game or celebration I would. Of perhaps some irony to the thread, I only learned who won the Super Bowl because of the shooting, though, so it's pretty unlikely I'll want to.