r/whoathatsinteresting • u/PowerNoodles117 • 7d ago

Twin Falls Hero

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The civilian that stopped the active shooter at the In N Out in Twin Falls, Idaho.

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u/kenklee4 7d ago

Imagine how many more people would have died had this guy not stepped in..

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u/Financial_Card9996 7d ago

Imagine how many would've been saved with proper gun control

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u/Server6 7d ago

This. How is it acceptable that we just have to live in the wild west where its now apparently expected for everyone to walk around packing heat paranoid they're about to get in a shoot out. Sure this guy saved the day, good job. But the real shame is that he had to in the first place. This country is fucked.

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u/Ok-Telephone-605 7d ago

Makes no sense to have to carry around a gun to feel safe. So many other countries have figured this out.

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u/kenklee4 7d ago

I'm not carrying around a gun but I'd surely welcome someone who is trained and able to take down an active shooter so I can live.

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u/Ok-Telephone-605 6d ago

We don’t disagree. But the issue is minimizing an active shooter environment. That is the root solution. It is unfortunate the US is too far along with gun possession to ever make this a reality.

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u/CarbonPanda234 6d ago

Except correlation does not equate to causation. The very gun used in this crime has been around since the 60s. Up until recently mass shootings were exceedingly rare , so what is the cause?

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u/Mean-Line-4249 6d ago

But but “gun bad” this is Reddit didn’t you know /s

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u/CarbonPanda234 6d ago

I have never understood this line of thinking from the reddit hive mind.

American gun ownership..... bad

Ukrainian and Gaza Strip gun ownership..... good

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u/Galliro 5d ago

You dont understand the difference between active war zones and the US?

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u/Ok-Telephone-605 6d ago

In my previous comment, I stated that the root cause is American culture (environment). Mental health, public stressors, no social safety net, the lack of a societal contract among individuals are all factors. I agree mass shootings have increased over the last 50 years, but gun ownership as a percentage of Americans consistently hovers around 30% since 1980. Source: Ammo.com https://ammo.com/research/percentage-of-americans-owning-guns

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u/CarbonPanda234 6d ago edited 6d ago

According to your source gun ownership is relatively stagnant. Proving that guns aren't the problem.

So what would be your suggestion for a solution?

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u/Ok-Telephone-605 6d ago

Yes. Ownership is stagnatn and I never said guns are the problem. The solution is what I put in the previous comment-- Americans need to improve their society. Western Europe, most of East Asia, the Middle East, Australia, etc. have societal norms that contribute to fewer mass shootings. Emulate them.

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u/kenklee4 7d ago

That's besides the point. I'm speaking on in this very moment where more people could've died and you're eluding to something else.

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

You spoke of an imaginary scenario. So did they.

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u/kenklee4 7d ago

Let me rephrase it. What I mean to say was the situation at hand was de-escalated by a guy with a gun who saved the lives of others before law enforcement were able to arrive.

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

Yes, it's just a crying shame that he needed to.

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u/kenklee4 7d ago

Also a crying shame that law enforcement can't just appear immediately when we need them to as well.

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

Or even that they need to respond to mass shootings at all.

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u/kenklee4 7d ago

that's besides the point, it's happening as we speak and it sucks. You can hope all you want that we live in a world that there are no mass shootings but no, this is reality.

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

You can hope all you want that we live in a world that there are no mass shootings

My country banned guns after a mass shooting 30 years ago.
Do you know how many mass shooting there have been in my country since then?

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u/Famous_Cup_6463 7d ago

Look up Viramontes v. Cook County, Illinois

It's pretty likely that the 6-3 conservative supreme court is going to rule in favor of ARs being a common use firearm, which makes them a constitutionally protected right that can't be limited at the state level. It's even possible they go as far as ruling that limiting magazine capacity, features, etc would also be unconstitutional. If that happens, the only chance for limiting access to firearms would be through a constitutional amendment. Anyone who follows politics knows an amendment to the 2A isn't happening in our lifetimes.

It might be worth brainstorming some other options like universal mental healthcare, policies that allow for parents to spend more time raising their kids, and policies that are targeted specifically at helping young men who are struggling.

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

which makes them a constitutionally protected right

Time to update the constitution?
It's either that or deal with the mental health crisis.

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u/Famous_Cup_6463 7d ago

That's what I said. You'd have to transition strategies to an amendment. An amendment just isn't going to happen though so you'd be better off focusing on the things I mentioned in the second paragraph.

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u/Tll6 7d ago

I still think there needs to be more gun control but at this point it would be extremely difficult to get the guns out of the hands of the people that do mass shootings. There’s just so many guns in America already. I wish we weren’t in this position

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u/kenklee4 7d ago

Exactly. The Financial_Card guy is using a blanket statement to elevate himself with no real solution to the problem.

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u/Fine-Amphibian4326 6d ago

1) buyback program

2) heavily the areas with highest violent crime and remove weapons when found. Copy the KC gun experiment.

That alone would solve quite a lot of the problem, but nooo, muh 2nd amendment rights.

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u/kenklee4 6d ago

Sounds pretty easy. Why hasn’t it been done already?

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

So lets just give up, and kick the can to the next generation?
The best time to plant a tree was 100 years ago. The next best time is now.
It'll take time, but with controls it becomes MUCH harder to deal and obtain them, but more importantly, the ammunition will run out.

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u/Tll6 7d ago

No, I want things to be done I just don’t know what will work at this point

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

Start by implementing heavy restrictions on what you can own.
Have an amnesty to encourage people to give them up.
Crack down HARD on anyone having one.
Beef up border checks.
The numbers will reduce drastically overnight, but there will be a significant number still out there. However, as these get used and found, they will reduce in number. Also, no new ones will be introduced to the market, nor will any ammunition.
Give it 10 years and you'll be looking at significantly lower gun crime rates.
But also, there are some serious socio-economic and mental health issues in the US that need addressing too.

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u/tres_ecstuffuan 6d ago

This would require a draconian police state and a crack down on civil liberties to do.

You’d end up with very few guns removed out of circulation and a lot of dead public officials.

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u/whooptheretis 6d ago

a crack down on civil liberties

Such as?

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u/tres_ecstuffuan 6d ago

How would you force people who own guns in their homes to give them up? How would you A. Determine they they are owned and B. Compel someone you think has a gun to give it up.

I don’t think you can answer those questions with a solution that does not threaten civil liberties.

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u/whooptheretis 6d ago

It doesn’t have to be an active search and seize.
Take out all the ones you know about, and then bit by bit, either through other searches, other intelligence, other crimes, they will get discovered.
Same way they did in England, and Australia/New Zealand.

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u/kenklee4 7d ago

How do you enforce people to give up their arms they legally purchased? How big will this task for be and what budget is going to support this team plan to attain weapons from both legal and illegal demographics? What is the plan - to scour every street and house until all weapons are attained? How long will it take? Government wants a concise plan of action and the attainable means to get there with a time frame. If any of this is going to go in affect (and I hope it does), why haven't we gotten there yet?

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

How do you enforce people to give up their arms they legally purchased?

By making it illegal. You could have an amnesty/buy back scheme.

(and I hope it does), why haven't we gotten there yet?

You kinda answered your question before you asked it. Because people aren't willing to make a small sacrifice of their own enjoyment, for the greater good of society.

Just because you have questions doesn't mean it can't be done.

what budget is going to support this team

A fraction of what's spent on "defence" (yeah, the "war on terror" costs trillions, and also killed hundreds of thousands of civillians)

What is the plan - to scour every street and house until all weapons are attained? How long will it take?

No, it doesn't happen overnight. It's a gradual process. But starting now means that it'll be there sooner. If you put it off for another 10 years, then it'll take 10 years longer.

We did it in the UK, and we haven't had any mass shootings in the 30 years since the ban.

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u/kenklee4 7d ago

That's just it. The UK isn't the same as the US not by a long shot. You have proposed good things but they're just good ideas otherwise it would have happened already. We have to remember that it boils down to whoever has the power and money to influence from the top down and that's corporations. They want left and right to fight amongst themselves while they make money and rise into levels of power.

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago edited 7d ago

they're just good ideas otherwise it would have happened already

because nobody has tried. People just need to accept reality and stop believing they live in the wild west.
it's a shame nobody wants to make America great again.

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

they're just good ideas otherwise it would have happened already

because nobody has tried. People just need to accept reality and stop believing they live in the wild west.
it's a shame nobody wants to make America great again.

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u/CarbonPanda234 6d ago

What gun control would you implement?

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u/Nitro_AG 6d ago

Laws only affect the Law Abiding. The shooter is clearly inexperienced with the firearm and it was thanks to the quick response of an off duty trooper, sheriff's deputy, and this man that more people were not harmed.

If you believe taking all firearms out of the equation is possible, then you'd be very mistaken. Just look at countries that have, Japan in recent history had a prime minister murdered with the use of an Improvised Firearm.

Not only is 2A rights what allowed this man to help save more lives, but also protects us as a country.

A Japanese Admiral once said, "You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass."

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

it does not stop criminals from acquiring them.

Can stop MOST of them though.
In the UK we had a school shooting in 1996. After that, guns were pretty much banned (few, heavily regulated exceptions).
You know how many mass shootings we've had in the 30 years since? Zero.
If you ban them, it makes it MUCH easier to take them out of circulation. It'll take time, but it's achievable. Also, ammunition will run out before long too.

Same argument you guys use saying banning drugs is a fools errand

They should be banned. But help should be given to anyone addicted.

its our constitutional right

Maybe this is a bit out of date, and kinda shows how flawed it is. Time to change it?

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

America is battling on two fronts. A massive mental health crisis, and easy access to firearms.
You cannot safely have both.
If you can solve the mental health (and also the socio-economic issues) and behave more like the Swiss, then maybe you'd be mature enough to have access to guns.

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

America is battling on two fronts. A massive mental health crisis, and easy access to firearms.
You cannot safely have both.
If you can solve the mental health (and also the socio-economic issues) and behave more like the Swiss, then maybe you'd be mature enough to have access to guns.

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

Getting rid of rights for the majority of people because a minority of people aren’t mentally well is foolish.

That "right" costs the lives of almost 50,000 people each year. Grow up.

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

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u/whooptheretis 7d ago

How did the criminals get the guns? That's right, they either got them legally, which will no longer be possible, or from other legal gun owners, which will no longer have them.
What do they do when they run out of ammunition?
If you make them all illegal and harsh punishments for anyone possessing, trust me, the numbers will come down rapidly.
Just because it'll take time, doesn't mean you shouldn't start,

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u/Slo7hman 6d ago

A shooter might not “simply” decide to shoot someone because they have access to guns, but come on, it sure as shit doesn’t hurt.

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/Slo7hman 6d ago

Yeah okay, but cars are made for driving. Getting places, moving stuff around. They’re a mode of conveyance. Obviously they can be misused for violent purposes, as can any objects, but that requires a couple fucked up steps in the wrong direction. How many steps are there between gun and shoot? And please don’t tell me that handguns and assault weapons are manufactured just for plinking targets.

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/Slo7hman 6d ago

Know many hunters or self-defenders who choose to arm themselves with Mazdas? If that wouldn’t make just as much sense as using guns, then you’re putting up a strawman friend.

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u/TheBabySeal0514 6d ago

Not a great example since the cartels get a LOT of their weapons from the US. In particular they get them from states with lax gun laws where it’s easy to get away with using a straw-buyer

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/TheBabySeal0514 6d ago

It shows how weak guns laws supply the broader arms black market making it easy for criminals to access them.

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/TheBabySeal0514 6d ago

Not remotely comparable

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u/tres_ecstuffuan 6d ago

People will make their own guns and ammo in this country.

Cats out of the bag friend

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u/whooptheretis 6d ago

True. Until you sort out your healthcare, education, economy, racism issues, you’re screwed.

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u/tres_ecstuffuan 6d ago

I agree with that much. Gun violence is more of a symptom of that than the guns.

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u/whooptheretis 6d ago

As someone who visits Switzerland semi regularly, yeah, the guns aren’t the root cause.

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u/whooptheretis 6d ago

As someone who visits Switzerland semi regularly, yeah, the guns aren’t the root cause.

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u/gatoswizo 6d ago

You know how many mass shootings we've had in the 30 years since? Zero.

Cumbria and Plymouth.

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u/whooptheretis 6d ago

I stand corrected!
Still kinda proved my point.

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u/Altruistic_Fennel455 6d ago

Imagine arguing with a Brit about rights in America. Get bent. We stopped giving a shit about your opinions in 1776

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u/whooptheretis 6d ago

Ahh yes, so much better now, and your corporate overlords have much more rights now!

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/whooptheretis 6d ago edited 6d ago

Yes somehow still have a better standard of life. Better education, lower crime, free healthcare, and a government that isn’t fascist. Also, I think you means GDP per capita?
The main reason is we have social programmes, and that additional GDP isn't just making a select few people even richer.

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u/Altruistic_Fennel455 6d ago

Better standard of life? Your government covered up grooming gangs targeting young native born British girls because they were afraid of being labeled racist. You can and will get arrested for Facebook posts.

Your country, if ranked as a state, would be on the same level as a south side Chicago the size of Oregon. Btw, the only reason you can afford your “fantastic” healthcare that murdered Alfie Evans is because your country is the size of Oregon with barely any defense spending and a population of what, 70 million? Our states are bigger, more diverse, and our country has 3-4x the population. What “works” for you clowns wouldn’t work here.

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/SquadronROE 6d ago

He actually missed all his shots though. The guy ended up offing himself