Reading this makes me very glad I don't live in the US. Things are going to get considerably worse from here on out. Try not to kill each other, pals.
you know, usually i wouldn’t really respond to this, because i get it...in general, people in the US are fucked--at least the mass of thoughtless American consumers who are strictly guided by
appetites and
insecurities only...nothing else. but it’s Sunday, and my syllabi are ready for the teaching online that i start tomorrow, and i think i’ve even got Zoom down, so...
...i'm sure from other places, it might seem like the US is more liable to experience this in a "considerably worse" way than other countries are, but talking about the US like it is one monolithic thing means you’re not going to have an accurate or realistic conversation. it's important to remember how varied and complex the US is geographically and demographically--urban centers, suburbs, exurbs, rural areas, etc.--and each will have its own ways of dealing with and reacting to whatever lies ahead. and in this regard, even with urban centers, NY is going to be one conversation and LA will be a whole other conversation, etc.
all of that being said--and me personally--yes, i was raised around guns, yes i have a gun safe full of "high capacity" rifles and handguns (and a shotgun), yes i have lots and lots of ammo and magazines stored...but no, in almost 50 years of life, despite all kinds of trifling things i've been through (growing up most of my life in the city of Detroit), i have never once even been close to reaching for a gun in defense, not even the handguns i'm legally licensed and trained to carry--i am of course grateful to say. same with everyone i grew up with, who are also armed "to the teeth." not an unstable or violently inclined person amongst us, friends, neighbors, and family... i'm a literature professor in the Humanities man...despite what it might look like, for all practical purposes i'm a pacifist...
...for every one unhinged, gun-owning, Trump-supporting wingnut babbling about "boogaloos" and shit here, there are dozens of us who by all means believe in at least aspiring to be comparatively armed to defend ourselves (plenty of criminals and all of the police have fully automatic weapons here) if god forbid the need should ever arise, but really just love to shoot and are tech nerds about the infinite varieties of calibers, configurations, and platforms of firearms.
as i posted above, the scary thing is all of the frantic assholes who are all of a sudden deciding they need guns here, who have never owned or shot one, and who know nothing about doing so, cleaning, storing, safety, etc...