Thread by @FreedomFriesInc

(1) There's been a shooting at a workplace in Bryan, Texas. One reported killed, four injured, plus an LEO reportedly injured when the suspect was later apprehended. It's early on, so confirmed facts are scarce.

edition.cnn.com/2021/04/08/us/…

(2) I'm never interested early on in finding out the race of the suspect, victims, or others caught up in a shooting. It comes out later on anyway, so I wait before commenting on that, if at all.

IMO gun-controllers deploy their initial talking points about guns, not nec. race.

(3) I say this because I think that many gun rights activists on Twitter focus right away on the racial (& or religious) hypocrisy of the gun-controllers.

IMO in most cases that is a secondary issue. I think it's better to focus on the gun and security-related aspects first.

(4) Like how building managers and owners can reduce the risk of violence, and better protect the innocent.

In many cases, allowing good guys and girls with a gun to avert disaster is the best option. Failing that, standard target hardening measures should be used.

(5) The leading causes of such incidents are domestic & workplace violence. "Domestic violence" doesn't mean at home. It means the abuser & intended victim are current or former partners, family, or sharing a household. When it spills over to the public square, it's still DV.

(6) Workplace violence usually occurs in the workplace, but not always.

Employers usually know when a person is becoming at risk of carrying out violence. Workplace violence can also be carried out by customers or other members of the public.

Target-hardening is important.

(7) Assuming you can reduce domestic and workplace violence by making it harder for responsible people to own life saving self defense equipment, is really stupid.

An angry soon-to-be-killer doesn't care about gun laws.

And he or she will always be able to access guns.

(8) The same considerations apply to domestic terrorism.

A building that is known to be a target, such as the White House or US Capitol, needs effective barrier systems and well trained and equipped security personnel.

It should not be possible to ram a vehicle & kill a cop.

(9) The White House had a string of basic security breaches over the years until the perimeter was hardened in mid 2020. I don't recall the folk complaining about the barriers at the US Capitol saying much about the WH security upgrades.

Most people understood why it was done.

(10) Along with supporting 2A, I advocate for better security hardware & practices at every workplace, public building, & home. Anywhere innocent people might be targeted.

Traffic bollards are a great invention. "Crime prevention through environmental design" is a thing.

(11) You can tell that the professional gun-controllers don't really care about the victims of these crimes, because the only solution they propose is gun control.

How about supporting the dozen other things that can reduce harm and save lives?

(12) #SeeSomethingSaySomething has become more important each year.

It feels to me like a lot of people have forgotten about why this slogan was developed. If you have information that might prevent a tragedy, you need to share it, even if the person is a loved one.

(13) I know why you hesitate; I have felt that way too.

Trust and confidence in institutions, including in law enforcement and the homeland security apparatus, has taken a hit in recent years, from the actions of both political sides.

You CAN change this.

(14) Most Americans aren't interested in the details of partisan politics, they just want to get through the day in one piece, and be able to protect and provide for their family, essentially.

They lean toward the relatively silent, moderate, majority, not the extremes.

(15) It's irritating for a 2A supporter to hear the gun-controlling talking points within minutes of news about a shooting.

It's irritating for anti-conservative folk to hear the 2A talking points within minutes of news about a shooting.

There is a better way.

(16) I'm not suggesting letting your opponents' statements go unanswered. Not at all. I'm suggesting adjusting your focus to include the non-2A aspects of these incidents.

If we step away from the extremists we can work with the moderates and actually achieve something.

(17) While the far left scream about gun control and the far right scream about gun rights, who is there to look at all the other things that can save lives and prevent harm?

The leaders of the two extremes want to radicalize us all.

They've had some success lately.

(18) IMO the best antidote to far right & far left extremism is to withhold the attention, visibility & money they crave.

Being a moderate might not be as exciting and entertaining but I have a feeling it ultimately saves more lives. The US system of government is built for it.