We really do just need to stop and appreciate the insane symbiosis of American gun culture and evangelical Christianity.
Like, imagine hearing anything Jesus said and thinking ‘you know what this guy would *really* fit in with this guy’s ideology? An AR15’
The prominence of that view has been a canary in the coal mine for 20+ years. Take views on personal protection out of it, the idolatry and worship of guns is anti biblical and insane.
Its why I'm noticing a lot of evangelicals/southern Baptist preachers talking about "doctrine".
They basically skip the teachings of Jesus and talk about "church doctrine" which from everything I've seen is just the most judgemental, sexist and bigoted parts of the bible and making that supercede the teachings of Jesus.
Saying doctrine... It seems just like a way to give carte blanche for a preacher to push any personal values they want on others.
It blows my mind that these people can read all of these contradicting values and choose "judgement" over "loving everyone". They choose to be this way and choose not to be more like Christ.
They’re con artists. Have been since the 19th century. It’s like Jordan Peterson or that Brit that’s in prison, Tate. If you tell people their bigoted beliefs are correct and good: they will give you all the monies. It’s called réification.
That’s not even an AR-15, it’s more ridiculous than that. That’s an m-249 SAW. An actual military weapon. A belt fed machine gun. It also has either a real or fake suppressor. Either this dude has a couple special licenses or he’s posing with someone else’s toys.
Special license won’t get you a SAW, there are not any in existence transferable to individuals, and even if there were they’d run something like 80 grand. This is just a very expensive look a like but it’s functionally the same as any other AR. Just as a heads up.
Except it’s not functionally the same. An AR-15 has an integrated recoil buffer, is reasonably accurate and typically weighs a few pounds. A SAW weighs somewhere around 18 lbs. that collapsible stock MIGHT have a hydraulic buffer in it, but I doubt it’s as effective at managing recoil as an AR. Then there’s the accuracy question.
Background: I grew up Southern Baptist, but have since left that behind. In 2002, I was still in high school, and still went to church (begrudgingly). On the Memorial Day Sunday service, a member of the church who was an early veteran of the war in Afghanistan was in his dress greens (IDK if that’s what they call them, but that’s what he was in) and part of the ceremony. He walked into the church with an AR-15 on his shoulder, sans magazine, walking behind the flag. It seemed CRAZY to me at the time. My old man was chairman of the deacons at the time, and I remember talking to him about it afterwards. He was NOT a fan of that. He was a veteran himself, and spoke with the guy after the fact. That was my first indication that something was not right with the world.
Fast-forward to 2017, Hurricane Harvey was ravaging SE Texas, and I went to volunteer my boat to help get people out of harms way. The staging point was a non-denominational church in The Woodlands, TX. While I was inside getting instructions from the local authorities in where to go, I noticed an AR-15 type weapon resting against the soundboard mixer. One of the guys standing around was in full tactical gear, helmet, vest, and all. You might recall there were some reports of people shooting at would-be rescuers, so I assumed he was some sort of LEO liaison or something.
Nope, just the youth minister, reveling in his chance to tacticool out.
These people are deranged. Having grown up in that life, I noticed it early on and bailed as soon as I could. They were too much even for my fairly conservative father, 20 years ago.. part of me is glad he didn’t live long enough to see what has become of our country, as he wasn’t a fan of Bush to begin with. At the very least I didn’t have to see him devolve into some sort of Trumpster.
The Bible has a word for someone who uses the word/name of God as a political tool.
Those who preach hatred, violence, militarism, and prejudice in the name of Jesus christ.
They are all pharisees. Call them pharisees to their fucking faces.
"Call them pharisees to their fucking faces."
Dude, you will get a blank stare, a few seconds of delay then a "A what?". They don't read the damn book they worship so your on point comparison will be completely lost on them.
The worst ones would take offense because they think you're calling them a jew.
You need to watch this video of Lauren Boebert giving a church sermon. Not the full thing obviously, because you don’t wanna catch the brain rot, but just flick to a random point and listen for a minute to hear the absolute drivel these people are showing up to listen to every Sunday.
https://www.youtube.com/live/IWOSF3SHdUo?feature=share
It’s amazing how she manages to be both over-the-top performatively religious… and yet never actually diverts away from her political talking points enough to even say something *about* religion.
If anyone still wonders whether there is a god, I submit Boebert as Exhibit A as evidence to the contrary because I feel like Old Testament God would have struck her with lightning for talking like that in his house.
This is what I want to know. I am a veteran, and I find it so bizarre to see lifelong civilians wearing knockoff versions of the shit I had to walk around wearing in Afghanistan. I don't want to put that stuff back on now that I don't have to wear it. Why would they want to do this? (That's rhetorical. I know it's all about trying to look like badasses when they aren't. But like you said, why can't they just be normal...)
Edit: Yes I get it, military issued things are garbage and this is "much nicer". My point was mostly that these people look like idiots, and the brand, make, and model of the particular faux tactical items they are wearing does not change that.
It's dress up. Every time I see one of these clowns I just see the insecure male version of an E-girl. Stick some cat ears and an uWu face on the guy and it's about the same
The main difference there though is that an E-girl is no threat to me or my family, whereas this clown is if he were to decide that maybe we are too "woke".
If you've ever registered as a democrat, that'll be enough for them.
I've heard some vile stuff being said about what they'd do to dems. And guess what's public knowledge tied to your name and physical address in most states. It would not surprise me in the least bit if this escalates from shooting people who walk by your driveway or house to specifically targeting people based on voting/registration records.
It’s just weird all around. I can understand having the free income to want it, for whatever reason, just collectible interests, some super low odd “just in case” bit of kit to throw in a closet, whatever.
But why wear the tacti-cool crap and pose for pictures? What’s the respectable explanation?
Hell I know a guy who owns several dozen rifles and more (single and has a very high income, guns and gun smithing are pretty much his only hobbies.)
And if you weren’t semi-close with him you would have absolutely zero idea. He’s normally wearing business casual and looks completely normal. Isn’t walking around open carrying with a big flag flying off the back of his car.
Its posturing. "Peacocking" if he is of the belief that this might attract a female that seeks protection (ironically from males that have low self-esteem such as himself).
These are the first to offer "Thoughts and Prayers", but also the first to take up arms instead of relying on their Gawd to keep them safe. Deep down these guys know its Guns over God, and bet on that. To hell if it it makes all of us less safe.
Also as others have said, it’s literally just playing dress-up/cosplaying but in a form they deem acceptable and cool. They need a photo shoot to show of the fit and look to their other cosplay buddies
Because that's what ammosexuals do. We need to start calling them out and make them see how ridiculous they look. It's like a 12 year old thinking they look cool with a cigarette. It's just stupid.
I'd think that you'd not want to advertise your means of defence lest it become compromised in advance.
Own it, use it, practice in it, and make sure it works - that's valid. The photograph it, exhibition it, identify with it is not only offputting but kind of counterproductive to maintaining the element of surprise or, really, your credibility.
The only reason someone needs to know exactly what I own is so they can steal it; and that's not a very good reason to advertise, in my opinion.
Honestly, I play airsoft in my country, since actual firearms are kinda hard to get here.
All I see here and other such pictures are the 18 year old kids posing with toys and gear to be cool. You meet these insecure guys at every event, bragging about badass gear and how cool they are.
And I get it. We all wanna play cool warriors and heroes, instead of our normal life. Its fun to pretend. One of the reasons I play airsoft and like the game.
This guy and us airsofters are both cosplayer if you break it down.
The difference is that these are childish idiots with actual firepower to kill people and proably the same lack of discipline as the mentioned kids with BB-Guns.
Fucking facts. Is the equivalent of a discord e boy with an anime profile pic. Hell at least the e boy isn’t posting with a gun and instead just plays league all day
Oh yeah, or my personal favorites, the ones who are like, "Oh you were in the Army? I would have joined, but..." and somehow their intent at one point to consider joining the Army is supposed to give them some kind of street cred. It's odd and I wish I had a dollar for every time I've encountered people like that because it's a lot.
I hear that a lot too. I just reply with "but you didn't. Every single person has an excuse to not join. What separates us is those that did, and those that didn't".
Usually rubs them the wrong way.
I always interrupt them.
"Oh, you were in the Marines? I was going to join, but..."
*"No you weren't"*
"No really, I went to the recruiters and..."
*"No you didn't"*
"But..."
*"But nothing. Stop cosplaying."*
Oh god, I love this. I got to this point exactly once and it was with a former coworker who was of the "I would have joined" and "my dad served in Vietnam just a few years before I was born so I'm basically a military brat", and "I have a stepdaughter who's enlisting in the Navy soon so I'm basically a veteran" persuasion.
I listened to her bullshit for about 6 months, and then she stepped it up and would try to talk shit about what branch I served in. I was just like, "That's only funny coming from other veterans, Jennifer." She did the shocked Pikachu face, and stammered something about how she's part of the military community because \[insert bullshit here\]. I repeated, "That's only funny coming from other veterans, Jennifer. You're not a veteran. It's not funny coming from you." Then I was gatekeeping. I don't care, though. It got me out of listening to that shit for the rest of the time I worked there.
One of my coworkers was in the Navy so we talk (friendly) shit to each other all the time. Then one day a (non-veteran) supervisor from another department interrupted us to call me a "crayon eater". Guess who had to attend anti-discrimination and sensitivity training.
Prob because they have never been in combat. I feel if you wear this shit and buy this junk with your own dime you should automatically be enlisted in some patriot guard that we can use as cannon fodder for some arbitrary upcoming conflict.
You know what most combat veterans everyday carry? A wallet, cell phone and maybe a pocket knife.
>You know what most combat veterans everyday carry? A wallet, cell phone and maybe a pocket knife.
Think about the KEYS! You haven’t thought of the KEYS you BITCH! Now that that’s settled we can have a normal conversation.
/s if it wasn’t obvious and if you aren’t a fan allow me to [introduce you.](https://youtube.com/shorts/oLPENOC8OCk?feature=share)
This. I’m not putting on camo or wearing body armor for the rest of my life. F that.
But sometimes I’ll take the veterans parking spot at Lowes if the lot is pretty full.
Oh yeah that's right! I forgot about that one. It totally goes along with this, too. I can't even count how many people who cosplay like this, and have told me I'm not a real veteran because I'm liberal and their grandfather, a \*real\* veteran who fought in a \*war\* would roll over in his grave if he heard me being such a disgrace. Um, genius, I'm a real veteran who fought in a war, too. We didn't stop having those just because we stopped having drafts to wage them...
My wife is a veteran (enlisted). She is trans. Let me tell you how much that confuses conservatives and especially white male veterans. SO MUCH!
She literally cannot spend any time with other veterans because they are so toxic and awful to be around. She struggles to get mental healthcare at the VA in our liberal city because being around other veterans is so painful.
Her own cousin - also a veteran of the Navy - literally calls her by her deadname and says transphobic things about her to his mixed race children (one of whom is queer but he doesn't know it) because she was much more decorated for her service during her time in the military and because she ended up getting a bunch of awards during her time in a cush government job with the Navy as a civilian. He's just another mediocre midwestern white man who's mad his woke cousin got all the valor and he didn't. It's digusting.
NGL, after being partnered with a veteran for half a decade, dunking on veteran's culture could be my stand up act. It's all participation trophies, yet they all think it's earned.
Fucking A, tell me about it. I spent years carrying that crap around the globe, and couldn't be any less interested in spending money on cosplaying in it. Completely mind blowing.
It's good for two things: catching rounds, and causing back problems. I'm home. I shouldn't have to worry about catching rounds. And there are plenty of other ways to cause back problems at work. So....
I call these guys BDSCOs: big-dicked super cool operators. I say that facetiously, of course. Vet here too, and I have supported SOF on several tours. I know many from that community have gone on to throw their weight behind extremist movements in the US, but most would have the same attitude as you and me: I wore that gear with the intent of safety and security in a war zone against insurgent and terrorist actors; that shit doesn't belong here.
For all their bitching about cultural appropriation, they sure are keen to appropriate military culture, without embracing the suck that comes with it. What’s next? 2 MREs a day (to cope with their chronic IBS, of course), the post-service beard grow, and knife-handing anything vaguely bothersome?
If this keeps up, we’ll be calling civilian “Butter Bar Fashionistas”, Jelly Rolls.
Edit. Forgot the /s
I'm going with a mixture of ignorant fear, toxic masculinity, and, in the case of most Republican politicians, retention of power by fostering the previous two items.
Republicans *pretend* to be a lot
* cops
* soldiers
* empathetic
* persecuted
* competent leaders
The fact that they’re just pretending about all these things is how they arrived at the projection that trans people are pretending to be their gender.
It’s uncanny how many similarities evangelical conservatives have to extremist Middle East organizations.
1. An obsession with self militarization
2. Book banning & burning
3. A deep hatred/blame towards minorities and LGBT
4. Legislating against women’s rights and freedoms
5. A persistent fear of democracy
6. Child Labor
7. Child marriage
8. Flying flags from the back of their pickup
Edit: added additional examples from comments
Here it comes yet again: "No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Happens Regularly"
Are we not tired of this? I sure as fuck am.
Now that I have your attention probably after seeing this post for hopefully multiple times I’d like to get something off my chest and personal soapbox today. Buckle up,
"The first girl I walked up to was crouched down covering her head in the bushes, so I felt for a pulse, pulled her head to the side and she had no face."
We live now in a country in which our children are randomly put to death in public, so that our congressmen can pose with weapons of war, by Right Wing Terrorists. We live in a country where the amount of stickers in the back of our lifted trucks equates to how many rounds of AR ammunition are stockpiled in our closet.
We live now in a country where we ban books, where we ban drag shows, where we ban doctors from helping kids in crisis, where we ban women from making choices with their bodies. We ban people from voting because some don’t like how they might vote, we ban representatives from state legislators for how they have voted, we ban immigrants, we ban some stem cells, and we ban transgender athletes, we even ban water bottles on planes.
BUT WE DO NOT BAN ASSAULT RIFLES (or assault-like or lite rifles as some ammosexuals like to point out) DO WE?
Our children are randomly put to DEATH in public. Our Teachers, our friends. Our Family. Some of them just want to go and enjoy an afternoon at a mall together. Never to return. To protect somebody's right to randomly put another innocent person to death, once a month, once a week, once a day, once AN HOUR.
Well since my last update, a 14-year-old was shot in the head. What did this child do? She was playing hide and seek.
When it becomes unmistakably obvious with each death, a little piece of us dies inside, and within 10 years, or 1 year, or 1 month. The pain of that is too large to process, so we simply pretend that it doesn’t hurt anymore. We simply pretend that it doesn't hurt to think of the horror and the terror of those children and those adults in their final moments. We simply stop dealing with it. Or fighting back against it. Or recognizing that the gore and brains on the sidewalks outside the malls of this country and our streets might as well be our own.
And it turns out the good guys with guns can’t stop it. And the responsible gun owners can’t stop it, and the politicians won’t stop it and insist that thoughts and prayers are working and if you disagree with them you are one of those who doesn’t believe in an almighty god who is absolutely in control of our lives?
That translates insanely as the solution to all of these nightmares. God and we want the thirteen thousand nine hundred people shot to death in this country already this year? Did God want them dead?
I say bullshit.
Now we have news conferences, and without emotion, it’s read off the number put to death this TIME, and the number transported to the hospital and how badly they feel. Do you realize they now treat the public execution of more people, as if it was…BAD WEATHER?
Gun massacres are not bad weather.
So we ban licenses to carry handguns in Texas, give the ability for open carry all over the United States, and Ban mental health care by cutting the budgets. Ban abortion because we are pro-life, and ban books because the children are too precious to be indoctrinated, and ban drag shows because we must protect kids from grooming and we must make sure those kids are happy and fit so SOMEBODY CAN GET A WEAPON OF WAR AND EVERY OTHER DAY PUT GROUPS OF OUR CHILDREN TO DEATH.
But at least those kids were not taught something as terrible as CRT.
80 percent believe in banning assault weapons. 80 PERCENT. 81 percent believe in raising the age to buy guns or at least keeping the age at 21. 81 percent believe in enforcing existing gun laws, and 87 percent want background checks for all gun purchases and these numbers are from 2 WEEKS AGO in a poll done by FOX NEWS.
And yet non of this can pass our elected officials? BULLSHIT.
It is time for a change. Spread how you feel far and wide. Copy this, put in your story (how many of us now have been personally affected or know someone at this point), and let your representatives and the whole goddamn Country know, the whole damn planet!
NO MORE!
So now to boost the signal on some actual honest to god things that could be done about this never-ending nightmare?
For starters, the next generation is tired of this shit and is planning a sit-in at the capital on June 6th. Here is a relevant link:
https://twitter.com/joncoopertweets/status/1655293349245452289
And also this goes without saying this group has some amazing ideas:
https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/
This website is dedicated to having the media stop reporting the perpetrator's names to prevent glorifying mass murderers
https://nonotoriety.com
The Gun Violence Archive is also a really useful source on shootings. Their statistics are highly accurate and they have an up-to-date list of all that occurred in the last 72 hours
https://gunviolencearchive.org
Some stats to back up this rant because Credible Hulk always comes angry and with sources.
Guns deaths by state
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/gun-deaths-per-capita-by-state
and just because it’s becoming increasingly relevant by the day
Texas Mass Shootings Up 62.5 Percent Since Permitless Carry Bill
https://www.reformaustin.org/public-safety/texas-mass-shootings-up-62-5-percent-since-permitless-carry-bill/
This WaPo article on the damage that an AR-15 does to a body is sobering but important reading.
THE BLAST EFFECT | This is how bullets from an AR-15 blow the body apart
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2023/ar-15-damage-to-human-body/
And finally, Check out
https://www.everytown.org/
They’re pushing to end gun violence. The more people who make their voices heard the bigger difference we can make.
EDIT: It would seem that indeed some of them are not cowards and do have the guts to say what is really on their minds. Let's have a little look at one of the messages I received today...
"You are a disgrace, a worthless mass of flesh that doesn't deserve to be called a human being. I hope your account is banned and your IP blocked. You are what is wrong with America. Please find a dark crevasse and fall in."
WELL BOO HOO!
(Also this goes without saying thanks for the random awards, I'm sending all of that karma back to others right away to show how tired we all are of this. So please boost those as well. I'm also banned in a few conservative and gun subreddits for some strange reason so feel free to take this and use it however you so feel. This goes for Twitter, Facebook, and others as I won't set foot in that cesspool of social media. PLEASE BOOST THE SIGNAL)
The messages will REPEAT AD INFINITUM until something is done.
I've gotten angrier for sure. But what's also happened since then is all the private messages of people affected by shootings (and a few hateful ones but not many anymore). Their stories have motived me to just keep going, and the suggestions and links people give me just influence it even more.
That and the fact that there have been more shootings since this started.
If you have suggestions, or links, or just want to share something. Don't hesitate. And please, if you want. Copy this, make it your own, spread the message (please be factual, as triggersexuals LOVE to argue about semantics).
The best thing I saw was waking up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water and browsing posts for a few minutes, and seeing others taking up the fight.
LET'S FUCKING GO!
Did you catch Jon Stewart’s interview with the Oklahoma congressman? He talked about how guns are now the biggest threat to children. Idiot in a suit didn’t even flinch, just let himself look like a clown and then went back to pushing bullshit talking points on other outlets. We need political reform badly, system is broke.
If you want to add to resources @emilyinyourphone on Instagram shares scripts and resources for calling reps and has a campaign going for mothers to ask for their loved ones to call their reps to keep their children safe instead of getting them flowers for Mother’s Day. (Please ignore the lack of finesse in my explanation but it’s a good actionable campaign)
13,900 gun deaths in less than 6 months.
13,900. That figure is beyond shocking.
200+ mass shootings.
490+ Teens
80+ Children
LESS THAN 6 MONTHS.
I wish I could quote the exact figures, I hate to use such loose data when speaking about actual human lives, but those fuckers just keep shooting. Anything 2 hours old is out of date.
What blows my mind is that children are the number one concern of a lot of conservatives. Not even politicians but conservatives have this obsession with having children and taking care of children and raising children and…et al. However despite this concern, it’s not raised as a point of “why are we not looking for solutions that resolve the problem”, it’s raised as a “what can we do to protect the children”.
My old man didn’t give me adderall as a child because it doesn’t resolve my adhd, it just temporarily fixes it. He didn’t see the point in spending time and money on something that doesn’t resolve the issue. Granted as I’ve gotten older I have my coping mechanisms, however, if this 71 year old man could recognize that (in his late 40’s) then why can’t others see it too? That we need to resolve the problem at the source, not put a band aid on it and hope it fixes itself
Yeah, ironic that the US is renowned for SCHOOL shootings when they care so much about the kids.
The biggest issue I see is how to get 400 million guns out of the hands of civilians.
Yes, 400 million guns owned by private citizens. Oh and only around a third of Americans own guns.
I bet your Dad could come up with a better plan than your government.....
Maybe we shouldn’t talk about gun control, the last mass shooting probably happened hours ago, it’s too recent.
Thoughts and prayers
-average republican
Thank you for your post. I’m with you! I’m so tired of “thoughts and prayers” from politicians followed by absolutely nothing more than head shakes and finger pointing. WTAF?!? I can’t believe we actually pay these people to work for us! If I didn’t listen and follow through on what was expected of me at my job, I’d have been fired a long time ago as most people would! Time for term limits and a shake up!
conservatives desperately need to read this, but will not do so. in regards to the second amendment someone literally said to me "The best part is that I don’t need an argument" and to me that perfectly encapsulates that conservative point of view on the matter.
For the people that wouldn't read the whole thing, here I had chatGPT make the comment a bit shorter and easier to spread.
"No Way To Prevent This" - a phrase we hear all too often. We're fed up, and it's time for change.
Our children, teachers, friends, and family are put to death in public, and we're numb to the pain. We ban books, drag shows, and choices for women, but assault rifles? Not a chance. And thoughts and prayers won't solve this crisis.
Over 13,900 people have been shot to death this year alone. It's time to make our voices heard and demand action from our representatives. 80% of Americans support banning assault weapons, yet nothing changes. We refuse to accept this as our reality.
Join the next generation fighting for change at the capital on June 6th: https://twitter.com/joncoopertweets/status/1655293349245452289
Support organizations working tirelessly to end gun violence, like:
- Sandy Hook Promise: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/
- No Notoriety: https://nonotoriety.com
- Gun Violence Archive: https://gunviolencearchive.org
- Everytown: https://www.everytown.org/
Together, we can make a difference. Share this message, let your representatives know that we demand change, and join the movement to end this nightmare once and for all. #NoMore
(P.S. To the haters, your negativity won't stop us from pushing for change. We'll keep fighting for a safer future.)
Goddamnit, YES! I’m am here for this 100%. Fed up. Protect our kids. Thank you for adding a little fuel to the fire that’s been under my ass for a while now!
To highlight how bad it is, let us not forget all the people leaving the US for a short stay and being looked at like a crazy person when they panic at the sound of fireworks, a car backfiring, any sudden popping noise.
I left before it got really bad and was never in a bad neighborhood, and yet I would always consider 'guns' as a possibility for a noise I heard. Ridiculous that it's gotten to this point.
Love your posts my friend keep them coming I’ve been spending a lot of time perusing these websites. I’m also linking them as much as I can and sending to friends and family so they can see what’s actually going on. Just one issue, Is there a non paywall version of the wapo article showing damage done from the AR-15? If not, no worries, you’ve done more than enough already my dude.
We need leaders willing to play tough to actually do something about this... it's time we cut funding at to all red states from the Federal level until they comply with regulations.. they can try to rule as a minority. But there should be consequences which means the end of all funding and let's see how they respond then.
Unfortunately Dem leaders are weak and sold out too and won't do what is necessary even as they whine about something needing to be done.
Dean at a bible college is to ump in a church softball league. Manufactured power. Lol is there any part of your personality that isn't branded and sold to you?
If his skin was darker and he'd been some kind of cloth headgear he'd be arrested or shot on the spot for being an Islamic fundamentalist terrorist.
Oh but he's the Dean of a Bible school, not a madrassa, so he's one of the good guys.
I hate this. It makes me so angry. I'm not even American. Religious fundamentalists all suck!
If he was dean of a Missouri bible college, he is a "veteran" - at BS, at conning old people out of their life savigs, at luring young people to waste time and money on an utterly fake degree, at covering up se*ual abuse, at deflection, at misogyny, at racism....
It's pretty funny that a conservative is claiming the people he doesn't like are claiming victimhood since a persecution complex is an essential part of being a conservative.
I chuckled and thought to myself, “Bro, people wouldn’t even put a silencer on a SAW in Call of Duty.” He’s out here posing with it like it was his service weapon.🤡
Yet in the next breath he’ll say some shit about Jesus. The religious part of these people is just a cover so they can fake some moral high ground when they’re actually piece of shit humans
the state of christianity in the US today is terrifying. there’s no bible college or seminary school in the UK that would find this even remotely acceptable.
How does anyone take this clown seriously? Is he a very armed and dangerous clown, yes. But who looks at him and thinks "yeah that's a cool guy I want making important decisions" and not "wow that's a huge dork cosplaying as what he thinks a badass looks like"?
These dudes are so weird to me. I remember waiting for a flight a few months ago and at the terminal there were 3 dudes that looked generally douchey like this. They wore the typical grunt style shirts and carried tacticool ruck backpacks. When they made the call for military personnel, no one budged.
I'm pretty convinced that it's just cosplay/stolen valor for the sake of getting undue respect and attention.
Not to condone this cringy y’allqeada larp, but machine gun suppressors are useful for flash suppression, recoil mitigation, and hearing protection. They aren’t meant to be “silent”. The Army’s new XM-250 machine gun comes standard with a suppressor.
Edit. A word.
Of course he’s a Missouri elected official. As if the rest of our people in office aren’t embarrassing enough. I swear, there are more than 5 actual people with brains in Missouri. We just get out voted by the dim witted yokels because land has more power than people…
It is so wild that guns have actually replaced God as the leading emblem for a sizable swath of the Christian white, I mean right.
Jesus would have nothing to do with this overwrought, unnecessary and just goofy nonsense.
Republicans, they want all the cred of having served in the military, without actually having to serve in the military. At the same time, they also want to cut as much spending on vets as possible.
Fucking traitors. The entire GOP.
These folks think saying "Thank you for your service" means they too were in the military.
My old boss was a huge draft dodging pot smoking hippy upon high school graduation. He and his brother were amassing supplies and buying camping gear as their plan was to escape to Canada if either of them were drafted. It was 1971 and Vietnam was calling us 19 year olds.
It took about 40 years and he turned into the biggest right wing nut job you have seen. Trump flags, Obama hating, bullshit. About 15 years ago his lifetime of being a shitty businessman and trying to screw over everyone he dealt with was wearing on him.
His solution was not to change his business practices, or try to learn from his mistakes. He started going to the Baptist Church. Still the same crook, still lying to customers, still cheating the IRS, still borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. He became religious undoubtedly to sooth his beleaguered soul and get God to help him be better at screwing over those customers.
If you debate him, regardless of tax rates for business, he will tell you the reason he votes Republican is that "god damn democrats are tax thieves!" He was taught this, of course, by his own actions as he was a notorious tax cheat and got caught more than once. Therefore the IRS was the enemy and it was all democrats fault. Never did it enter his mind that his problems were the result of his own actions. He was the victim. His woes were somebody else's fault.
Anyway, my point. This guy buys up anything remotely military related at those NRA fundraisers, raises Old Glory on a flagpole outside his business daily, and thanks every single person that he perceives may be a veteran or active duty anywhere he goes. I went on business trips with him and the guy will go out of his way and walk 200 feet to catch up to a guy in fatigues to say "thank you for your service." Most actual vets seem a bit uncomfortable when this guy approaches looking like a toddler wanting to get an autograph.
Glorifying the warrior to soothe his conscience, perhaps? But I think more likely is that he walks the walk and talks the talk he believes makes him a "good Republican" regardless of the damage done by the folks he votes for. The man still uses Reagan's "welfare queens" and "tax and spend democrats" in conversation on a regular basis.
And I assume there are millions more just like him that comprise that blind faith voting base of the GOP.
If the US military were to be unleashed against these pretenders, most of them would shit themselves and surrender immediately. Terrorism comes in two flavors - foreign and domestic.
Member when mid-life crises were motorcycles, mistresses, and Porsches? And, *ulp* wine-coolers…
Bartles and James remember.
I think the funniest thing about these guys is they all have beards because it’s “manly”, but they only find it “manly” because special forces has been doing it for 20 years to help blend into Middle East cultures because facial hair are socially important. Now all these American far right have adopted the beliefs from countries like Iraq and Afghanistan that facial hair is a pillar to masculinity. Kind of ironic given their hatred for brown people.
He doesn't care. His voters don't care. The entire party does not care how any of this is perceived. They are playing fantasy and they keep getting elected because of the small portion of people who actually vote, somewhere around half of them are stupid enough to think this helps make them a good leader.
"Bible school dean" Someone should check his hard drive.
He always wanted to know what it felt like to be perceived as masculine. Instead of a diddler
He definitely wrote a song about how he doesn’t diddle kids…
Frank, there is no better way to make people think you're diddling kids than to write a song about it!
🎶Don’t diddle the kids, it’s no good to diddle the kids!🎶 🎶Older than my daughter, younger than my wife🎶
Mantis Teabaggin lmao
Might have been a beauty pagent involved.
An American tradition. But not a proud one
Frank?
That is the best show on t v
Can I offer you an egg in this trying time?
It's lines like that . Or when Charlie tried to tell a woman that he was a philanthropist. Instead said he said that he was a full on rapist.
"Who is Pepe Silvia?!?"
Do I look suspicious?
You look grotesque!!
Profile pic game is on point.
I only got a few years left on this earth, I'm trying to get real weird with it
Now block the wind while I roast this bone.
We really do just need to stop and appreciate the insane symbiosis of American gun culture and evangelical Christianity. Like, imagine hearing anything Jesus said and thinking ‘you know what this guy would *really* fit in with this guy’s ideology? An AR15’
The prominence of that view has been a canary in the coal mine for 20+ years. Take views on personal protection out of it, the idolatry and worship of guns is anti biblical and insane.
Even the views on personal protection are anti-biblical. Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, not pick up the sword.
Its why I'm noticing a lot of evangelicals/southern Baptist preachers talking about "doctrine". They basically skip the teachings of Jesus and talk about "church doctrine" which from everything I've seen is just the most judgemental, sexist and bigoted parts of the bible and making that supercede the teachings of Jesus. Saying doctrine... It seems just like a way to give carte blanche for a preacher to push any personal values they want on others. It blows my mind that these people can read all of these contradicting values and choose "judgement" over "loving everyone". They choose to be this way and choose not to be more like Christ.
They’re con artists. Have been since the 19th century. It’s like Jordan Peterson or that Brit that’s in prison, Tate. If you tell people their bigoted beliefs are correct and good: they will give you all the monies. It’s called réification.
That’s not even an AR-15, it’s more ridiculous than that. That’s an m-249 SAW. An actual military weapon. A belt fed machine gun. It also has either a real or fake suppressor. Either this dude has a couple special licenses or he’s posing with someone else’s toys.
Special license won’t get you a SAW, there are not any in existence transferable to individuals, and even if there were they’d run something like 80 grand. This is just a very expensive look a like but it’s functionally the same as any other AR. Just as a heads up.
Except it’s not functionally the same. An AR-15 has an integrated recoil buffer, is reasonably accurate and typically weighs a few pounds. A SAW weighs somewhere around 18 lbs. that collapsible stock MIGHT have a hydraulic buffer in it, but I doubt it’s as effective at managing recoil as an AR. Then there’s the accuracy question.
How accurate do you really need to be though when you’re firing indiscriminately into a crowd at the mall??
In this case, it is, because this isn't a SAW. It's likely the M249S, which is semi-auto only. And the buffer system actually is present there.
Background: I grew up Southern Baptist, but have since left that behind. In 2002, I was still in high school, and still went to church (begrudgingly). On the Memorial Day Sunday service, a member of the church who was an early veteran of the war in Afghanistan was in his dress greens (IDK if that’s what they call them, but that’s what he was in) and part of the ceremony. He walked into the church with an AR-15 on his shoulder, sans magazine, walking behind the flag. It seemed CRAZY to me at the time. My old man was chairman of the deacons at the time, and I remember talking to him about it afterwards. He was NOT a fan of that. He was a veteran himself, and spoke with the guy after the fact. That was my first indication that something was not right with the world. Fast-forward to 2017, Hurricane Harvey was ravaging SE Texas, and I went to volunteer my boat to help get people out of harms way. The staging point was a non-denominational church in The Woodlands, TX. While I was inside getting instructions from the local authorities in where to go, I noticed an AR-15 type weapon resting against the soundboard mixer. One of the guys standing around was in full tactical gear, helmet, vest, and all. You might recall there were some reports of people shooting at would-be rescuers, so I assumed he was some sort of LEO liaison or something. Nope, just the youth minister, reveling in his chance to tacticool out. These people are deranged. Having grown up in that life, I noticed it early on and bailed as soon as I could. They were too much even for my fairly conservative father, 20 years ago.. part of me is glad he didn’t live long enough to see what has become of our country, as he wasn’t a fan of Bush to begin with. At the very least I didn’t have to see him devolve into some sort of Trumpster.
The Bible has a word for someone who uses the word/name of God as a political tool. Those who preach hatred, violence, militarism, and prejudice in the name of Jesus christ. They are all pharisees. Call them pharisees to their fucking faces.
"Call them pharisees to their fucking faces." Dude, you will get a blank stare, a few seconds of delay then a "A what?". They don't read the damn book they worship so your on point comparison will be completely lost on them. The worst ones would take offense because they think you're calling them a jew.
"Blessed are the ammosexuals, for they will send the children unto God via school shootings." Matthew 5:9
"happy shall he be that taketh and shooteth thy little ones against the school walls"
"Take your plowshares and forge them into assault rifles, for they shall be used to shoot up malls"
It doesn’t make sense. I grew up Methodist and I can’t fathom how any of my pastors would have added pro-gun ideas into any sermon.
You need to watch this video of Lauren Boebert giving a church sermon. Not the full thing obviously, because you don’t wanna catch the brain rot, but just flick to a random point and listen for a minute to hear the absolute drivel these people are showing up to listen to every Sunday. https://www.youtube.com/live/IWOSF3SHdUo?feature=share It’s amazing how she manages to be both over-the-top performatively religious… and yet never actually diverts away from her political talking points enough to even say something *about* religion.
If anyone still wonders whether there is a god, I submit Boebert as Exhibit A as evidence to the contrary because I feel like Old Testament God would have struck her with lightning for talking like that in his house.
Who Would Jesus Shoot?
Nail gun
Not my dean 
.... wait, did you say "bean"?
Some things cannot be unseen.
Yep
Why can't they just be normal?
This is what I want to know. I am a veteran, and I find it so bizarre to see lifelong civilians wearing knockoff versions of the shit I had to walk around wearing in Afghanistan. I don't want to put that stuff back on now that I don't have to wear it. Why would they want to do this? (That's rhetorical. I know it's all about trying to look like badasses when they aren't. But like you said, why can't they just be normal...) Edit: Yes I get it, military issued things are garbage and this is "much nicer". My point was mostly that these people look like idiots, and the brand, make, and model of the particular faux tactical items they are wearing does not change that.
It's dress up. Every time I see one of these clowns I just see the insecure male version of an E-girl. Stick some cat ears and an uWu face on the guy and it's about the same
The main difference there though is that an E-girl is no threat to me or my family, whereas this clown is if he were to decide that maybe we are too "woke".
Very true
If you've ever registered as a democrat, that'll be enough for them. I've heard some vile stuff being said about what they'd do to dems. And guess what's public knowledge tied to your name and physical address in most states. It would not surprise me in the least bit if this escalates from shooting people who walk by your driveway or house to specifically targeting people based on voting/registration records.
Wonder what his records look like. Sure he’s got some skeletons in his closet that will paint a much different picture than his little photo shoot.
That's a hilarious mental picture. Love it
It’s just weird all around. I can understand having the free income to want it, for whatever reason, just collectible interests, some super low odd “just in case” bit of kit to throw in a closet, whatever. But why wear the tacti-cool crap and pose for pictures? What’s the respectable explanation? Hell I know a guy who owns several dozen rifles and more (single and has a very high income, guns and gun smithing are pretty much his only hobbies.) And if you weren’t semi-close with him you would have absolutely zero idea. He’s normally wearing business casual and looks completely normal. Isn’t walking around open carrying with a big flag flying off the back of his car.
Its posturing. "Peacocking" if he is of the belief that this might attract a female that seeks protection (ironically from males that have low self-esteem such as himself). These are the first to offer "Thoughts and Prayers", but also the first to take up arms instead of relying on their Gawd to keep them safe. Deep down these guys know its Guns over God, and bet on that. To hell if it it makes all of us less safe.
Also as others have said, it’s literally just playing dress-up/cosplaying but in a form they deem acceptable and cool. They need a photo shoot to show of the fit and look to their other cosplay buddies
Because that's what ammosexuals do. We need to start calling them out and make them see how ridiculous they look. It's like a 12 year old thinking they look cool with a cigarette. It's just stupid.
I'd think that you'd not want to advertise your means of defence lest it become compromised in advance. Own it, use it, practice in it, and make sure it works - that's valid. The photograph it, exhibition it, identify with it is not only offputting but kind of counterproductive to maintaining the element of surprise or, really, your credibility. The only reason someone needs to know exactly what I own is so they can steal it; and that's not a very good reason to advertise, in my opinion.
Honestly, I play airsoft in my country, since actual firearms are kinda hard to get here. All I see here and other such pictures are the 18 year old kids posing with toys and gear to be cool. You meet these insecure guys at every event, bragging about badass gear and how cool they are. And I get it. We all wanna play cool warriors and heroes, instead of our normal life. Its fun to pretend. One of the reasons I play airsoft and like the game. This guy and us airsofters are both cosplayer if you break it down. The difference is that these are childish idiots with actual firepower to kill people and proably the same lack of discipline as the mentioned kids with BB-Guns.
I trust a child with a BB gun more than these people with a real gun.
They make velcro cat ears for helmets. https://www.weaponoutfitters.com/hardcore-tactics-nekomimi-helmet-ears-hook-and-loop-attachment.html
Purrfect for my nyactical lowoadout, nyobody on the fiewd is gonna be weady for this nya :3
*I had a fucking aneurysm*
God help me with the targeted ads I'm going to receive after clicking that link lol
So, an AR-boy. Feel free to spread that one out into the world.
They’ll probably think that’s a badass name and be proud of it
AR-boys, stand back and stand by!
Fucking facts. Is the equivalent of a discord e boy with an anime profile pic. Hell at least the e boy isn’t posting with a gun and instead just plays league all day
If you dress up in Military gear it's fine. If you put a wig on, you're indoctrinating the youth. Make it make sense.
At least I enjoy looking at E-girls. These guys? Nahhhh.
I always find the ones who say “oh the military rejected me” the funniest followed by “I can take a US Marine, soldier, or seal any day”
Oh yeah, or my personal favorites, the ones who are like, "Oh you were in the Army? I would have joined, but..." and somehow their intent at one point to consider joining the Army is supposed to give them some kind of street cred. It's odd and I wish I had a dollar for every time I've encountered people like that because it's a lot.
I hear that a lot too. I just reply with "but you didn't. Every single person has an excuse to not join. What separates us is those that did, and those that didn't". Usually rubs them the wrong way.
I always interrupt them. "Oh, you were in the Marines? I was going to join, but..." *"No you weren't"* "No really, I went to the recruiters and..." *"No you didn't"* "But..." *"But nothing. Stop cosplaying."*
Oh god, I love this. I got to this point exactly once and it was with a former coworker who was of the "I would have joined" and "my dad served in Vietnam just a few years before I was born so I'm basically a military brat", and "I have a stepdaughter who's enlisting in the Navy soon so I'm basically a veteran" persuasion. I listened to her bullshit for about 6 months, and then she stepped it up and would try to talk shit about what branch I served in. I was just like, "That's only funny coming from other veterans, Jennifer." She did the shocked Pikachu face, and stammered something about how she's part of the military community because \[insert bullshit here\]. I repeated, "That's only funny coming from other veterans, Jennifer. You're not a veteran. It's not funny coming from you." Then I was gatekeeping. I don't care, though. It got me out of listening to that shit for the rest of the time I worked there.
One of my coworkers was in the Navy so we talk (friendly) shit to each other all the time. Then one day a (non-veteran) supervisor from another department interrupted us to call me a "crayon eater". Guess who had to attend anti-discrimination and sensitivity training.
Prob because they have never been in combat. I feel if you wear this shit and buy this junk with your own dime you should automatically be enlisted in some patriot guard that we can use as cannon fodder for some arbitrary upcoming conflict. You know what most combat veterans everyday carry? A wallet, cell phone and maybe a pocket knife.
>You know what most combat veterans everyday carry? A wallet, cell phone and maybe a pocket knife. Think about the KEYS! You haven’t thought of the KEYS you BITCH! Now that that’s settled we can have a normal conversation. /s if it wasn’t obvious and if you aren’t a fan allow me to [introduce you.](https://youtube.com/shorts/oLPENOC8OCk?feature=share)
Leather doesnt smell even human leather. Its processed. think of the leather.
I'm a vet, and I carry, and I know several other vets who also carry
Exactly. I wore that crap for 5 years. You think I want to go to MOPP 4 anytime soon? All of it is uncomfortable as hell and looks ridiculous.
This. I’m not putting on camo or wearing body armor for the rest of my life. F that. But sometimes I’ll take the veterans parking spot at Lowes if the lot is pretty full.
Hell yeah, me too! Unless I'm not feeling like getting yelled at by some random old dude. (Women can't be veterans, you know.)
[удалено]
Oh yeah that's right! I forgot about that one. It totally goes along with this, too. I can't even count how many people who cosplay like this, and have told me I'm not a real veteran because I'm liberal and their grandfather, a \*real\* veteran who fought in a \*war\* would roll over in his grave if he heard me being such a disgrace. Um, genius, I'm a real veteran who fought in a war, too. We didn't stop having those just because we stopped having drafts to wage them...
Ha! Tell those old dudes to pound sand. The most professional and badass soldier I had the pleasure of serving with was a woman named Nancy.
I’ll admit it, no shame. Best one at combatives in my battalion was a female Bradley mechanic. That lady was fuckin terrifying.
Was she small, blonde, and named Ashley? If so, I dated her, and she was amazing.
👆 Anyone that’s actually served knows wearing that gear all day sucks. I chuckle every time I see one of these jackasses all dressed up for the look.
My wife is a veteran (enlisted). She is trans. Let me tell you how much that confuses conservatives and especially white male veterans. SO MUCH! She literally cannot spend any time with other veterans because they are so toxic and awful to be around. She struggles to get mental healthcare at the VA in our liberal city because being around other veterans is so painful. Her own cousin - also a veteran of the Navy - literally calls her by her deadname and says transphobic things about her to his mixed race children (one of whom is queer but he doesn't know it) because she was much more decorated for her service during her time in the military and because she ended up getting a bunch of awards during her time in a cush government job with the Navy as a civilian. He's just another mediocre midwestern white man who's mad his woke cousin got all the valor and he didn't. It's digusting. NGL, after being partnered with a veteran for half a decade, dunking on veteran's culture could be my stand up act. It's all participation trophies, yet they all think it's earned.
I just read your comment to my wife and she said, "It's cosplay."
They love playing pretend, why be an actual veteran when you spend some money to look the part and play pretend you're a veteran.
Fucking A, tell me about it. I spent years carrying that crap around the globe, and couldn't be any less interested in spending money on cosplaying in it. Completely mind blowing. It's good for two things: catching rounds, and causing back problems. I'm home. I shouldn't have to worry about catching rounds. And there are plenty of other ways to cause back problems at work. So....
I call these guys BDSCOs: big-dicked super cool operators. I say that facetiously, of course. Vet here too, and I have supported SOF on several tours. I know many from that community have gone on to throw their weight behind extremist movements in the US, but most would have the same attitude as you and me: I wore that gear with the intent of safety and security in a war zone against insurgent and terrorist actors; that shit doesn't belong here.
For all their bitching about cultural appropriation, they sure are keen to appropriate military culture, without embracing the suck that comes with it. What’s next? 2 MREs a day (to cope with their chronic IBS, of course), the post-service beard grow, and knife-handing anything vaguely bothersome? If this keeps up, we’ll be calling civilian “Butter Bar Fashionistas”, Jelly Rolls. Edit. Forgot the /s
*screams and loosens gun control measures*
I'm going with a mixture of ignorant fear, toxic masculinity, and, in the case of most Republican politicians, retention of power by fostering the previous two items.
These types look so fucking dorky in pics like this. They should be embarrassed but they don’t have the self-awareness for it
Republicans *pretend* to be a lot * cops * soldiers * empathetic * persecuted * competent leaders The fact that they’re just pretending about all these things is how they arrived at the projection that trans people are pretending to be their gender.
That's genius. The ultimate projection.
*Human
* not child molestors
Cosplaytriots
You forgot Christian.
Let's make that persecution one a reality.
I think you mean prosecution, not persecution. Persecution - to punish one for their beliefs Prosecution - to bring legal action for crimes committed
Either or. If your beliefs consist of racism, sexism, harming others, etc. You *should* be persecuted.
I don't think i've seen too many republicans bothering to act empathetic.
Christians.
Great comment! 👍
It’s all pageantry and delusion for these fucking morons.
It’s uncanny how many similarities evangelical conservatives have to extremist Middle East organizations. 1. An obsession with self militarization 2. Book banning & burning 3. A deep hatred/blame towards minorities and LGBT 4. Legislating against women’s rights and freedoms 5. A persistent fear of democracy 6. Child Labor 7. Child marriage 8. Flying flags from the back of their pickup Edit: added additional examples from comments
Y'all Qaeda are just terrorists born in the USA. They love violence, intimidation, and self-righteousness.
Don’t forget driving around in pickup trucks festooned with flags. So many flags.
* Vanilla ISIS * Yeehawdists * Talibangelicals * Y'allQaeda * IslamHicks * HamAss * Meal Team 6 * Gravy Seals * Irrational Guard * Cosplaytriots * Timid McVeighs * 101st Chairborne * The Coughedaracy * Flu Klux Klan * Coronazis * Klandemics * Covihads * O-Dunkin-30 * The ParaMealitary * Operation Dessert Storm * GI Doughs * Howdy Arabia * Walmartyrs * Hicksbollah * Yokel Haram * 'Murikahadeen * Spetznecks * Whisky Tango Foodtruck * Aloha Snackbar * OnlyKlans (Parler) * Al Qanon * Koup Klux Klan * MethamphetaMarines * Talibama/Al' Abama * Qcumbers * InchErectionists * FisherprISIS * Traitor Tots * Patridiots * Veteran: Normandy Beached, Cold Cuts War, Vietnaan and Dessert Storm * Alt-Reich * Talibanjo * Ameristani * Sons of Qur’anarchy * The Mayonnaise Militia * Q-cuks-klan * Antifact * Goutlaws * Coup Klutz Qlan * MAGA-hideen * Qanonsense * The Turd Reich * Fartilery * Methanised Infantile Division * The National Lard * The Green Beignets * GI Sloppy Joes * Delta Farce * The Secret Serving * Green Buffets * Balsamic jihad * Al-Q-da * Constipatriots * FriedSIS * Juice/Chew/Flu-saders * The Can’twalkqani Network * Covidiots * Salt Right * Marine Force Bacon * Confederacy of Dunces * Kold Kuts Klan * Taliklan * MidlifeIsis * Semper Fries * Delta Forks * Chowed Boys * Talibubba * Hogan's Zeroes * Cult 45 * Branch Covidians * Griller Warfare * Vietnom-nom-nom Veterans * Country Bombkins * Insulin Resistance * G.I. Jokes
Marrying kids also.
Here it comes yet again: "No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Happens Regularly" Are we not tired of this? I sure as fuck am. Now that I have your attention probably after seeing this post for hopefully multiple times I’d like to get something off my chest and personal soapbox today. Buckle up, "The first girl I walked up to was crouched down covering her head in the bushes, so I felt for a pulse, pulled her head to the side and she had no face." We live now in a country in which our children are randomly put to death in public, so that our congressmen can pose with weapons of war, by Right Wing Terrorists. We live in a country where the amount of stickers in the back of our lifted trucks equates to how many rounds of AR ammunition are stockpiled in our closet. We live now in a country where we ban books, where we ban drag shows, where we ban doctors from helping kids in crisis, where we ban women from making choices with their bodies. We ban people from voting because some don’t like how they might vote, we ban representatives from state legislators for how they have voted, we ban immigrants, we ban some stem cells, and we ban transgender athletes, we even ban water bottles on planes. BUT WE DO NOT BAN ASSAULT RIFLES (or assault-like or lite rifles as some ammosexuals like to point out) DO WE? Our children are randomly put to DEATH in public. Our Teachers, our friends. Our Family. Some of them just want to go and enjoy an afternoon at a mall together. Never to return. To protect somebody's right to randomly put another innocent person to death, once a month, once a week, once a day, once AN HOUR. Well since my last update, a 14-year-old was shot in the head. What did this child do? She was playing hide and seek. When it becomes unmistakably obvious with each death, a little piece of us dies inside, and within 10 years, or 1 year, or 1 month. The pain of that is too large to process, so we simply pretend that it doesn’t hurt anymore. We simply pretend that it doesn't hurt to think of the horror and the terror of those children and those adults in their final moments. We simply stop dealing with it. Or fighting back against it. Or recognizing that the gore and brains on the sidewalks outside the malls of this country and our streets might as well be our own. And it turns out the good guys with guns can’t stop it. And the responsible gun owners can’t stop it, and the politicians won’t stop it and insist that thoughts and prayers are working and if you disagree with them you are one of those who doesn’t believe in an almighty god who is absolutely in control of our lives? That translates insanely as the solution to all of these nightmares. God and we want the thirteen thousand nine hundred people shot to death in this country already this year? Did God want them dead? I say bullshit. Now we have news conferences, and without emotion, it’s read off the number put to death this TIME, and the number transported to the hospital and how badly they feel. Do you realize they now treat the public execution of more people, as if it was…BAD WEATHER? Gun massacres are not bad weather. So we ban licenses to carry handguns in Texas, give the ability for open carry all over the United States, and Ban mental health care by cutting the budgets. Ban abortion because we are pro-life, and ban books because the children are too precious to be indoctrinated, and ban drag shows because we must protect kids from grooming and we must make sure those kids are happy and fit so SOMEBODY CAN GET A WEAPON OF WAR AND EVERY OTHER DAY PUT GROUPS OF OUR CHILDREN TO DEATH. But at least those kids were not taught something as terrible as CRT. 80 percent believe in banning assault weapons. 80 PERCENT. 81 percent believe in raising the age to buy guns or at least keeping the age at 21. 81 percent believe in enforcing existing gun laws, and 87 percent want background checks for all gun purchases and these numbers are from 2 WEEKS AGO in a poll done by FOX NEWS. And yet non of this can pass our elected officials? BULLSHIT. It is time for a change. Spread how you feel far and wide. Copy this, put in your story (how many of us now have been personally affected or know someone at this point), and let your representatives and the whole goddamn Country know, the whole damn planet! NO MORE! So now to boost the signal on some actual honest to god things that could be done about this never-ending nightmare? For starters, the next generation is tired of this shit and is planning a sit-in at the capital on June 6th. Here is a relevant link: https://twitter.com/joncoopertweets/status/1655293349245452289 And also this goes without saying this group has some amazing ideas: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/ This website is dedicated to having the media stop reporting the perpetrator's names to prevent glorifying mass murderers https://nonotoriety.com The Gun Violence Archive is also a really useful source on shootings. Their statistics are highly accurate and they have an up-to-date list of all that occurred in the last 72 hours https://gunviolencearchive.org Some stats to back up this rant because Credible Hulk always comes angry and with sources. Guns deaths by state https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/gun-deaths-per-capita-by-state and just because it’s becoming increasingly relevant by the day Texas Mass Shootings Up 62.5 Percent Since Permitless Carry Bill https://www.reformaustin.org/public-safety/texas-mass-shootings-up-62-5-percent-since-permitless-carry-bill/ This WaPo article on the damage that an AR-15 does to a body is sobering but important reading. THE BLAST EFFECT | This is how bullets from an AR-15 blow the body apart https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2023/ar-15-damage-to-human-body/ And finally, Check out https://www.everytown.org/ They’re pushing to end gun violence. The more people who make their voices heard the bigger difference we can make. EDIT: It would seem that indeed some of them are not cowards and do have the guts to say what is really on their minds. Let's have a little look at one of the messages I received today... "You are a disgrace, a worthless mass of flesh that doesn't deserve to be called a human being. I hope your account is banned and your IP blocked. You are what is wrong with America. Please find a dark crevasse and fall in." WELL BOO HOO! (Also this goes without saying thanks for the random awards, I'm sending all of that karma back to others right away to show how tired we all are of this. So please boost those as well. I'm also banned in a few conservative and gun subreddits for some strange reason so feel free to take this and use it however you so feel. This goes for Twitter, Facebook, and others as I won't set foot in that cesspool of social media. PLEASE BOOST THE SIGNAL) The messages will REPEAT AD INFINITUM until something is done.
This thing has ballooned to epic proportions and I am here for it.
I think only a few days ago, the original copy pasta was just 3-4 lines of text....it's exploded
I've gotten angrier for sure. But what's also happened since then is all the private messages of people affected by shootings (and a few hateful ones but not many anymore). Their stories have motived me to just keep going, and the suggestions and links people give me just influence it even more. That and the fact that there have been more shootings since this started. If you have suggestions, or links, or just want to share something. Don't hesitate. And please, if you want. Copy this, make it your own, spread the message (please be factual, as triggersexuals LOVE to argue about semantics). The best thing I saw was waking up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water and browsing posts for a few minutes, and seeing others taking up the fight. LET'S FUCKING GO!
Did you catch Jon Stewart’s interview with the Oklahoma congressman? He talked about how guns are now the biggest threat to children. Idiot in a suit didn’t even flinch, just let himself look like a clown and then went back to pushing bullshit talking points on other outlets. We need political reform badly, system is broke.
Good luck and all the best. I'm not American and my country doesn't allow guns, our last mass shooting was like 30 years ago. ITS THE GUNS
If you want to add to resources @emilyinyourphone on Instagram shares scripts and resources for calling reps and has a campaign going for mothers to ask for their loved ones to call their reps to keep their children safe instead of getting them flowers for Mother’s Day. (Please ignore the lack of finesse in my explanation but it’s a good actionable campaign)
I will be adding that to the next version/ revision. Thank you and let's keep it up!!!
Thank you so much for sharing about the capitol sit in. I will be there.
13,900 gun deaths in less than 6 months. 13,900. That figure is beyond shocking. 200+ mass shootings. 490+ Teens 80+ Children LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. I wish I could quote the exact figures, I hate to use such loose data when speaking about actual human lives, but those fuckers just keep shooting. Anything 2 hours old is out of date.
What blows my mind is that children are the number one concern of a lot of conservatives. Not even politicians but conservatives have this obsession with having children and taking care of children and raising children and…et al. However despite this concern, it’s not raised as a point of “why are we not looking for solutions that resolve the problem”, it’s raised as a “what can we do to protect the children”. My old man didn’t give me adderall as a child because it doesn’t resolve my adhd, it just temporarily fixes it. He didn’t see the point in spending time and money on something that doesn’t resolve the issue. Granted as I’ve gotten older I have my coping mechanisms, however, if this 71 year old man could recognize that (in his late 40’s) then why can’t others see it too? That we need to resolve the problem at the source, not put a band aid on it and hope it fixes itself
Yeah, ironic that the US is renowned for SCHOOL shootings when they care so much about the kids. The biggest issue I see is how to get 400 million guns out of the hands of civilians. Yes, 400 million guns owned by private citizens. Oh and only around a third of Americans own guns. I bet your Dad could come up with a better plan than your government.....
It ain't much, but it's honest work. You go, dude!
Maybe we shouldn’t talk about gun control, the last mass shooting probably happened hours ago, it’s too recent. Thoughts and prayers -average republican
Thank you for your post. I’m with you! I’m so tired of “thoughts and prayers” from politicians followed by absolutely nothing more than head shakes and finger pointing. WTAF?!? I can’t believe we actually pay these people to work for us! If I didn’t listen and follow through on what was expected of me at my job, I’d have been fired a long time ago as most people would! Time for term limits and a shake up!
conservatives desperately need to read this, but will not do so. in regards to the second amendment someone literally said to me "The best part is that I don’t need an argument" and to me that perfectly encapsulates that conservative point of view on the matter.
I love how this message gets longer and longer!
I hate how this message gets longer and longer. 😢
Always upvote.
For the people that wouldn't read the whole thing, here I had chatGPT make the comment a bit shorter and easier to spread. "No Way To Prevent This" - a phrase we hear all too often. We're fed up, and it's time for change. Our children, teachers, friends, and family are put to death in public, and we're numb to the pain. We ban books, drag shows, and choices for women, but assault rifles? Not a chance. And thoughts and prayers won't solve this crisis. Over 13,900 people have been shot to death this year alone. It's time to make our voices heard and demand action from our representatives. 80% of Americans support banning assault weapons, yet nothing changes. We refuse to accept this as our reality. Join the next generation fighting for change at the capital on June 6th: https://twitter.com/joncoopertweets/status/1655293349245452289 Support organizations working tirelessly to end gun violence, like: - Sandy Hook Promise: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/ - No Notoriety: https://nonotoriety.com - Gun Violence Archive: https://gunviolencearchive.org - Everytown: https://www.everytown.org/ Together, we can make a difference. Share this message, let your representatives know that we demand change, and join the movement to end this nightmare once and for all. #NoMore (P.S. To the haters, your negativity won't stop us from pushing for change. We'll keep fighting for a safer future.)
Goddamnit, YES! I’m am here for this 100%. Fed up. Protect our kids. Thank you for adding a little fuel to the fire that’s been under my ass for a while now!
To highlight how bad it is, let us not forget all the people leaving the US for a short stay and being looked at like a crazy person when they panic at the sound of fireworks, a car backfiring, any sudden popping noise. I left before it got really bad and was never in a bad neighborhood, and yet I would always consider 'guns' as a possibility for a noise I heard. Ridiculous that it's gotten to this point.
Love your posts my friend keep them coming I’ve been spending a lot of time perusing these websites. I’m also linking them as much as I can and sending to friends and family so they can see what’s actually going on. Just one issue, Is there a non paywall version of the wapo article showing damage done from the AR-15? If not, no worries, you’ve done more than enough already my dude.
We need leaders willing to play tough to actually do something about this... it's time we cut funding at to all red states from the Federal level until they comply with regulations.. they can try to rule as a minority. But there should be consequences which means the end of all funding and let's see how they respond then. Unfortunately Dem leaders are weak and sold out too and won't do what is necessary even as they whine about something needing to be done.
These fuckers are all just a bunch of cosplayers, pretending to be bad asses...
In my country we call them Walts, after Walter Mitty.
Cosplaytriot
What a dork.
Another Republican Poser.
I'd say stolen valor but it looks like he has a GI Joe dragonfly patch on his vest.
Dean at a bible college is to ump in a church softball league. Manufactured power. Lol is there any part of your personality that isn't branded and sold to you?
If his skin was darker and he'd been some kind of cloth headgear he'd be arrested or shot on the spot for being an Islamic fundamentalist terrorist. Oh but he's the Dean of a Bible school, not a madrassa, so he's one of the good guys. I hate this. It makes me so angry. I'm not even American. Religious fundamentalists all suck!
/RepublicansLiketoFuckChildren /RepublicansAreRacistsHomophobes /RepublicansHateThemselves /RepublicansAreCowards /RepublicansScrewThePoorandDumb /RepublicansDon'tCareIfYourChildIs ShotAndKilled
The GOP is a terrorist organization
If he was dean of a Missouri bible college, he is a "veteran" - at BS, at conning old people out of their life savigs, at luring young people to waste time and money on an utterly fake degree, at covering up se*ual abuse, at deflection, at misogyny, at racism....
Something something underwater basket weaving…
https://preview.redd.it/zvljikzl2vya1.jpeg?width=890&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9ce31e79d1b182c67783e17ef67512a6aa07c1df His most recent tweet
It's pretty funny that a conservative is claiming the people he doesn't like are claiming victimhood since a persecution complex is an essential part of being a conservative.
For real. Thats why its scary as fuck. This is fascist propaganda 101
please tell me that's not a SAW he's posing with
It’s a SAW with a collapsible stock and silencer.
Silencer. Good. This builds upon the already stealthy nature of squad weapons.
He's going to need a new suppressor about 1/3 of the way through that drum. On the bright side he can use it to barbecue.
I chuckled and thought to myself, “Bro, people wouldn’t even put a silencer on a SAW in Call of Duty.” He’s out here posing with it like it was his service weapon.🤡
It's likely a semi version which is nothing out of the ordinary
Cool Jesus dispenser Bro
Welcome to Bible College you homeschooled pussy motherfuckers. Time to get biblical. -Ben Baker-
I present Republican drag performer. Self hate wanking to queer porn is the most combat this guy has been in.
Yet in the next breath he’ll say some shit about Jesus. The religious part of these people is just a cover so they can fake some moral high ground when they’re actually piece of shit humans
the state of christianity in the US today is terrifying. there’s no bible college or seminary school in the UK that would find this even remotely acceptable.
How does anyone take this clown seriously? Is he a very armed and dangerous clown, yes. But who looks at him and thinks "yeah that's a cool guy I want making important decisions" and not "wow that's a huge dork cosplaying as what he thinks a badass looks like"?
The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a vote.
Bunch of cosplaying pussies. Truly.
How is having a plate carrier an issue? I'm liberal as fuck and wear my IIIA to pride parades...
https://preview.redd.it/m2k4q92fiuya1.jpeg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0fbffc2ac71ee6b714289b4b5bbb6cc9d6d7fab6
Box mag is a nice touch. I bet he packs his lunch in there. "No crusts mommy! uWu"
These dudes are so weird to me. I remember waiting for a flight a few months ago and at the terminal there were 3 dudes that looked generally douchey like this. They wore the typical grunt style shirts and carried tacticool ruck backpacks. When they made the call for military personnel, no one budged. I'm pretty convinced that it's just cosplay/stolen valor for the sake of getting undue respect and attention.
[удалено]
Not to condone this cringy y’allqeada larp, but machine gun suppressors are useful for flash suppression, recoil mitigation, and hearing protection. They aren’t meant to be “silent”. The Army’s new XM-250 machine gun comes standard with a suppressor. Edit. A word.
Man I greatly dislike posers. While it's not stolen valor it definitely gives wannabe jan 6th vibes.
Of course he’s a Missouri elected official. As if the rest of our people in office aren’t embarrassing enough. I swear, there are more than 5 actual people with brains in Missouri. We just get out voted by the dim witted yokels because land has more power than people…
It is so wild that guns have actually replaced God as the leading emblem for a sizable swath of the Christian white, I mean right. Jesus would have nothing to do with this overwrought, unnecessary and just goofy nonsense.
Most of these gun toting clowns aren’t veterans.
He's no veterean, he's a frag queen.
Republicans, they want all the cred of having served in the military, without actually having to serve in the military. At the same time, they also want to cut as much spending on vets as possible. Fucking traitors. The entire GOP.
These folks think saying "Thank you for your service" means they too were in the military. My old boss was a huge draft dodging pot smoking hippy upon high school graduation. He and his brother were amassing supplies and buying camping gear as their plan was to escape to Canada if either of them were drafted. It was 1971 and Vietnam was calling us 19 year olds. It took about 40 years and he turned into the biggest right wing nut job you have seen. Trump flags, Obama hating, bullshit. About 15 years ago his lifetime of being a shitty businessman and trying to screw over everyone he dealt with was wearing on him. His solution was not to change his business practices, or try to learn from his mistakes. He started going to the Baptist Church. Still the same crook, still lying to customers, still cheating the IRS, still borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. He became religious undoubtedly to sooth his beleaguered soul and get God to help him be better at screwing over those customers. If you debate him, regardless of tax rates for business, he will tell you the reason he votes Republican is that "god damn democrats are tax thieves!" He was taught this, of course, by his own actions as he was a notorious tax cheat and got caught more than once. Therefore the IRS was the enemy and it was all democrats fault. Never did it enter his mind that his problems were the result of his own actions. He was the victim. His woes were somebody else's fault. Anyway, my point. This guy buys up anything remotely military related at those NRA fundraisers, raises Old Glory on a flagpole outside his business daily, and thanks every single person that he perceives may be a veteran or active duty anywhere he goes. I went on business trips with him and the guy will go out of his way and walk 200 feet to catch up to a guy in fatigues to say "thank you for your service." Most actual vets seem a bit uncomfortable when this guy approaches looking like a toddler wanting to get an autograph. Glorifying the warrior to soothe his conscience, perhaps? But I think more likely is that he walks the walk and talks the talk he believes makes him a "good Republican" regardless of the damage done by the folks he votes for. The man still uses Reagan's "welfare queens" and "tax and spend democrats" in conversation on a regular basis. And I assume there are millions more just like him that comprise that blind faith voting base of the GOP.
If the US military were to be unleashed against these pretenders, most of them would shit themselves and surrender immediately. Terrorism comes in two flavors - foreign and domestic.
What was his message supposed to be here ? Guns? America? I was too scared to enlist but now that it’s too late I’m not ?
Couldn't wait to play dress up!
Hells yeah nice kit bro, hope you enjoy it!-a vet
Is he going to shoot up the Bud Light with that big scary gun?
Bible school has changed
Hormone Replacement Therapy carrier?
Cos play tough guy and fake Christian.
Member when mid-life crises were motorcycles, mistresses, and Porsches? And, *ulp* wine-coolers… Bartles and James remember. 
I'm going to get a lightsaber and dress like a Jedi. Means I'm an actual Jedi, right?
Army vet here. We look at these guys and can’t come up with the emotion to cringe. It’s… I dunno. Pathetic? Is that the word?
Why does it matter if he was or wasn't? It's his right to own and wear armor if he wants. Also the HRT RAC doesn't cost $450, it's only $299.
I think the funniest thing about these guys is they all have beards because it’s “manly”, but they only find it “manly” because special forces has been doing it for 20 years to help blend into Middle East cultures because facial hair are socially important. Now all these American far right have adopted the beliefs from countries like Iraq and Afghanistan that facial hair is a pillar to masculinity. Kind of ironic given their hatred for brown people.
He doesn't care. His voters don't care. The entire party does not care how any of this is perceived. They are playing fantasy and they keep getting elected because of the small portion of people who actually vote, somewhere around half of them are stupid enough to think this helps make them a good leader.
I am a veteran, he is a disgrace to all military and this country.
Seems like American has been taken over by a Christian Tailban.
American Taliban