Thirteen Mass Shootings a Week in the USA

         PHOTO CREDIT: Collin Lloyd, Unsplash

600 mass shootings in the USA so far this year.   That number means at least 4 people at any of the 600 shootings were shot - excluding the shooter.   While this story focuses on an LGBTQ+ club,  in a largely progressive and what some might call a forward moving state - the one liner in this CNN story that is telling: "according to data from the Gun Violence Archive, there have been more than 600 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, defined as an incident in which at least four people are shot, excluding the shooter." Here is a bit of math to look at the numbers a bit more micro like.   

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We are at 46 weeks of the year having past,  as of 11.20.22.  600 (mass shootings - and really it's more) divided by 46 weeks is 13(+) shootings.  

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Look at that number: 13 mass shootings a week in the USA with 4 people shot each time,  excluding the shooter.  More micro centered math...

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13 (weekly mass shootings so far this year) multiplied by 4 people each equals a bit more than 52 people a week shot (not counting the shooters).  

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Today in the USA we have more than 52 people a week shot in mass shootings.

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This number also does not include any other shootings.   And this number does not include how many lived and how many passed away.   And again,  it excludes the shooters themselves. 

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/20/us/colorado-springs-shooting-gay-nightclub

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Lottos and Elections Break All-Time Records: Where's the Change?

                PHOTO CREDIT: JustMe!

Old news in how we act... but this time we broke two records with some old behaivors. It's worth a re-think though.  Americans buy lotto tickets with hope for themselves.  We broke a global record with PowerBall 2022 in just 3 months - 1.6 billion dollars in the pot!  2022 midterm elections spending broke a US all time record too - 16.7 billion dollars! The politicians have some hope for themselves it seems.  What if the voters went to the polls with hope, like they do the lotto?  And what if politicians raised money for the people the way they do for their elections?  Sure, the lotto is predictable - it's a government program that works as promised.  So the people go.  And political promises are predictable too - very few come true.  In history, and maybe more now than ever, most political promises get tied up in the courts: the Executive Branch, the Judicial Branch, and the Legislative Branch are locked in legal wrangling in 2022 potentially more than in prior times.  These 3 branches, ironically called "checks and balances", are dropping miilions and millions for maybe 6 plus years and running - where more dollars are just disappearing.  Here's an alternative thought about real "change": 1) Vote like you play the lotto (unless your conscience or your faith do not permit them), 2) Raise money for the people the way you do to run for office, 3) stop the duplicated court hearings and the re-appeals of the former appeals and settle your hate in your living rooms or your offices, 4) Put all of that wasted money into programs for people who need it and 5) If you can afford it and your moral code agrees buy a $2 chance at hope which seems to really work - get a friggin' powerball ticket.  PS (couldn't resist): Take note of the photo credit too (it kind of fits the topic you know?).

Prefer some snarky audio about this stuff?  Perfect!  Here's a podcast about the old news and world breaking records in duplicated patterns. And it's an alternative in some Random Thoughts From a Therapist!