The dumbing of America started in the 60's, and continues to this day. Problem is, the dumbing has been supercharged over the last ten years. Anyone with common sense will KNOW that is a bad, BAD problem.
I'd like to invite him to come to Hooters next time you're in FL. After that, maybe we can talk him into going deep sea fishing. I have a 23' Mako, and would LOVE to see how well he swims.
And they wonder where those feet that washed up on the shore in tennis shoes in the North West came from. Max, do you ever get up to the North West?
What risk does the public perceive? Do they perceive the actual risk of being "slaughtered" by a mass murderer with a gun? Or does the public perceive the fantasy risk perpetrated by agenda-driven politicians and their hysterical accomplices (also known as the mainstream media)? I believe it's more rational to make choices based upon the actual risk. Science and math make sense to me. Hysteria does not. The fact remains, you're 2.6 more likely to get hit by lightning than you are to be "slaughtered" by a mass murderer with a gun.
You're right the media is responsible for this gross misconception. It's been estimated, back in 1997 no less, that legal responsible gun owners foil 2.5 MILLION crimes a year here in the US. Most without ever firing a shot. When they do shoot they are over 5 times LESS likely to hit an innocent bystander than when the supposed highly "trained" police start shooting. Those stats alone should be enough to squash the anti gun lobby's lies myths and rhetoric. The anti gun pussies need to attend math 101. Simply, it makes no sense whatsoever to sacrifice many to save only a very few.
The change is rather subtle to most people. Just as there is no such thing as states's rights in legislation there is no such thing in the executive branch either. The militarization of the police is a consequence of the intertwining of and subordination of local police forces and sheriff's to federal control. Liberals worship absolute centralized gubbermint power without restraint both legislative and executive (police, domestic forces). Funny they only tolerate the Constitutionally mandated(federal) Armed forces for humanitarian interventions/missions vs literal armed defense. this explains why liberals worship cops now: It's because they see them as the enforcers of their "right to rule" us common folk. yeah I know I may piss off some good LE folks out there but the truth is cops can no longer be assumed to be the GOOD guys in ANY encounter. The question you have to ask yourself: Is this officer here to protect me, my property and my rights or is he here to enforce obedience to the whims of big brother and the oligarchs in dc making it up as they go along.