Like I said, Ive broken down the numbers much more comprehensively before and it always results in arguments that I cant be fucked getting involved in on social media, last time I did it it was effectively a research paper. Its napkin math but you’re right, the U.S COULD afford it hypothetically, but it would take a literally unbelievable culture shift in the way 100% of the country sees guns to make it possible.
To get what I think I estimated out to 1.5 trillion over 5 years out of a federal government that cant agree on budgets to pay federal workers for a policy that effectively 50% of the population will be highly opposed to and many will actively and violently resist…
I think for a lot of people its very similar to religion.
If you grew up in the church, the priest/pastor was a nice guy, church events were very central to the community, he spoke at Nannas funeral. You might not be religious but the broader concerns about “the church” ring a lot more hollow because you have seen the positive side.
If you grew up somewhere that was very republican and your local and state reps did the meat and potatoes of their jobs well, why would you have anything against them? Your community was nice, nobody was racist or homophobic (that you noticed), the schools were funded, people had jobs. You have seen with your own eyes that Republicans arent evil.
You’re pretty much right. The big difference is that gun ownership in Australia was never widespread. America literally CANNOT afford to do a buyback.
I’ve broken down the numbers here and on Reddit before and I always get downvoted to hell and back so I cant be fucked. But if every last American just gave their guns back, at an average buyback price of $1000 per gun you’re looking at 332 Billion dollars. Thats before you add the other costs like collection, destruction and disposal.
Not even coming close to mentioning the costs involved in handling the “Cold dead hands” crowd, the preppers, the militias and the illegal unregistered firearms.
Aaaaand the destruction of a vast multi billion dollar a year peripheral industry of shooting ranges, gun stores, accessory manufacturers, ammunition manufacturers.
In short, while America needs to do SOMETHING the “Just ban guns” crowd are infuriating in their naivety.
I’ve never even heard of it. Me and my friends have been too busy bathing off the southern coast of St Barts with spider monkeys for the last 2 weeks. Tripping on acid changed our whole perspective on shit.
It cant help that especially online it seems incredibly rare for someone to point out that you are wrong politely, gently and informatively. Who wants to admit they are wrong to someone who informs you via “OMG you dumb fuck…”
I have a friend who works at a chain fast food restaraunt in an airport. Employees at the airport locations get $2 an hour more than regular stores to compensate for the “off the clock mandatory site requirements”
Any journalist with credibility vets their sources. “Per a source” is pretty much shorthand for “Someone who we have verified works at Bungie and we believe is in a reasonable position to know this information” so even if it turns out to be false its very hard to sue because they printed what they beleived to be true at the time and did basic due diligence to check it wasnt made up bullshit. Otherwise they use much more evasive and broad language.
I spend a whole weekend being a good dad to a 3yo.
Mondays I go back to work where everyone has reasonable expectations and boundaries. Theres a HR department if they dont and I get half an hour to leave for lunch.
This is one thing that people who dont own forget. Shit breaks. Thats why the bank will refuse you a $2400 a month mortgage when your paying $3200 in rent. In the middle of winter when the hot water heater shits the bed, you will miss a payment to fix it. What about next month when the cars transmission explodes? Thats why banks need you to prove so hard you can cover a mortgage.
You are losing money long term for convenience and freedom and thats fine so long as you’re aware thats what you’re doing.