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 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.
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…
Oh the problem is DEFINITELY cultural. My beef isnt with the idea of gun control its with people saying “Just ban them” like theres anything simple about it.
A buyback of 393 million firearms if everyone lined up and handed them in in an orderly and peaceful fashion likely costing at minimum half a trillion dollars is just a starting point. Thats assuming 100% of the population, lawmakers, lobbyists and the entire firearms industry just goes “Awwwwww… Okaaaaay” like a 5yo who has just been told its time to stop playing and come in for dinner.
Im not American, I’m Australian. I have problems with anyone that wants to run around screaming for solutions that are impossible to implement. It might come from a good place but its just virtue signalling. That goes for people on both sides of any argument, the only thing it does is detracts from any meaningful dialogue on actual solutions.
The gun problem in the U.S is way more cultural than financial, but even if you take all the culture and set it aside like it isnt the core of the issue even the basic numbers of doing a buyback and compensating every person and industry now out of work becomes an insane number very quickly.
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.
I have come across a lot’s of people like these. like 99% of them. Sometimes it makes me think twice if what i am saying is wrong? What’s wrong with them. Is it so hard to swallow your pride and acknowledge that the other person is speaking facts? When they come to know they are wrong they proceed to insult/make fun of...
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’m in a situation with my manager who is suggesting that clock-in starts when the employee arrives to the site of work. Effectively saying that everyone should be coming in 15 minutes earlier than their start time....
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.
Its honestly not a bad idea. When Sails fell out of fashion, canvas was the height of technology, nobody gave a fuck about emisions and tanker fuel was cheap AF.
If the owners of tanker/container fleets can see a $20,000 reduction a year in fuel costs by fitting a modern well designed $10,000 sail that costs $5000 a year to maintain. They will.
If multinational trillion dollar industries can find ways to save money AND go green at the same time. Good.
The managers offices have windows that look out onto the main floor, I’m a training officer and sometime supervisor so although I look in the windows before I go in I’m generally “read in” on anything going on so If the doors closed I dont pay it much mind unless the boss is having a closed door with a staff member....
He was pissed but the other supervisors laughing “You told him to knock!” took the wind out of his sails. He stormed off but ultimately just let it go.
He knew he had been a dick and that I either got him back intentionally or karma did.
Starting to feel crushed by the weight of the world, riddled with guilt and disappointment in myself over my choices. Nothing I can do about the past though....
Well when positive thinking and taking stock of my achievements and thinking about how far ive come doesnt work.
I order way too much pizza, buy just enough alcohol to get somewhat drunk but not so much ill get wasted and maudlin and I watch the shitty 90s comedies I loved as a teenager.
Non-religious Republicans of Lemmy, how do you reconcile your non-religious convictions with a party that bases a lot of its policies on religion?
E.g. abortion rights, anti-LGBTQ, contempt for atheism, Christian nationalism, etc.
To all the people complaining about content on Lemmy (lemmy.zip)
I feel like his character's catchphrase would be irritating (startrek.website)
Why do most people refuse to accept that they are wrong
I have come across a lot’s of people like these. like 99% of them. Sometimes it makes me think twice if what i am saying is wrong? What’s wrong with them. Is it so hard to swallow your pride and acknowledge that the other person is speaking facts? When they come to know they are wrong they proceed to insult/make fun of...
Getting spoiled by big budgets and CG can ruin your palate. (lemmy.world)
And don’t get me started on modern conveniences.
Mandatory security check followed by a long travel to area of work. When do you clock in?
I’m in a situation with my manager who is suggesting that clock-in starts when the employee arrives to the site of work. Effectively saying that everyone should be coming in 15 minutes earlier than their start time....
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Hold my beer - Bungie (lemmy.zip)
Garfeld and Ron [OC] (iili.io)
Out of sight, out of mind [ADHDinos] (startrek.website)
ADHDinos Source Links:...
China shop 2024 (lemmings.world)
Amazing Project Could Reduce Stops at Red Traffic Lights by 30% (www.sciencealert.com)
Ep. 925 - Minority Report - Safely Endangered Comics (lemmy.ca)
Source: www.webtoons.com/en/comedy/…/viewer?title_no=352&…
Financial Instruments (www.threepanelsoul.com)
Source: Three Panel Soul
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What say ye? (i.imgur.com)
Giant kites could pull ships across the ocean – and slash their carbon emissions (www.cnn.com)
Knock Knock. (Short story)
The managers offices have windows that look out onto the main floor, I’m a training officer and sometime supervisor so although I look in the windows before I go in I’m generally “read in” on anything going on so If the doors closed I dont pay it much mind unless the boss is having a closed door with a staff member....
How do you cheer yourself up after a rough day? Or a rough year?
Starting to feel crushed by the weight of the world, riddled with guilt and disappointment in myself over my choices. Nothing I can do about the past though....