The U.S. leads in gun deaths and gun ownership

Time to put an end to this

Although mass shootings are not unique to the U.S., the country has the highest rate of gun deaths among rich countries—more than eight times higher than Canada and nearly 100 times higher than the U.K. https://t.co/F2VTxieBoz
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) May 27, 2022

A study of 29 countries found that the U.S. accounted for almost 97% of *all* firearm deaths among kids 4 years old or younger.

One main factor in the staggering death toll: the nearly 400 million civilian-owned guns in the U.S.https://t.co/QadAaP9JGr
— NPR (@NPR) May 28, 2022

The U.S. "has 120 firearms per 100 people — more than twice as many per capita than war-torn Yemen, the next highest country on the list."@AlexanderSmith reports for @NBCNews

Texas school shooting latest reminder U.S. is global outlier on guns https://t.co/DcB2fQTHeM
— Joy Y. Wang (@joyywang) May 25, 2022

Every single policy decision has trade-offs. What Republicans have decided, even if they won't say it out loud, is that dead kids are an unfortunate but acceptable trade-off to unregulated gun access. My latest: https://t.co/CrY7kAcxSX
— Tyler Dinucci!! (@TylerDinucci) May 27, 2022

People I respect are saying that most or many Americans want such easy, unregulated access to high-powered weapons that they are willing to tolerate repeated killings in schools. I wonder. Are we really that different from other countries? https://t.co/CXCRyVrDLr
— Reed Hundt (@rehundt) May 27, 2022

At the time of Sandy Hook the rate was “only” ~88 guns per 100 residents in the US; now it’s 121 per 100 residents. https://t.co/4XDz88ZOJE
— Tony Fratto (@TonyFratto) May 29, 2022

A Land Without Guns: How Japan Virtually Eliminated Shooting Deaths https://t.co/3zGoXdpWzG
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) May 25, 2022

The only variable that can explain the high rate of mass shootings in America is its astronomical number of guns. https://t.co/yppvN7CAHW
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) March 17, 2021

It's the guns. pic.twitter.com/AzTZEe88TB
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 26, 2022

I love how Americans are like “gun reform won’t work” and everybody around the globe are just commenting how gun reform helped their countries.

This is an interesting stat I’ve seen posted today. pic.twitter.com/DbABxV6lEL
— $MICK (@ilovesmick) May 25, 2022

It's the guns. pic.twitter.com/csWiIPNlbE
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) June 12, 2022

Covers: Walk a Mile in My Shoes

“Walk a Mile in My Shoes” was a 1970 hit for Joe South. The Lake Street Dive version is in an Ad Council TV ad. One of the covers is by the People’s Temple Choir!

Ban the AR-15

You don’t need assault weapons for hunting or defending your home.

Buffalo: AR-15
Boulder: AR-15
Orlando: AR-15
Parkland: AR-15
Las Vegas: AR-15
Aurora, CO: AR-15
Sandy Hook: AR-15
Waffle House: AR-15
San Bernardino: AR-15
Midland/Odessa: AR-15
Poway synagogue: AR-15
Sutherland Springs: AR-15
Tree of Life Synagogue: AR-15

From @adamcbest
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) May 16, 2022

Our Sunday Review cover this week: pic.twitter.com/T0skM9XicL
— New York Times Opinion (@nytopinion) May 29, 2022

"Authoritarian forces in this country view the AR-15 as a central organizing symbol."

I had a harrowing interview with former gun company exec @ryandbusse about the gun industry's radicalization and the cultural shifts creating our heavily armed society:https://t.co/P9DcPA9WlR
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) May 31, 2022

This piece was written four years ago.

Including the Army field reports of the ghastly, massive wounds created on the battlefield by the AR-15 is brilliant journalism.https://t.co/Fc9GHlMFac
— Nicolas Falacci (@NickFalacci) May 28, 2022

Unfortunately — there is already an enormous volume of AR-15 style rifles in the US. Possibly 10 million. (And they’re selling even more right now b/c of the talk centering on gun control and bans.)

Which means — similar to Australia — we’ll need a national buy back program. https://t.co/MKuvM2mW8v
— Nicolas Falacci (@NickFalacci) May 28, 2022

“Before the assault weapons ban went into effect in 1994, there were about 400,000 AR-15 style rifles in America. Today, there are 20 million.” Jaw dropping figure from @ZushaElinson, who is writing a book on the country’s best selling rifle.
— Bianna Golodryga (@biannagolodryga) May 26, 2022

Should have added that 2004 was when assault weapon ban ended. This isn't rocket science. https://t.co/XxIfKZ4twG
— Edward Luce (@EdwardGLuce) May 26, 2022

why is action unlikely?

in 1993, 10 of 43 Senate Rs backed a ban on assault weapons

it became law. a decade later, Congress let it expire

in 2013, after Newtown, Joe Manchin negotiated a modest background check bill w/Pat Toomey

just 4 of 45 Senate Rs voted yes

it died
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) May 25, 2022

It shouldn't matter what age you are. No one needs an AR-15 or any other assault weapon designed to massacre people. When we had an assault weapons ban from 1994-2004, mass shootings went down 43%. After it expired, mass shootings tripled. End the filibuster. Ban assault weapons.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 27, 2022

the assault weapons ban worked pic.twitter.com/8uqnzkcUx3
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 5, 2022

Don’t forget about the Buffalo mass shooting

The Uvalde mass shooting is terrible but let’s not forget the Buffalo mass shooting that also was recent.

It's been 2 weeks since the #BuffaloMassacre where 10 Black men & women were murdered by a self-proclaimed racist.

“I am so afraid that this story’s going to die,” Della Miller said. “Don’t forget about us. Please don’t.”https://t.co/N35KMtvogJ
— Christina Carrega (@ChrisCarrega) May 28, 2022

Ten Black residents of Buffalo were killed in a racist attack. But 10 days later, another mass shooting erupted in Uvalde.

Many moved on. It’s hard not to.

But Buffalo families continue to grieve. We spent time with one. To learn just how much was taken.https://t.co/uSCjzIAqr4
— Troy Closson (@troy_closson) May 28, 2022

As we learn the shocking truth about Ulvade, do lift up the name of Aaron Salter, Jr., a true hero whose willingness to fight in the face of possible death no doubt saved lives. Do not forget. https://t.co/QVTs9Jr7A0
— Kimberlé Crenshaw (@sandylocks) May 28, 2022

This visual tribute is dedicated to the victims of the mass shooting and murders in Buffalo. Honor them. pic.twitter.com/hPpJl54NEc
— Jen White-Johnson 🗣✊🏽 (@jtknoxroxs) May 17, 2022

Residents on the eastside of Buffalo say they view the Tops Friendly Market massacre as an inflection point to exposing and fixing the many deficits in the city’s Black community. – @NBCBLK https://t.co/QuIspGE3on
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 28, 2022

Vice Pres. Kamala Harris at the funeral of Buffalo shooting victim: "This is a moment that requires all good people…to stand up and say we will not stand for this. Enough is enough. We will come together based on what we all know we have in common." https://t.co/q0nauBhuB3 pic.twitter.com/7Jdv12w6v0
— ABC News (@ABC) May 28, 2022

Covers: Girls Just Want to Have Fun

“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” was a hit for Cyndi Lauper in 1983. I learned today that it was a cover of a 1979 song by Robert Hazard.

Covers: Kitty/Mickey

This article inspired me to post about “Mickey” (1982). Good for Toni Basil. The original version by Racey was known as “Kitty” (1979).

Toni Basil gets her 'Mickey' acclaim — and copyright — 40 years later: 'I really thought I should put my foot down and receive money for it' https://t.co/rnlTowLh0W
— Brian Ray (@brianrayguitar) May 26, 2022

Inspired by “Mickey”

Covers: Sun Brimmer’s Blues

This 1972 Memphis Jug Band song was performed live by Tuba Skinny in 2022 on the YouTube video. Memphis Jug Band leader Will Shade was also known as Son Brimmer or Sun Brimmer.

Covers: House of the Rising Sun

“House of the Rising Sun” is best known from the 1964 version by the Animals but it goes back to old English folk songs. The earliest US version (as “Rising Sun Blues”) is from 1933 by Clarence Ashley and Gwen Foster.

Bob Dylan’s “House of the Rising Sun”: The Spark that Led to His Electric Revolution

“There’s a galaxy of difference between a musket and an AR-15”

“There’s a galaxy of difference between a musket and an AR-15. It’s time to remove these instruments of mass murder from the marketplace once and for all.”https://t.co/PjQrc8ahtA
— Laurence Tribe 🇺🇦 ⚖️ (@tribelaw) May 28, 2022

make sure to see this brief gun control commercial which shows what old weapons were like

Get On Board – Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder

Get On Board: The Songs of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee is the new album by Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder (released on April 22, 2022). It’s not a major work but it’s very relaxed and low-key. It sounds like music someone could make on your porch or in your backyard. I’m a big admirer of both artists and encourage you to explore their solo work. For Cooder, I suggest starting with Into The Purple Valley (1972). For Mahal, I recommend Dancing the Blues (1993). Like Get on Board, both albums revive songs that are not well known today. Cooder finds Depression obscurities like “Taxes on the Farmer Feeds Us All” and “How Can You Keep On Moving (Unless You Migrate Too)”. Mahal covers songs by T-Bone Walker and Fats Domino, both huge stars in their day but not popular now.