>

Florida’s response? Fuck it, no one needs permits, everyone fend for them self. (Not actually being sarcastic either)
Looks like its most likely gang related.  I'm already not seeing much about it on the national news.  It'll be gone by Thursday. >

I wish we didn't have this attitude of "oh, it's okay because it's gang related." >

You and me both.  In my job, and my 22 year career, I'd say roughly 80-90% of the shootings that I've handled have been gang related.  People don't really seem to care about those, or see a reason to prioritize it as it happens A LOT more than the other types of shootings do.
If you want an example of systemic racism, well, that's it. >

It’s fucking impossible to look at the news and NOT see another fucking mass shooting. >

It seems to be escalating a lot. I recall just a year or so ago thinking "Dayum, it's almost every week." Now it's a daily item. >

I'm pretty sure it's more or less on par for the past few years.
647 mass shootings last year.
44,000 dead to gun violence in 2022. >


647 mass shootings last year.

1.77 mass shootings per day.
And we're at 51 so far this year, or 1.70 mass shootings per day. >

An improvement! >

I'd suspect the numbers are lower in the winter >

I feel like you have to be pretty fired up on the way to a mass shooting and weather isn’t going to stop whatever mission they are on.
I feel like maybe there would be more shootings in the winter because lack of sun can mess with mental health but the number of people per shooting would be higher in the summer because there’s more people out and about. 
Debating semantics of mass shootings makes me feel gross though >

It's not really that winter weather deters mass shootings, it's more that higher temperatures make people quicker to anger or resort to violence. It's why when you're hot and sweaty during the summer, you're more likely to be pissed off by an inconvenience that you'd normally shrug off. High temperatures make you more irritable, while low temperature often have a depressive effect. >

That also makes sense. If I’m too cold or too hot I’m pretty irritable though. Basically any discomfort does >

For me if I'm too cold my mind goes blank and I think of nothing except getting warm. When I'm too hot sometimes my mind races and I become more irritable so I can see what the commenter is getting at. I think there's more to it than just the weather affecting us psychologically though. In summer months there's way more social interaction, good and bad social interaction. Violence being one of those bad kinds. The psychological effects play a part too I'm sure. But if a lot of the violent crime occurs at night that wouldn't be a huge factor I would think. >

I think literacy in general is the culprit at this point. >

I think you mean illiteracy >

Pretty sure that their statement was sarcasm. >

This happened in my home town.    The area of town has long been riddled with gang violence, drugs, and prostitution.  It also has the highest crime rates of the area.  This was a drug related shooting, possibly gang related.  
The city has for a long time done nothing to help this part of town because it’s the poor part of town,  predominantly black and Hispanic.  The city counsel fought to not remove a confederate state that was put up in the 1930s and put more effort into finding a home for the statue so it wasnt destroyed than they have in helping the people of this area the shooting occurred.   The police largely stay away unless they are doing stings or patrolling with the cars that have automatic plate scanners.   
I’m not excusing what happened just giving insight to how this community has been shoved aside by racism and how crime has ran rampant and leads to this.    Years ago some kids like 14 were involved in a home invasion and killed someone that was also gang related.   It’s not a good area and the decline started when the city mall moved from this area to a more affluent area.   I’ve lived in this area and have had deal with cops always around because of break ins, attempted robberies at stores, and drug busts.    
The police are purely reactive and not proactive and not for a lack of funding.  There’s not public outreach in the area, no action to end the gang violence.   This is the result of systemic racism. 
Anything north of hwy 98 as been ignored by the city council they only care about down town and the south side.  If you’ve ever been here you know the night and day difference of crossing one road. >

From Winter Haven. I came back to FL 1.5yrs ago for a funeral and Lakeland wasn’t looking that great up north. >

They gentrified Massachusetts up to memorial but that was all private Investors buying cheap properties because of the local crime. >

How is every comment on this already "controversial "? >

Brigading.  Every mass shooting news story gets brigaded. >

It’s always good to remember that foreign governments run PsyOps on Reddit as well. Anybody who was around during the Hong Kong protests or the beginning of the Ukraine war saw the obviousness of some of what was going on.
It’s well known China and Russia use social media to sow discord in the west.
My favorite was all the brand new accounts with shitty English posting video of the US lead invasion of Iraq right when Ukraine kicked off lol >

Also the state department too lol
A hashtag went viral on twitter a few years ago but the location they were all accidentally tagged in was… Langley, Virginia lol 
An airforce base was also the #1 Reddit city in the world at one point, although I forget which one. Do not trust Reddit at all, and if you only get your news from here… congratulations, you’re being propagandized >


Do not trust Reddit at all, and if you only get your news from here… congratulations, you’re being propagandized

I try my best man, every news site wants a piece of my credit card because they are angry the digital era took away their real life paper bucks. >

It sucks but would you write news articles for free. I'm not sure how much ads generated in Revenue would making people watch an ad first before looking at the article help I don't know. >

I run an online magazine and Adsense is our smallest revenue component >

It’s been a while since our last mass shooting. >

Good half an hour or so at least. >

I almost had time to consider maybe not taking the words of dudes from almost three hundred years ago who had no idea what future firearm technology would look like as the final say on about what we should do with the modern firearm environment.
Luckily I can now go right back to saying how we shouldn’t politicize this tragedy while trying to politicize this tragedy into less gun laws and more gun sales. >

If only we could have slaves... Let the states decide...
/s >

It wasn't about the slaves, it was about state's rights! ^(to own slaves) >

No no no you see that's just a part of it. It was about the oppressed southern Farmer being bullied by the big bad federal government. /S >

"This doesn't happen in Lakeland".
Uh, yes it does. 
And I like the line about lots of weed in scene. Clearly an indicator of the reason this happened. /s >


Police found a “quantity” of marijuana at the scene, which indicates to police that “there was a narcotic sales or sales of marijuana going on at the time,” Taylor said. “Whether that is significant or related to this is unknown.”

The full quote seems contradictory, but I read it as there was enough marijuana at the scene to determine the targets of the shooting were dealing marijuana. Police just don’t know if they were shot for being rival dealers, or it was just a rival gang that happened to dealing weed. >

It's Polk county. If they find half a joint they are going to claim distribution >

Everytime I buy weed I shoot up the whole place.
Pow pow pow!
Potheads sofa king trigger happy. >

My dad worked at a hospital near that street (couple blocks over)  he said you would hear gun shots regularly. >

Yeah. It’s a bad area that the city refuses putting money towards to help.   Downtown and south side where wealthy family’s live if city councils priority >

Sounds like a drug deal or gang thing.  It was drive by and four shooters were in the car.  All non life threatening wounds. 
For those not wanting to read the article.
Resume your jokes and political whatever is going on in here. >

They also found a lot of marijuana at the scene. >


Police found a “quantity” of marijuana at the scene, which indicates to police that “there was a narcotic sales or sales of marijuana going on at the time,” Taylor said. “Whether that is significant or related to this is unknown.”

Where did you see “a lot”? >

It's not a direct quote. Connotations. The sum was enough to indicate that a sale was taking place. A lot is a relative term anyway. Do really want to have a semantic argument about how much "a lot" is? >

A “quantity” doesn’t mean anything. A dime bag? A pound? Not enough info. >

Not enough info for what? They qualified the amount already. Enough that made them think a sale was going on. That's as specific as you're going to get. Not sure why that's so hard for you to grasp. >

Again, what the hell is “a quantity”?? You don’t know. It’s speculation. A guess. Not enough info available until there is an ACTUAL number. I mean damn what is it tonight that people are not very good at thinking? >

Not enough info available for what?
You're the one that keeps demanding an amount. I never claimed a specific amount.
Wtf does it matter to you so much? Maybe go smoke a bowl and chill out. >


I never claimed a specific amount.

YOU said "a lot" when the article specifically states a "quantity" (which doesn't mean a damn thing. Maybe a tiny amount, MAYBE a lot) and then made assumptions from there. Goddamn it's not complicated. >

DeSantis probably gonna call any efforts to stop the shooter "woke" nonsense >

By giving them more guns with constitutional carry? >

Gym Jordan is already unsure that anything would help. >

Suddenly events that are clearly gang related are making the news as "mass shootings". >

Is there a reason they shouldn’t, if it fits the definition? >

It does fit the definition, without a doubt. I just find it interesting that until recently, gangbangers doing gangbanger shit never got the same labeling as crazy white boys losing it on school kids and the like. >

Almost like somebody wants to muddy the water. >

CNN is seeing that they're getting a lot of outrage traffic about "all the mass shootings recently" so they're pumping up the number of mass shooting articles to get more clicks. >

Craaaazy idea … but legalize marijuana and then drug deals don’t have to go south and end like this. But nooooo we just need to lock them all up, right? >

Nobody wants more shootings but surely having drugs more accessible to society is a bad thing, right? >

Canada isn’t exactly suffering. >

Yeah about that, I live there and I hate the fact that I can’t turn a corner without smelling weed off someone. >

Oh no not a smell! Wow just... I’m so sorry for you. >

Come on, it’s disgusting. >

So hold on.. it should be illegal because it smells disgusting to you? How have you convinced yourself that is a good enough reason for no one else to smoke it? Move to Lakeland, Florida if you don't like it. Oh jesus fuck.. you're a "true christian". I get how you can't form rational thoughts now. >

It should be illegal because it’s a mind altering substance, simple as. Why bring more mind altering substances into society? Alcohol is already there and that causes enough problems as it is.
Ah yes, insult me on my faith. I guess this is Reddit, shouldn’t have expected anything different. >

Your lack of critical thinking skills is what I’m judging you for. You seem to have some questionable views about things that you haven’t really thought out all the way. You stopped at “I think” and somehow that’s all the justification you need. >


questionable views

Why are they questionable? Because they differ from the popular opinion? >

Citation needed. Sounds like some bullshit. >

Ha, I wanted a citation on them not doing serious time. I’m glad you glanced all around that part and then gave the “purely anecdotal” thing.
Now I’d like a citation—specifically, this time—on the “dudes with a history of violent crime at 22/23 years old are somehow free to keep terrorizing people.”
And obviously you’d quote fox entertainment and call it news. >

Right, so why are you surprised it’s on CNN? You are mixing up purportedly factual statements right next door to pure speculation with absolutely no divide between the two.
The first comment I responded to: “probably gang related considering it’s a drive by. I’m surprised this is even on CNN. If they’re caught these guys won’t do serious time.”
That’s a speculation, followed by a… weird way to say you don’t think CNN is capable of reporting basic news, and then entire speculation based on absolutely nothing.
Yeah I slowed down and breathed plenty, and your takes are still pretty bad lol. >

Damn, it’s a good thing they’re doing away with books. Just imagine where the state will be in 10-15 years. >

This is going to put DeSantis's push for permitted carry laws in the state under greater scrutiny, not that it will stop them from passing. >

In The Democratic People's Republic of Florida? This is only going to increase support to have more "good guys with guns" carrying. >

And stiffen opposition to marijuana legalization. >

Yes this is a mass shooting but not random, it was targeted and police believe it was gang related. This is not a true, random mass shooting but yes it is still sucks to see yet another incident. >

It was random for anyone it affected who wasn't involved in criminal activity. During the day is when people shop for regular Dollar General stuff. >

There is not enough punishment to dissuade people from using guns. They know they will likely get no bail and can get out and will not spend a lot of time in jail. Prison overcrowding, lack of innovative solutions. >


A dark-blue Nissan four-door sedan

of course >

Sounds like a gang shooting.... Hoodrat culture >

50+ mass shootings in 30 days. Yeah, we need gun control last week. This is fucking ridiculous. >

Oh, but wait!! There's a bill introduced in FLORIDA to do away with GUN PERMITS. It's said that it infringes on citizens' rights to own guns. 
Flori-DUH. Yes, I live here, but not for long. >

But republicans will still focus on checks on youth's menstrual cycles for sports and furies. >

We ban books and record teenage girls periods! Oh also we white wash American history and invalidate gay and trans folks. 
Welcome to Florida^tm.
Just a preview of what’s to come to all America in 2024. But hey, dOnT gEt aLL PoLiTiCaL. bOtH sIdEs! >

As income inequality gets worse, violent crime will rise. Always has, always will.
Edit: Someone didn't like me speaking plain facts. >

51st mass shooting in 30 days, unfortunately will probably be many more. >

The party of law and order doesn’t stand for facts my friend, THATS why you’re being downvoted >

No worries they can just petition their local government to pass some common sense legislation to remedy this problem because they’re totally a functional State in the Union and not 2 private prisons and Wayne La Pierre in a trench coat.  Anyway enjoy the fruits of your labor America.  You’re really killing it in 2023 if by it we mean us.  Please send help. >

Just another day in America. People are numb. >

We have reached a point in this country that mass shootings are a norm, and the shock factor is gone. >


Police found a “quantity” of marijuana at the scene

Oh fucking please. >

Did you read the rest of that sentence?

Police found a “quantity” of marijuana at the scene, which indicates to police that “there was a narcotic sales or sales of marijuana going on at the time,” Taylor said. “Whether that is significant or related to this is unknown.”

They don't know if it's significant or related, but acting as if people haven't been shot over weed is a lie. So it's important to log that drugs were at the scene, and that this is likely gang related. >

Yes but a "quantity" could be absolutely any amount and also could be entirely unrelated. I just don't like speculation like this from the reports.
And let's also not act like police have never used finding marijuana as an excuse to escalate everything. >

Bro it's in an area known for its drugs and gang related activities >

No way to stop this happening….sadly you all know the rest of that sentence by heart now, >

Florida man strikes again. >

Says 4 people in the car that did the drive by, so actually "Florida men" (probably)
lol @ whoever is down voting me, how can it be "Florida man" if it was 4 people? >

Lone Rangers >

Just remember everyone, there's nothing that can be done about gun violence. We have to just keep letting this happen. >

Nothing we can do about gangs either, apparently. >

Soo just another Monday night >

I'm all for gun control and even suspe dong the sale of all handguns and ar style guns. But seriously gun use is the symptom of much larger issues. Places have poverty, inequality, mental health issues AND guns and don't have these issues. What America seems to have is no unifying goal, no communal route and a nation of 300 million nations. 
America has over abundance use of social media, divisiveness and fast moving changed (like them or not fast change breeds anger), a general idea that my way is right and the customer is always right AND guns. >

Which countries have poverty, inequality, mental health issues AND guns and don’t have these issues? >

Other countries don’t have guns in the equation but still have violence in some form. In England it’s knives a lot of the time. Not on a mass scale like this but on an individual level, ie there aren’t any “mass stabbings” as such but gang violence exists. >

They have the same or fewer stabbing than us, so that argument doesn’t really make sense. >

Getting much closer to home..like 15 miles mayhe from home. >

Which direction? I grew up in Plant City >

South, in Mulberry. >

Legal weed and illegal guns and 10 less victims exist right now. >

Medical marijuana is legal in Florida, and do you believe these men came by their firearms through legal means? >

I believe they can get guns whenever and however they want to.  And medical marijuana isn't enough. >

Americans worship at the altar of violence. Their gospel are the headlines of their wonton bloodlust. >

Wonton is a delicious Chinese dumpling.  I think you meant wanton >

I mean, I can murder a (probably unsafe) amount of wontons. My bloodlust for them is likely concerning. >

Are average Americans just fine with this or what? >

Seems like WHT we need is more guns, carried by more people right?
Seems like a totally sane, normal solution >

They all had guns. It was gang violence. Poverty is the issue. >


They all had guns. It was gang violence. Poverty is the issue.

Idk why this is a valid deflection to you tbh.
Its not just "poverty" its also the fact that this country is flooded with firearms and yokes are hell bent on making it trivial to aquire one and even more trivial to legally carry it everywhere they go
Its fucking madness >

Law abiding citizens have to go through background checks to purchase guns. Criminals planning on doing nefarious deeds can just go buy one off the street. No amount of legislature is going to prevent criminals from getting a gun if they want one bad enough. They're not suddenly going to go "oh darn, guess I can't get that pistol I want now cuz the government says I can't have it." >

Can we resolve to get rid of the guns yet? >

de Santis will blame crt >

In a related story, republican lawmakers in Florida want to allow unlicensed concealed carry. >

Is it Tuesday already?!?  Guess I’ll go get some tacos. >

If only something can be done >

Multiple? So anywhere from 2+ and shot doesn't mean killed. >

Simply clicking on the article reveals at least 10 were wounded. And it doesn't matter that they weren't killed, this shit keeps happening. And only in America. >

Also, misleading news headlines and propaganda, in America like everywhere else. >

A problem that will never get fixed. >

Why even put it in the news? Breaking! The sun rose this morning, water remains wet, and the sky was reported as being blue. >

These uhhh shootings sure seem to be happening a lot… even alot more than before… >

That what happens when u lower the barrier of entry on what constitutes as a mass shooting. The number use to be 6 people shot injured or killed as mass shootout. Now that number is down to 3 people shot injured or killed.