There's a proofreading error that went out in the email version of this post. After the Montana Gun Deaths by Intent graphic it should read: "In fact, roughly 3 in 5 firearm deaths nationwide are suicides, which is staggering. The roots and causes of gun violence are complex ..." Now fixed in the online version.
I grew up in an oil boom town here in Canada. I had grown up with kids who would go hunting with their family on the holidays, I don't know if they have that same importance of a gun like Americans have, I guess the view of guns for them was that they used them for recreational use. I don't think many of them specifically use the AR-15 for that though.
I think the folksy background of small towns is for the most part true especially in Canada, where if someone new moves into the town people are willing to help them get around. Definitely there are some instances of hate crimes towards others. In my experience, people will either keep their prejudices to themselves, give a curious look, or just glare at me. Had more experience of bullying in small towns than in cities from what I found, I think a lot of it came from those who had a different personality than others, or some of them who had tough lives in their homes. While they are definitely boring compared to big cities, I think small towns are definitely a bit more of a complex microcosm than how many presume they are.
Thanks for that perspective, Fahim. Although I did not grow up in a small town (more of a suburb, I guess), I know that the folks that live near my brother-in-law really came through for him when he had cancer about nine years ago. They heat their place mostly with firewood, and the neighbors, many of whom they didn't really know that well (he is pretty private) helped him and his wife get all the firewood in they would need for the coming winter when he was undergoing chemo and couldn't do it. Jamie Gehring mentions that as a core small-town value as well; you just help out your neighbors. And I get that, because especially in years past, you'd be so interdependent with them. People in cities have different networks not so much dictated by proximity.
But I also heard from my husband about how oppressive it can feel when everyone knows everyone's business, whether you want them to or not. He learned years later, from Facebook, that one of his classmates who was so ready to get away was gay, and he said it made total sense once he knew. It can be hard to be different. And except for a handful of Native American folks we saw at the hotel/casino where we stayed on the lake (owned by the local tribe) I did not see one person of color. So there's that.
Amazing how your perspective changes in Montana. Maybe it truly is not a problem there, as long as out-of-towners don't co9me in, buy AR-15s and take them back to LA or Mexico. Thanks for the shout-out about SAVING MYLES!
I know what you mean. That's the issue now isn't it — we're all a lot more mobile and a lot more connected than we used to be. One quote she said that didn't make it into the piece was, "I certainly wouldn't want anything to be able to be traced back to me." And by "anything" I took to mean if someone won the gun and then committed an act of violence with it. Which is why she was concerned about it all being on the up and up. Makes you wonder, though.
There's a proofreading error that went out in the email version of this post. After the Montana Gun Deaths by Intent graphic it should read: "In fact, roughly 3 in 5 firearm deaths nationwide are suicides, which is staggering. The roots and causes of gun violence are complex ..." Now fixed in the online version.
I grew up in an oil boom town here in Canada. I had grown up with kids who would go hunting with their family on the holidays, I don't know if they have that same importance of a gun like Americans have, I guess the view of guns for them was that they used them for recreational use. I don't think many of them specifically use the AR-15 for that though.
I think the folksy background of small towns is for the most part true especially in Canada, where if someone new moves into the town people are willing to help them get around. Definitely there are some instances of hate crimes towards others. In my experience, people will either keep their prejudices to themselves, give a curious look, or just glare at me. Had more experience of bullying in small towns than in cities from what I found, I think a lot of it came from those who had a different personality than others, or some of them who had tough lives in their homes. While they are definitely boring compared to big cities, I think small towns are definitely a bit more of a complex microcosm than how many presume they are.
Thanks for that perspective, Fahim. Although I did not grow up in a small town (more of a suburb, I guess), I know that the folks that live near my brother-in-law really came through for him when he had cancer about nine years ago. They heat their place mostly with firewood, and the neighbors, many of whom they didn't really know that well (he is pretty private) helped him and his wife get all the firewood in they would need for the coming winter when he was undergoing chemo and couldn't do it. Jamie Gehring mentions that as a core small-town value as well; you just help out your neighbors. And I get that, because especially in years past, you'd be so interdependent with them. People in cities have different networks not so much dictated by proximity.
But I also heard from my husband about how oppressive it can feel when everyone knows everyone's business, whether you want them to or not. He learned years later, from Facebook, that one of his classmates who was so ready to get away was gay, and he said it made total sense once he knew. It can be hard to be different. And except for a handful of Native American folks we saw at the hotel/casino where we stayed on the lake (owned by the local tribe) I did not see one person of color. So there's that.
thanks for the mention!
You're most welcome. I appreciated your post as you had a personal story that was relevant, so it fit right in.
Amazing how your perspective changes in Montana. Maybe it truly is not a problem there, as long as out-of-towners don't co9me in, buy AR-15s and take them back to LA or Mexico. Thanks for the shout-out about SAVING MYLES!
I know what you mean. That's the issue now isn't it — we're all a lot more mobile and a lot more connected than we used to be. One quote she said that didn't make it into the piece was, "I certainly wouldn't want anything to be able to be traced back to me." And by "anything" I took to mean if someone won the gun and then committed an act of violence with it. Which is why she was concerned about it all being on the up and up. Makes you wonder, though.
Thoughtful and interesting. I really appreciated this!
Thank you!