With three mass shootings that claimed a total of 34 lives taking place in Gilroy, California, Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas within a single week, it’s certainly understandable that gun violence would have a haunting presence in people’s minds right now.
With that in mind, the fact that a crowd in Times Square fled after mistaking backfiring motorcycles on Tuesday provides a telling example of how guns have been at the epicenter of American anxiety in the days since.
As this issue seems to show no signs of improvement with each passing year, some photos that people may have thought nothing of years before can now prompt some serious discussion about how guns should be perceived in American society.
Yesterday, such a discussion unfolded on Twitter.
The discussion began with author and conservative commentator Charlie Sykes posting a picture of man wearing an assault rifle at a coffee shop.
He then posed what he assured was a serious question asked in good faith: What would you do if you saw this upon entering a business.
To gauge the character of responses, he also provided the three options listed here.
For some, the rifle’s presence would make the shop feel too unsafe to continue hanging around there.
Based on the behavior this user would emulate, that gun heralded a dangerous situation that they could only see fit to carefully remove themselves from.
For others, the presence of the gun actually made them more comfortable, as nobody else was likely to start any trouble around it.
One user also suggested that this person’s behavior didn’t indicate anything worrying.
Others replied, however, that it’s not as easy to determine someone’s true intentions as he may think.
One user went as far as to suggest that any discomfort around the person is indicative of media bias and racial profiling.
Other users were quick to outline their problems with this line of reasoning and particularly found the logic that people are racists for being uncomfortable around an assault rifle questionable.
One reply also cast doubt on this person’s claim that the man’s behavior isn’t threatening.
This commenter also isn’t exaggerating about the destructive power of the weapon shown, as CNN reported that the Dayton shooter managed to kill nine people and directly injure 14 others in the 30 seconds before police arrived.
The facts presented by another user also did a lot to indicate that the person claiming the man is being racially profiled has it backwards.
It is a tragic reality that the man with the rifle was, at worst, criticized for bringing an actual assault rifle to a coffee shop while people of color have lost their lives purely because they were holding non-lethal devices that bore even passing resemblances to real guns.
Some of those who would be opposed to the rifle’s presence felt a responsibility to do more than just leave.
As this person expressed, they would go as far as to call the police because they saw nothing to indicate that the man with the rifle isn’t a potential threat.
Another user could only wonder how people get used to living in an open carry state.
While those who live in these states may roll their eyes at the idea that they can buy assault weapons at every corner store, it is true that both produce and firearms are available at Walmart.
At least, for the time being.
It is also important to note that the man brought his rifle to the coffee shop back in 2013.
The photo Sykes tweeted was taken in a different social context than the one we find ourselves in right now, but it’s also worth noting that mass shootings were a growing problem at the time as well.
As USA today reported , 2013 saw 30 mass shooting that were responsible for the deaths of 137 people.
