“We knew we had something special, but we didn’t know that it was going to explode like that,” said American Rounds CEO Grant Magers.
  • LePoisson@lemmy.world
    1·
    2 days ago

    Can you expand on the ammo vending machine installed at your high school in 1999? That’s wild to me.

    • PowerCrazy@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      It’s extremely boring and mundane as such things should be, but it here it goes. We had skeet shooting as an extra curricular. At the beginning of the semester you’d buy some boxes of shells and store them in your locker along with your shotgun. A box of shells would last about 3 sessions. If you ran out of shells but hadn’t brought more ammo you’d have the option to go use the vending machine instead of having to leave the grounds to buy more and probably miss practice or the competition. So it was just a convenience having it there. Of course if you had some friends you could borrow their shells.

      • LePoisson@lemmy.world
        1·
        2 days ago

        I wish we still lived in those times. It’s really unfortunate the reality we find ourselves in vis a vis school shootings and other gun violence.

        That’s kind of what I figured it would be, I did something similar in college except it wasn’t skeet shooting just targets with a .22

        It’s crazy to me how we’ve seen this proliferation of shootings and access to very dangerous weapons finding their way into kids hands. As a gun owner I think we should have required classes on gun safety and handling and some basic training before you could purchase a firearm.

        We have drivers licenses and gate driving behind tests because you’re operating a potentially lethal weapon. It’s dumb easy to kill someone with a car. Why the hell is it easier to get an actual tool designed only for killing vs a vehicle for getting around. We have to do something to help drive down firearm deaths and a lot of those are accidental and easily preventable with minimum due diligence.

        Idk I know there isn’t a “silver bullet” but there must be more than just shrugs.

        Anyways hope you enjoyed your time reminiscing and you have some fond memories of those times.

        • PowerCrazy@lemmy.mlEnglish
          2·
          2 days ago

          I wish we still lived in those times. It’s really unfortunate the reality we find ourselves in vis a vis school shootings and other gun violence.

          Nothing has changed as far as the weapons available, however society is much worse off then it was 25 years ago. And I’m not talking about the good old days of overt racism. I’m talking about material conditions, wealth inequality, employment opportunities, and just general dissolution of “polite society.” Violence is a symptom of this degradation and going fascist with regards to the State monopoly on violence is going to make things much worse for everyone who doesn’t already live in the guilded parallel society (like CEO’s, the rich, and their pocket politicians.)

          • LePoisson@lemmy.world
            1·
            2 days ago

            I also agree we must attack the root causes as well. No single solution will bring us the needed change.

            I’m not suggesting going fascist just some things I think would help. The monopoly on permissible violence already is the defining factor of statehood.

            Anyways yeah shits fucked, the wealth gap needs narrowed and we need some real fixes. All crap aside, hope you have some nice holidays and a good day.