In the midst of the San Bernardino shooting that left at least 14 dead and 17 wounded, New York Times reporter Liam Stack posed a stirring question to Twitter: "how often, if ever, do you think about the possibility of unexpected shooting in your daily life?"
The responses to his question revealed a strong feeling of distress among Americans who live in a country that has seen shootings on an almost daily basis in the past year.
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Question for folks in the United States: how often, if ever, do you think about the possibility of unexpected shooting in your daily life?— Liam Stack (@liamstack) December 2, 2015
Many tweeted that they think about the possibility of shootings "multiple times a day" and "daily."
@liamstack multiple times a day tbh. fleetingly, but multiple times a day. hazard of "social news."— Katie Rogers (@katierogers) December 2, 2015
@liamstack My kids are in preschool. About once a week when I drop them off I think about Sandy Hook and how it could happen to them.— Farhad Manjoo (@fmanjoo) December 2, 2015
@liamstack probably almost daily since I was like 10.— James Key (@jimkey123) December 2, 2015
@liamstack @_cingraham every single time I get on the bus or walk through a mall— Andrew Tarantola (@Terrortola) December 2, 2015
@liamstack I teach students. I think about it nearly every day.— Jeffrey Lewis (@ArmsControlWonk) December 2, 2015
@liamstack multiple times a day, daily. Very anxious in any public area, esp when with my children. Also have ptsd.— J Danielle (@deshack) December 3, 2015
@liamstack Since the Paris attacks, daily, because these mass shootings are far more real than ISIS to me. Before that, maybe once a week.— pro-botnet caucus (@NadiaKayyali) December 3, 2015
Others remarked that shooting violence wasn't at the front of their minds. Rather they worried more about car accidents than mass shootings.
@liamstack @faineg It's like the possibility of a car accident. You know it's there every day but don't really consciously think about it.— Kimberly J. Curtis (@curtiskj) December 2, 2015
.@liamstack @emilyneitzel Honestly, I am much more concerned about getting hit by a car while in the crosswalk than I am getting shot.— Mike Christensen (@MRC_SLC) December 3, 2015
@liamstack @JessieNYC Never, really, because I prefer to ignore reality. It would probably be different if I had kids.— Sarah (@lotormatic) December 3, 2015
@liamstack honestly, quite a lot. Maybe not everyday. Not for long, though.— Cam (@cam_eg) December 3, 2015
The San Bernardino shooting comes just days after a mass shooting Saturday at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado, further igniting a national conversation surrounding gun control in the country.