Thread: The Nova Scotia tragedy has reminded us an obsession w/ police power & weapons is a clear predictor of mass shootings, & too often women's advocates highlighting this are ignored or actively silenced.

This is an incredibly important article by @ShreeParadkar highlighting toxic masculinity & an obsession with authority & force are at the heart of the #NovaScotiaShootings & most mass shootings. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2020/04/24/ultimate-authority-ultimate-power-what-the-nova-scotia-mass-shooting-tells-us-about-toxic-masculinity.html

We can be critical of policing - from VPD's James Fisher exploiting women, @RNC_PoliceNL
Snelgrove & Curnew's #VAW @ChiefJoeBoland and disproportionate killing of POC - while still recognizing they are 1st responders so many rely on.

This is not a new trend - misogyny that is rooted in a history of domestic violence, stalking or harassment of women, a deep-seated sense of entitlement, access to and an obsession w/ weapons and/or policing or military are clear predictors of mass shootings.

It's researched & documented that policing can attract men intent on abusive control who enact #toxicmasculinity and harm believing they are above the law.

Police have a deep responsibility to acknowledge this reality, listen to & meaningfully engage w/ women's advocates, radicalized communities & ppl w/ lived experience of police abuse, and actively work to address it.

When police actions, instead, are to target advocates to silence them, they are safeguarding predators in their midst and in our communities, from Nova Scotia and communities across Canada.