Are people being mean to you? I will never understand why someone thinks that disagreement, or debate, is a reason to leave a discussion. You're asking questions and I'm answering your questions. Taking all guns away won't do anything. I linked several examples of places with strict gun laws that have had devastating terror attacks.... in fact, those attacks were worse than what happened last night. How do you respond to that?
You lost me when you wrote "I'd gladly give up my freedoms..." What the hell did you fight for when you served?
I feel like it's such an easy copout to immediately blame guns when something like this happens. It's the immediate kneejerk reaction whenever something happens, and yet I never hear those remarks about guns when something horrible happens in Europe. 77 people are run down on a boardwalk in France.... did anyone stop to say, "but aren't you glad it wasn't a gun?" 128 people were shot in Paris.... did anyone stop to say, "aren't you glad we banned guns so it was a little bit more difficult for them to get their hands on these guns?"
Absolutely true. Anyone that thinks that more/better gun controls will eliminate all tragedies is unfortunately mistaken. However, anyone who thinks that more/better will not reduce these either is mistaken as well. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-u-s-gun-deaths-compare-to-other-countries/ "The review of 2010 World Health Organization data also revealed that despite having a similar rate of nonlethal crimes as those countries, the United States has a much higher rate of deadly violence, mostly due to the higher rate of gun-related murders." If you look at total-death rate per 100,000 crimes is about 3 times higher than the next worst (Finland) and probably 5 times higher than the average (I just did a quick calculation in my head for this one, do not hold me to this specific number). Anyway, I believe that much better gun control is needed in this country even if it will not eliminate all the tragedies.
Chicago is like the murder capital of the USA. Gun ban. It's not like restricting access, or less whatever, is the answer, either.
But they are counting suicides, which skews the data, but isn't presented to the public in that way. They say "gun deaths," which makes people immediately think of murders. When you think of a gun death, are you thinking about someone offing them self? Similarly, the FBI defines "mass shootings" as 2 people and a shooter. So 3 people constitute a "mass shooting." But when you hear of a mass shooting, are you thinking of 3 people?
Directly from the study: "US homicide rates were 7.0 times higher than in other high-income countries, driven by a gun homicide rate that was 25.2 times higher. For 15- to 24-year-olds, the gun homicide rate in the United States was 49.0 times higher. Firearm-related suicide rates were 8.0 times higher in the United States, but the overall suicide rates were average. Unintentional firearm deaths were 6.2 times higher in the United States. The overall firearm death rate in the United States from all causes was 10.0 times higher. Ninety percent of women, 91% of children aged 0 to 14 years, 92% of youth aged 15 to 24 years, and 82% of all people killed by firearms were from the United States." Table 3 in the report includes the ratios specifically (US to other countries): Firearms homicide: 25.2 (that is 25.2 multiplication) Firearms suicide: 8.0 Unintentional firearm rate: 6.2
Those who trade liberty for safety end up with neither. You're not afraid to let your wife drive around with the kids? Far more dangerous than any risk of being shot to death. It's not even close.
It makes me wonder though, what other countries have the gang and drug issues that we have here? If you look at that table, we also have the second highest NON-firearm homicide rate. So people are simply being killed in the US more than other countries. Why is that?
I would rather have those events than what we are having here. I truly will take my chances on hug attacks like that, than daily threats of guns.
I've seen what guns do to human flesh first hand many times and I definitely choose not to own a gun.
People are fucked in the head man. They're going to find a way to hurt others. Whether it's with a gun, or a knife, or a car, or a truck, or a bomb. That article that Andalusian linked proves that Americans are simply more violent than other countries. Why do you think that is?
I do not know. I do not pretend that tougher gun controls will solve everything either - but they are clearly needed imho. If we are only 10 times worse than the other high-income countries it will save many lives, that's a worthy outcome. Always go for the low-hanging fruit first.
I'm not questioning whether or not people are bad and will hurt other people....... but lets negate the tools they have to carry out the task is all I'm saying. There is nails and glass and and shit in the street thats going to pop your tire, lets just sweep up the road a bit and get rid of as much of the threat of that happening as possible.
