Is it because you have a gun?

Question

Earlier I asked a question about homicide rates in the US. Obviously you don't get answers to serious questions. So, here goes with a dumded down version. Do you kill each other more often because somebody 200years ago thought it was a good idea for everyone to have a gun.

Please don't answer with the worn out rhetoric of 'guns don't kill people, people kill people'. When quite obviously it is a good deal easier to kill someone if you have a gun in your hand than if you do not.

Please refer to my previous question if you need to see the stats.

See - ask the question in a provocative way and all manner of people want to answer. Ask it is a serious way with a little research and it just passes by.

I have no axe to grind. The original question was a honest inquiry. I believe the reaction to my second question is much more revealing as to the kind of society we all live in.

Answer 1

Have you read the Lott report? This was a study done comparing, on a county by county basis, the number of gun crimes and the number of registered gun owners. In all cases the more guns owned the less gun crime. It also points out that in all the years that Detroit was murder city that 85% of the murders were committed in 10 square block area. Also ask a crook they do not care if guns are legal. I own a pistol made in 1917 and it shoots fine so even if guns were illegal It would be many many years before they were gone, they just do not wear out
Violance is a mind set, I know I was violant and like most other things with time it can change. It's not if you carry a gun it's how willing you are to use it to take a human life. Belive me it's much easier to take a human life than is to live with yourself after.
P.S. Not everyone on here is a fool keep your insults to yourself

Answer 2

There are 37 states that have a Will Issue Concelled Cary laws.
In these states the crime rate is much lower than in those states that have gun control laws. Such as New York, Boston and the most crime ridden Washington D.C. to name a few. The murder rate of the top 50 countries listed in the International Crime report Per Capita the #1 country is Columbia. Canada is #32. The United States is not even on the list. England & Wales and Austrailia who have all but totally disarmed the people; now have the highist violent crime rates in the world.
The second Ammendment was put in the Bill of Rights so that the "People" ( you & me) can protect ourselves from those who would do us harm. Be it an individual or government. Our Founding Fathers were very wise men. They gave us a bill of rights for a purpose. If you want to know what that purpose is; I suggest you read their writings and discussions to know why they gave them to us. Read the Declaration of Independence in it's intireity.
It has been proven that an armed society is a safe society.

Answer 3

Billy boy, do your stats reveal the fact that most homicides are committed by felons. You know the people in our society that , by law, should not even look at a gun. Why is it, these people have guns, but according to you, the rest of us shouldn't have a gun to protect ourselves and our family.

Now, isn't it a proven fact that of the almost 40 states that do have a right to carry law, that a substantial decrease in the crime rate has been seen?

Isn't it also true, that the highest incident of crime in urban areas, is on public transportation leading away from an airport? Now, I'll give you my dumbed down version as to why this is happening. It's because the perpetrators know that it is unlikely that anyone coming off an airplane and riding public transportation, will have a weapon to defend themselves.

I don't need to read your stats Billy Boy, your stats are like accounting figures, in that, figures don't lie, but liars figure.

Answer 4

Why shouldn't a law abiding citizen be able to clear a background check, (not be an ex-con or mental patient) and be able to own a firearm? Sorry about the rhetorical question but, the right to bear arms is protected by the Bill of Rights. Oh, by the way...criminals are much more able to commit crimes and murder with ILLEGALLY owned guns. Those "somebodies" from 200 years ago also had some crazy ideas about freedom of speech and the press, protection from double jeopardy, and so on. I'm sure some of the Bill of Rights appeals to you, but you must take it as a whole, not piecemeal. What you need to focus on is how to remove guns from people who are in possession of unlawful firearms...leave the Bill of Rights alone.

Answer 5

No, the homicide rates are higher in America, not because we have the right to bear arms. Canada has as high a rate of gun ownership as the United States but does not have the homicide rate we do. The reason Americans shoot each other is we are taught fear every day. The news tells us to fear each other, and then tells us it's okay to kill people, as long as they don't look like you. You should watch "bowling for columbine" it should clear up any further questions. Aslo guns don't kill people, religions do.

Answer 6

Read your other question too and I'm sorry to have to say it, but the UK and other EU countries are more, how shall I put it; homogeneous?

You cite DC as having one of the highest murder rates in the US (no news there). Could that be tied to demographics?

I won't give you the "guns don't kill people argument...." but the fact is, heavy gun regulation won't do anything to slow down the murder rate. Do you think people seriously considering murdering someone get a gun through legal channels? In CA we have a two week waiting period, they need your ID, you get a 20 question interrogation about yourself, you sign registers, etc. Do you think this is how some gang-banger idiot gets a 9mm for a drive by? All that (more) regulation will do is burden unnecessarily good law abiding citizens who own guns for sport, recreation, or protection.

Answer 7

Well first you have to ask a serious (or at least intelligent) question. Your question makes the assumption that the US is leading the world in homicide rates.

The USA is not even in the top ten countries for murder over the last 30 years:

http://www.benbest.com/lifeext/murder.html#world

Where do you live? You might get better answers if you don't insult the audience.

Answer 8

First of all, there is no need to be so nasty. i.e; 'dumbed down' (i spelled it correctly. Also - don't tell me what answer not to give. just take them all and be done with it.

We don't kill more because of our views 200 years ago. there are several countries that have hardly any gun laws and homicides caused by guns is almost nil. unfortunately it is too late for the US to adopt such radical thinking, so i think we need to put more emphasis in gun control and weapons being imported illegally from other countries. violence has been around since Adam and Eve (Cain killed his brother without a gun), so to say guns caused our wars and our violence is one sided. however, they do go hand in hand. guns definitely kill people. our society has an influx of violent behaviour through gangs, etc. we need to look at the root of this behaviour.

Answer 9

You say don't give you the argument that guns don't kill people, people kill people, but thats the truth. My shot gun's not going to get out of its case, load itself and go shoot someone. Americans are just quicker to anger, and quicker to react to danger. How many of those homicides were in self defense? How many were guns that are illegal? You'll find if you actually do the research, the people that have the legal right to own the guns aren't the people firing them off and killing people.

Ban the Criminals Not the Guns

Answer 10

You are either stupid or way to Liberal. A gun without a person cannot KILL anyone. Take the same person and add anything and they have a potential of killing someone. Take the gun and add 5 other loaded ,****** and safety offguns, They will not kill anyone. Are you so dumb you cannot see that it is the HUMAN that does the killing? I have a CC permit and have carried a 40 cal. Smith and Wesson for 5 years. It has no safety. It has not killed anyone. If someone attacks me I WILL KILL them using my trusty S&M. I will be in control. I will kill. Not S&W