OK, I have to ask this about gun control...?

Question

I have read over and over today about how gun control will solve the problems of gun violence. How many of you actually think that there is a huge number of deaths by firearms?

Lets look at the numbers a little(CDC statistics) -
-There were 11,920 firearms deaths(non suicide) in 2003(last year that total statistics were available, 2004 should be out soon).
-That is equivilant to 4 per 1000 people in the us or .04% of the population
-The overall death rate for '03 was 817 per 1000 people so gun deaths make up .005% of all deaths in '03
-While there are a measurable number of home accidents included in that figure it is primarily homicide that makes up the total which means that the vast majority of the .04% of those killed by firearm were done so by someone NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW!

So, do you still truly believe that making guns illegal is the solution or do you actually want to discuss what the real problem is?

Edit - Murphy my % may be of only slightly because the total population of the country in '03 was only an estimate by the census based on growth from the '00 survey.

Answer 1

I don' t believe in making guns illegal, I just have problems with Joe-Schmo -felony- head- anger- management- issues buying a gun. I think you should get some type of mental health certificate to buy a gun. In Spain you have to get a mental health certificate by the government to own a pit bull. Why not have it be that we do it for a deadly firearm? You can't have controlled drugs without a medical script, why not a gun?

Answer 2

There is no reason for any more gun control laws. The reason there are so many is really quite simple. When people complain about high crime rates most politicians have no idea what to do about it. So, they pass more gun control legislation. Like in New Jersey. They outlawed so called "assault rifles". Everyone patted each other on the back and went out to have a beer.

No one noticed that there had only been about three murders committed with this type of weapon in New Jersey and in those instances the rifle was only fired once. So it didn't matter how many rounds per minute or how large the magazine capacity was.

But everyone "felt" better. After all, that is what liberalism is all about. Feeling. Ignore the facts. Still Camden NJ has one of the highest murder rates in the country. That's OK though, we outlawed legally purchased semiautomatic rifles.

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Answer 3

I ditto Katie. Problem is people tend to just hear the ban idea not get the monitoring concept. So, yet again we read headlines and not the full page.
I am in a heated debate at my home & not speaking to my other half. The cowboy ideas and if the Oscar Meyer wagon is used to wipe out people .... it's the crazies he sez.
Now I look at common threads to these problems. The ones that might have a chance of being controlled vs a disturbed mind or chemically induced individual.
Gang violence, every day Tampa Bay news same same. A gun . A mention of a gun and a bank teller gives up the cash. Guns at 711 and local teeny stores? Guns, it's always GUNS.
We may never solve the mysteries of the mind but the weapon is no mystery in these tragic events.

Answer 4

"While there are a measurable number of home accidents included in that figure it is primarily homicide that makes up the total which means that the vast majority of the .04% of those killed by firearm were done so by someone NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW!"

So you are saying that it is illegal to shoot somebody with a gun? Is that the point you are trying to make. I see no other point being made here.

Answer 5

Fantastic argument. As usual, people who "don't get it" will simply ignore the facts you present, mostly because they have made their collective minds up.

What kills me (figuratively, of course) is how these conventions are allowed to be misleadingly named, such as "gun control" or "the fairness doctrine", when it is anything but.

If only these "law makers" would have the guts to present to the people EXACTLY what they are talking about. To me, gun contol means using the firearm with skill and precision. If one tries to take something completely away, it is not control, it is dominance and/or prohibition.

Call it what it is "gun control" advocates: gun prohibition. But you won't do that, will you, because you understand that such a bill would be crushed under public sentiment.

I am all for bills that I do not agree with being put forth. I just want some honesty in advertising, just as we expect from business.

Then, let us vote on it, with honesty and knowledge.

Answer 6

its important to realize that the medical community is largely biased in this area so likely these numbers are a bit high.

I think the real problem is in society. I think its got alot to do with how we react to problems and how we deal with depression and mental illness. How many Unibombers etc had the "american dream" etc.

I have had a bit of time reading the Japanese newspapers that are available online and some of the things that go on are a bit scary. The kids that kill themselves over a grade on a test. I saw one where this kid killed his family with a pair of scissors. I am not advocating legislation just saying in some places different values lead to different tragedies.

Answer 7

Good job. Your a smart man. Let me make an addition to your statement:

Gun control causes crime. Gun control has never worked anywhere so why cite it as a solution?

I think it was a tragedy first and foremost and my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

The killer alone caused the crime, but the high number of victims is directly caused by gun control. The Virginia Tech killer never registered his gun, so why cite registration as a solution?

They were just sitting ducks with no way to defend themselves much like the victims of Colin Ferguson. Concealed-carry advocates warned us all long ago to expect tragedies like this as long as we have gun control.

When only criminals have guns the rest of us can only ponder tactics like "notifications."

In a state where concealed-carry is allowed or promoted, the loss of life could have been much less. He may have shot one or two, but a concealed-carrier would have dispatched him right quick.

Sadly there is no way to prevent a killer with a gun. In tribal Africa where there are no manufactured guns, tribesman make them from pipes and rubber-bands so clearly gun control is not the answer. You can make a gun out of wood in an hour! He could have stabbed just as many with a knife.

Since you will never stop the OFFENSE, we must allow ourselves a DEFENSE. We are not all of one culture anymore, so violence will only increase.

HB 1572 was a Virginia state bill to allow college students to carry arms on campus to protect themselves from tragedies like what happened at Virginia Tech. The bill was defeated

The spokesman for Virginia Tech was happy to hear the bill [HB 1572] was defeated. "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus."

The fact is NOT passing the bill allowing students to defend themselves caused many more deaths. States that pass concealed-carry laws experience lower crime rates, Texas is a good example of this.

The only way to prevent these killing rampages is concealed-carry. Would you rather protect yourself or wait for the folly of police or school "notification?”

Answer 8

Meathook I agree with you , the way I think of this problem is the mental state of the person at the time when they have a weapon in there hand . Can we change this mental state ?. NO just educate the people of the consequence's if they take this path. We do not need more gun control , I have no problem with registration and a wating period.

Answer 9

I'd love to discuss the real problem, but I don't know what it is.

Y'see, I support the second amendment, and there is not a single law-abiding gun owner on this planet that does not want to see a reduction in not only gun crime but all crime...

...that's why we want to carry a gun!

You got a better answer, one that will work, I'm all ears. But it's obvious that banning guns in the US will not work. Yes, it's worked in other countries. But it doesn't work here.

Answer 10

I don't think guns should be illegal- but they should have limits.

due to gun control most guns are sold with trigger locks now so people have no excuse not to have a lock for them and its easier for the buyer because they don't have to buy it seperatly- this is a good thing.

we had a ban on semi-automatic guns and all other guns more power/deadly than them. we had a ban on the clips used at virginia tech because people don't need to empty out that much ammunition to hunt or defend themselves against a buglar.

gun control is responcible for forcing people to get backround checks upon buying a gun. and people are trying to make it harder to buy illegal guns and easier for guns to be traced (even above serial numbers).