crickets...

[spence]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

From that article I posted above.

"People killed in mass shootings make up less than half of 1 percent of the people shot to death in the United States. More than half of gun deaths every year are suicides. In 2015, more than 12,000 people have been killed by guns, according to the Gun Violence Archive."

I think you're perhaps missing the really obvious, completely apparent and totally significant point...

While suicide is tragic, it doesn't make the masses look over their shoulders wondering if and when they're going to be involved in the next atrocity.

[detbuch]

Originally Posted by spence

I think you're perhaps missing the really obvious, completely apparent and totally significant point...

While suicide is tragic, it doesn't make the masses look over their shoulders wondering if and when they're going to be involved in the next atrocity.

I remember a few years back when gun control advocates where more open about further regulations on hand guns even to the point of banning them in whole cities or states, and at the time suicide was named as one of the important reasons for the ban. Back then, we were supposed to be horrified by the number of suicides, and the greater ease of doing so, by handguns.

Now since that notion seems to have died out, we must still find emotional reactions based on horror to keep the public pressure up against gun ownership. NO, no, we won't ban hand guns, just the scary ones.

And if you subtract the number of suicides by gun from the total number of gun deaths, the number deaths by hand gun still dwarf the number by AR types.

[Got Stripers]

Handguns are likely never going to be banned, nor do I think they need to be, but the laws in states making it easy to pick them up and bring them to chicago or NYC where individuals can't meet muster need to be tightened up.

Health care ties into all of this, because the suicide rates could come down if the proper care was available and the drug issue goes hand in hand as well.

The assault rifle discussion is logical, as it's the only likely ban that could even be considered; although I'm guessing the lobbying power of the NRA will make even that a long shot.

[detbuch]

Originally Posted by Got Stripers

Handguns are likely never going to be banned, nor do I think they need to be, but the laws in states making it easy to pick them up and bring them to chicago or NYC where individuals can't meet muster need to be tightened up.

The only way that can be tightened up is to ban handguns in every state. Still would leave smuggling from other countries.

Health care ties into all of this, because the suicide rates could come down if the proper care was available and the drug issue goes hand in hand as well.

Those issues are their own, and controlling guns does not heal mental health or stop drug abuse.

The assault rifle discussion is logical, as it's the only likely ban that could even be considered; although I'm guessing the lobbying power of the NRA will make even that a long shot.

As I said, the AR type with its more potent emotional reaction is the next logical step down from fully automatic to semi-automatic. After that is accomplished, and the number of gun deaths is barely reduced, what's next?

[wdmso]

All illegal guns were once legal.. lost or stolen or bought by someone else.... the issue is volume . It's not hard to get a gun in any state

[ReelinRod]

Originally Posted by detbuch

As I said, the AR type with its more potent emotional reaction is the next logical step down from fully automatic to semi-automatic. After that is accomplished, and the number of gun deaths is barely reduced, what's next?

The program has been in continuous operation for 3 decades.

"Assault weapons—just like armor-piercing bullets, machine guns, and plastic firearms—are a new topic. The weapons' menacing looks, coupled with the public's confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons—anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun—can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons. In addition, few people can envision a practical use for these weapons."

Josh Sugarmann, Assault Weapons and Accessories in America, 1988

[ReelinRod]

Originally Posted by Got Stripers

the laws in states making it easy to pick them up and bring them to chicago or NYC where individuals can't meet muster need to be tightened up.

Are you under the impression that running guns is legal?

The laws are there, multiple purchase forms are sent to ATF which then sends them to local law enforcement for follow-up.

Except in leftist hell-holes like Philly where the city told the ATF to stop sending the reports because they didn''t do anything with them and the costs of mandated destruction were too high.

[scottw]

Originally Posted by ReelinRod

Are you under the impression that running guns is legal?

The laws are there, multiple purchase forms are sent to ATF which then sends them to local law enforcement for follow-up.

I was listening to a gun discussion on the radio yesterday between a former RI state Rep and a current RI State Rep...the moderator asked the about the gun violence in the urban areas of RI(Providence)....the former rep's response was that "guns were too easily available and Congress needs to help with more laws"..."someone can drive to Mississippi or New Hampshire and load their car up with AK47's and bring them back to RI".......

sadly the time was up and the current rep who was on the other side of the fence on the issue was unable to respond to that nonsense......

[ReelinRod]

Originally Posted by detbuch

the number deaths by hand gun still dwarf the number by AR types.

The FBI doesn't break out "assault weapons" from the overall rifle category but ALL rifles represent 1.87% of all murder weapons and 2.62% of gun homicide weapons.

Knives, blunt objects and Hands and feet are each used to kill more people than ALL rifles:



(Screengrab from https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s..._2011-2015.xls