The FAST Approaching Gun Ban

[martin48]

I'm not certain about the figures, but I have a 3 point plan to globally tackle this evil menace.

1 Build wall around the USA to stop Americans going anywhere to shoot people

2 Prevent any American, on grounds of nationality, entering any other country. All overseas visitors will be "Asked do you like Mum's Apple Pie?" I they say "Yes", they will be deported to the USA.

3 Until we work out what the fuck is happening, we will cut USA loose from the internet - this will adversely affect bible-thumping preachers, un-intelligent design fanatics and most porn - but it will be a price worth paying. We will get all those good people in Russia to help us.

[trish]

That's going to be a HUGE wall...HUGE. But the best part of the plan is: 'Murica's going to pay for it.

[fred41]

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/02/us...-gun-violence/

In the last 10 years, in the US, over 400 thousand Americans have been killed by guns. Total killed by terrorism, including overseas 3,380.

About two thirds of that figure covers suicide though.
I know, I know...the numbers would still be high...but I always feel some clarification is in order. Most people see the headline, not the body of the article. When they see 'victims of gun violence', they tend to naturally assume 'homicide'.
People have different opinions on suicide...regardless of whether or not guns make it easier.

[trish]

I see your point. Yet an available gun in the household makes suicide a likelier choice than it would be otherwise. A depressed teen choosing on the spur of the moment to shoot himself because of some childish thing he'd laugh about a decade hence is not a real option, certainly not an choice informed by a rational maturity. For that matter, anyone who decides in a moment of depression to shoot themselves is not thinking clearly. The 'option' they see before them in that firearm, is not a viable option. Moreover, the violence is not limited to the victim but directed at his family and loved ones.

I have no problem including suicide by a gun with the statistics on gun violence.

[fred41]

I know Trish. I certainly see your point, especially given that suicide is most prevalent amongst teenagers, with firearms being the most common choice....and due to hormones and stress, teenagers always see everything as the end of the world without any hope.
Availability does make suicide easier...and in some of the examples you gave (maybe even in the majority of cases sited ) things may have turned out different...perhaps better, had there not been a gun there (or alcohol and drugs plus a gun).
But there are times (rare though that they may seem) where suicide is a rational, personal choice. Some people choose suicide over a remaining lifetime of physical pain; some over a remaining lifetime of mental pain that , at that particular moment, there is no reasonable hope of a cure for...and in those particular cases a gun may be the best solution given.
It's certainly a better option than setting a fire or jumping in front of a train or moving vehicle and victimizing another person...or trying to get someone else to do it (i.e. suicide by cop...which doesn't always involve a firearm).
I think the statistic should be sited, especially so folks might think twice about having a firearm in the house with kids or teenagers...especially when they already appear to be obviously disturbed (I'm looking at you Nancy Lanza...well..you know).
Anyway, I'm not disagreeing with you over all...
...just that, if it's going to be compared to other types of violence for the sake of an attention getting soundbite...I think it should be clarified.

[Misterman1993]

If only the nation had gun laws like in New York.

[fred41]

If only the nation had gun laws like in New York.

NYS or NYC ?
They are different.
N.Y. City's gun laws are much more stringent than N.Y.State's...which are still considered stringent by U.S. standards.

[broncofan]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...icle-1.2468239

The intersection of freedom of speech, human decency, tenure, and insane delusions. The government wants to take their guns away by staging deaths!

[trish]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...icle-1.2468239

The intersection of freedom of speech, human decency, tenure, and insane delusions. The government wants to take their guns away by staging deaths!

Glad to see this fucker pay for spreading pain and lies.

[trish]

http://www.snopes.com/toddlers-kille...ns-terrorists/

Claim: Toddlers killed more Americans than terrorists in 2015.
True
WHAT'S TRUE: Broad counts indicate that 21 toddlers shot and killed themselves or others in 2015; 19 Americans died at the hands of potential or suspected Islamic terrorists.
WHAT'S Undetermined: What constitutes a "toddler," a "foreign terrorist," and which criteria counted toward attaining those totals.