The FAST Approaching Gun Ban

[redsweater]

I don't think that the fact that there are other things to regulate means that it's too unwieldy to regulate guns.

Fair enough. For the record, I do more or less agree with the federal assault weapons ban. A handgun ban might be going a bit far.

[fivekatz]

While people of reason are talking about registration and control of sales and limiting access to assault weapons the NRAs answer to gun violence is more guns. Only in a media world where both sides are given equal time as though there is always two sides of equal sanity to every issue could an organization take this stand only months after Newtown without being destroyed by media.

For the record, I am sure that the framers had not a clue what the world would look like today or that ordinary citizens could buy weapons of mass destruction for personal use unfettered by any regulation based on the Bill of Rights. At any rate these same old, rich, white guys also avoided slavery completely in their work so it was far from the Ten Commandments and we as a people should regularly access the intent of the freedoms they wished to create for fellow old, rich, whites guys to govern all of us we have the last 230 plus years.

[trish]

Since Easter:

Four year old accidentally shoots and kills himself in Mobile, Alabama.

Fourteen year old boy trips, discharges his pistol and shoots his own leg.

Twenty two year old Maine resident shot his hand while trying to remove a bullet from the chamber of his Glock.

Six year old Floridian boy who found a gun inside a car kills his six year old sister.

Off duty Pennsylavania police officer accidentally shoots a citizen in the hand.

Arkansas man accidentally shoots himself.

Ohio man playing with his gun shoots himself in three places.

Arizona man killed when his twelve year old son’s gun discharges.

Oklahoma woman accidently shot in the arm by boyfriend.

Eighteen year old Ohio football player accidentally shot in his pickup.

South Carolina man accidentally shot in the thigh while “mudding” at a bonfile.

Three year old find father’s gun under the bed, shoots his thumb off.


http://accidentalgunshots.tumblr.com/

[broncofan]

Since Easter:

Arizona man killed when his twelve year old son’s gun discharges.

That's why kids shouldn't own guns. Their parents might accidentally shoot themselves.

[redsweater]

This is why it's best to just pull emotionally charged, anecdotal evidence completely out of the discussion. People die every day, and people are hurt every day. The way that people die or get hurt makes people more or less upset depending on what it is.

To pro gun supporters: You're not entitled to have any weapon you want. There will be limits, so just focus on where you think a reasonable place to draw the line is.

To anti gun advocates: Even if you're completely right about everything, you're more likely to save lives by spending your time on almost any other cause. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm

[buttslinger]

Bear in mind that this thread started out scaremongering against a ban that will never happen.

Meanwhile the gun nuts will continue to buy assault weapons with huge cartridge clips and more innocents will die in multiple shootings.

If that's how you choose to define freedom then I for one want no part of it.

I thought Old Robert was a tad cynical three months ago, but it's looking now like the NRA is stronger than ever, and freedom means freedom not to worry about it. Most non-violent people purposely AVOID gun play, and distance themselves from people that are losing their marbles. Maybe Joseph Conrad was right, Civilization is for the scaredy-cats.

[trish]

There are over 23000 non-fatal gun accidents in the U.S. per year. Over 19000 suicides by guns.

Most gun owners think, "Shit, I'm not going to have an accident or commit suicide." They aren't thinking of their secretive teenage son or daughter who, like lots of teenagers, may be going through a rough emotional period. They aren't thinking of their six year old who is capable of finding anything and everything thought to be hidden.

The cdc list linked above includes the category "accidents." "Accidents involving guns" is a subcategory we can do something about.

The report of one gun accident is an anecdote. Yes gun deaths are high, but gun injuries are too. The fact that one can report on dozens of them day after day after day is something more than an ancedote. The fact that we can see that almost every gun accident is due to stupidity or negligence or both underscores what an incredibly dangerous hazard the very presence of a gun is. This is something that needs to be regulated and controlled.

[hippifried]

That's why kids shouldn't own guns. Their parents might accidentally shoot themselves.

There ya go... But how does that equate to "shouldn't"? Sometimes the parents need a little help. The Menendez genetic strain has now been severed. That's not a good thing?

[broncofan]

There ya go... But how does that equate to "shouldn't"? Sometimes the parents need a little help. The Menendez genetic strain has now been severed. That's not a good thing?

Ah yes, Eric and Lyle. I forgot about them;. Perhaps the NRA wants to use them as a success story.

[redsweater]

There are 32000 gun deaths/year in the US. About 20,000 of them are suicides. If the rest of those deaths are accidents (they're not), then that's 10% of accidents. Accidental poisoning accounts for more at 33,000/year.

As an aside, I noticed that guns are the method of choice for suicide, accounting for a little over half.