On Gun Deaths

[Ben]

I wish they would have checked their grammar and punctuation, but I think the numbers are right:



http://twitchy.com/2016/01/08/the-next-time-someone-says-america-has-a-gun-problem-show-them-this-meme/

[Devonai]

If they suggest that suicides would drop without access to guns, point them towards the stats for Japan.

[Angel Eyes]

America DOES NOT have a gun problem.

I have a gun problem.

I can't afford to buy all the guns I want.

[Perd Hapley]

First of all, their math is all screwed up. Secondly, why do they, apparently, dismiss accidental shootings as not a gun problem? Those are the kinds of "gun deaths" most likely to be prevented by gun control. Thirdly, while gangs are obviously more of a problem than guns (because guns are a solution; not a problem), their advice to "not hang out in the hood," sounds a little bit like that Baltimore newspaper columnist from the other day. Some people live and/or work in bad neighborhoods, and find it hard to relocate. So that part comes off a little flip.

[Ben]

First of all, their math is all screwed up. Secondly, why do they, apparently, dismiss accidental shootings as not a gun problem? Those are the kinds of "gun deaths" most likely to be prevented by gun control. Thirdly, while gangs are obviously more of a problem than guns (because guns are a solution; not a problem), their advice to "not hang out in the hood," sounds a little bit like that Baltimore newspaper columnist from the other day. Some people live and/or work in bad neighborhoods, and find it hard to relocate. So that part comes off a little flip.

I HATE YOU AND YOU'RE NOT MY REAL MOM!

[Firethorn]

I wish they would have checked their grammar and punctuation, but I think the numbers are right:

Their numbers are NOT right.

Closest I can get to their number is 2112, that's subtracting gang homicides from the total homicide, so supposedly looking only at murders not involving gangs.  Thing is, people in gangs sometimes kill people who are otherwise non-gang related, which is still 'gang related' because the killer is in one.

Well, I can get to 1792 by adding accidents in(3072), then subtracting the 'justified' column with the idea that they're mostly shooting gang-bangers, and for some reason it's included in the homicide rate.

As for the percentage rate, 1712/312M = .00055%, not what they have.  Adding non-gang homicide and accidents(3072), I get 0.00098%, or 0.98 deaths a year per 100k.

[RoadKingLarry]

A gun death is a very sad thing to see. All the ones I've witnessed were either due to serious operator error, a bad reload or prolonged neglect.
A dead gun is truly heart wrenching.

[Perd Hapley]

A gun death is a very sad thing to see. All the ones I've witnessed were either due to serious operator error, a bad reload or prolonged neglect.
A dead gun is truly heart wrenching.

Winning!