An Unbiased Analysis of Gun Crime vs. Gun Control?

lyapunov asks: "I have been trying to become more learned on the issues surrounding gun control and crime. I have had quite a time searching the internet for references about these issues. Practically everything that I have found has been written for, or is a study funded by, one of the groups that hold extreme viewpoints on the subject, e.g. the NRA or the Brady Foundation. The same holds true for references that I have found in our library. I was wondering if any of the members of the slashdot community have come across articles that are objective in dealing with these subjects, and I would also ask what ideas the members of this community have about this issue and what FACTS they can offer to support their ideas."

"Just so everyone knows where I stand, and why I am asking this, I offer the following. I enjoy guns and regularly compete in shooting matches and hunt occasionally. I am a member of the NRA, not for political reasons, but due to the fact that most competitions are closed to non-members (which I do think is screwed up). Having said this I am undecided on what a logical path for the future is. I do believe that an unarmed nation is a bad idea, but as Michael Moore pointed out in 'Bowling for Columbine' Canada has a much higher per capita gun ownership rate compared to the US and has nowhere near the amount of violent crime that the US has. All of the statistics that I have seen about countries that have altogether outlawed guns have been manipulated by those extreme groups. As such I find it hard to believe anything that either side presents.

Thanks, I look forward to reading all of your comments and the references that you provide."

Comments

Re:Guns

[DalTech]

Correction: Guns don't kill people, bullets kill people.

Sorry..

[grub]

.. but "unbiased" and "slashdot" would be an oxymoron if used together.

Re:Guns

[Hallow]

Correction: Guns don't kill people, f=ma kills people. :)

Guns cause violence.

[kaosrain]

I used to be a very peaceful person. I never got in fights, and I was very polite. Then, in third grade I got a knife. I didn't really kill anyone with said knife. However, when I got my first pistol, I started killing everyone: Secret Service, dogs, and even bosses! Soon, even the pistol's power wasn't enough, and I needed to move up to machine guns, chainguns, rocket launchers...everything. I even started looting treasures to feed my addiction!

I hope this helped.

Re:Guns

[jmv]

Fact: Guns don't kill people, Americans kill people.

For a shooting to take place (in the US), you need 1) an American and 2) a gun. Now a way of preventing shootings is to remove one of the ingredients. Either get rid of guns or get rid of Americains ;-)

Re:We need to change the constitution

[signal ll]

I agree. There would be far less crime if the Army could quarter troops in our houses.

Re:We need to change the constitution

[Anonymous Coward]

Just what does killing Bambi have to do with a well regulated militia anyway?

Re:News for Geeks? Stuff that Matters?

[Oliver Wendell Jones]

My opinion of the "Guns Kill People" theory. I have guns. I haven't killed anyone.

Much like the classic bumpersticker:
"Ted Kennedy's Car Has Killed More People Than My Gun(s)"

Re:NRA is an extreme point-of-view?

[hswerdfe]

When the president of a club holds up a shot gun and says "From My Cold Dead Hands!"

I'd say thats extreem

but hey thats just me

Re:Center for Disease Control

[Oliver Wendell Jones]

Erm, why the Centre for Disease Control?

Lead poisoning and air poisoning could be considered diseases...

Guns are just a side issue.

[Hayzeus]

The real problem is lawn darts. Sure -- a lawn dart or two tucked away in a drawer somewhere may give you a sense of security, but it is a FALSE sense.

Every hour, 645.3 children are killed by lawn darts.

Most lawn darts are never ultimately used in the defense of a home. But they claim thousands of lives every year nevertheless. An angry spouse might turn to a lawn dart in the heat of an argument with tragic consequences. A suicidal teen reaches for the dart instead of reaching out for help.

Worse yet, 67.3% of all lawn darts are stolen from law-abiding homes, ending up on the black market and used against innocent victims, contributing to the dark, rising tide of lawn dart violence.

Stop the madness. Write your congressperson today and demand an end to this scourge.

Re:My thoughts...

[DevilM]

Since so many people are against banning guns, I suggest we forget it and ban bullets instead.

rap music without guns?

[cpeterso]

If guns were completely abolished, imagine the rap videos on MTV. Snoop and Dre rapping about how their rolled on some suckas with their broadswords and morning stars? Somehow that seems way cooler than taking pot shots at people from the safety of your convertible. :-)

Re:Guns

[05sniper]

For a shooting to take place (in the US), you need 1) an American and 2) a gun. Now a way of preventing shootings is to remove one of the ingredients. Either get rid of guns or get rid of Americains ;-)

Fight the Power! Americans out of the US! NOW!

for fuck's sake, Liberty or Death!

[sideshow]

Having read much of what Patrick Henry wrote and said:

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

I beleive Henry would have grabed his MP-5 and driven down to Washington and assasinated Ashcroft himself.

Facts?

[Anonymous Coward]

I think Homer said it best. "Facts, pfft. You can use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true. Facts-schmacts."

Re:Guns

[mbogosian]

Correction: Guns don't kill people, f=ma kills people.

Actually, I think it's Ek = 1/2mv^2 that kills people.

Re:The author, John Lott

[susano_otter]

See, his conclusion doesn't make sense. I've been watching a lot of Westerns lately, and it's quite clear that more guns lead to more shooting deaths.

Re:Michael Moore got it wrong with Canada.

[TrevorB]

Or to put it another way:

Canadians point their guns at food.

If you had to eat whatever you shot and killed, the world would be a very different place.

(then again those bears are pretty chewy...)

... glorious and free, O Canada I stand on guard for thee...

That's right, *bullets* kill people, not guns

[kfg]

Guns just make bullets go really fast.

You ever try walking into a Seven-Eleven and saying," Ok buddy, give me all the money or I'll push this bullet against your forhead"?

Trust me, they just stand there with that "deer in the headlights" look on their faces.

KFG

Re:Guns

[C0LDFusion]

Yes, I forgot why Australia's gun laws are so strong. We have laws against felons owning guns, too.

MEMO

[scotch]

TO: All Employees of the CDC
RE: New Charter

From the point forward, the CDC will only be concerned with viri and bacteria matters. This new policy, thoughfully suggested by an anonymous coward, will ensure that the CDC is best targetted towards the proper goals envisioned by Mr Coward. All employees researching non-viri and non-bacteria deaths are hereby layed off.

Thank You,
Chief, CDC, USDI

Guns are for people...

[Anonymous Coward]

...to dumb to build thier own death ray.