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

News for Geeks? Stuff that Matters?

[Mr. Droopy Drawers]

Come on! How's this fit the mission of this site?

What more could you get besides, "How about a beowoulf cluster of those?".

Re:News for Geeks? Stuff that Matters?

[JWSmythe]

If you took the population of the US, and put it in GB, you'd have a slight overpopulation problem. :)

Have you ever seen "Reign of Fire"? Remember the scene with the GI Joe lookin' fuckers riding up, and the "Oh no, they're Americans". America has managed to portray ourselves as exactly that, but quite a few of us do have the matching attitude.

So, if we were in GB with American gun laws (well, before they've all been ruined by state governments), crime would definatley drop. Who would rob a house knowing there was a 75% chance the owner or a neighbor was armed and ready to defend that property? Person on person violence would drop too, knowing the guy you were going to mug might just be carrying too.

It's easy to be a criminal with a gun. You walk into the scenerio with an aura of power. But it doesn't work quite as well when you're equally matched.

A mugger won't touch me on the street if he's unarmed. If he has a gun, he wonders if I do too. I look like the type that may just be carrying. Sometimes I am. If I'm escorting equipment, money, or doing work in a dangerous area, it's quite likely I will be.

Re:News for Geeks? Stuff that Matters?

[Wyatt Earp]

"First, protection from what?"

Hell, from anything. Ever have someone try to bash in a door at 3 am while they were drunk and looking to steal a car in the middle of Nowhere South Dakota? I have. I live in the city and while the city is mostly safe, I know that shit can happen and I have a pistol by the door.

"Second, why by the door? If the DHID kick the door down and barge in, they've cut you off from your protection before you've even figured out what's going on."

Did I say the only weapon is the Jericho? No I did not.
Thats the back up. I have a fall back position with some other items. Including non-lethals.

"Finally, have you ever opened the door to a situation that could be best resolved by killing someone?"

No, but I have opened the door to situations that could very well resulted in gunfire for self-defense.

Around 30% of taser or electrical strikes from a stun-gun fail in police less than leathal strikes. That is one of the reasons the Sky Marshals won't use them.

I never said that I solve problems by using a gun. I never said I answer the door with a gun. I said I have one.

I never said I wanted to murder anyone, I never said I want to use a gun to solve a problem. I never said I shoot at Police. I never said I live in a bad area.

I said I have weapons as tools of defense in a last resort situation.

I also have firearms as tools to hone physcial and mental skills.

It seems to me that you think gunownership equals violence, it does not.

Re:Guns

[sp3c1alK]

Guns don't kill people. People kill people.....with guns. Always liked that one:)

"news for nerds"

[kipple]

The topic is surely very interesting, but I'm asking myself what does it has to do with slashdot - besides the fact that many docs are available online.

I'm not saying that this topic is good, bad or ugly - I'm just saying that maybe it's been asked in the wrong place.

Try seeing 'Bowling for Columbine.'

[arkham6]

Its a interesting and at times funny, and at other times very sad and scary film. He makes a good point in saying that Canada, which has almost as many guns per capita as the US has almost no gun violence. It still may be in some theaters, so if you can find it, do so.

Confusion

[crawdaddy]

In Soviet Russia, gun kills you! Wait no...lemme try again.

In Soviet Russia, you kill gun! ...shit

Check it out

[Malicious]

Bowling for Columbine. It may not be completely unbiased, but Michael Moore's pretty good at shedding light on what people don't want you to see.
Now playng at a theater near you.

More Guns, Less Crime

[libertynews]

More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun-Control Laws (Studies in Law and Economics (Chicago, Ill.).)

Factual analysis of gun laws in the United States. The title may seem 'biased' but it is in reality a summary of the situation.

Are you willing to put people in prison for defending their lives, as has been done in England? Guns and gun rights are the fundamental requirement for a free people. Without individual gun ownership you have no protection against a despotic government.