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: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.

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.