Slashdot Mirror
Ask Slashdot: Can Technology Prevent Shootings?
An anonymous reader wonders if there's a technological response to mass shootings like this Sunday's attack in Orlando, Florida:
We're in for a sadly obvious debate now with all of the usual scapegoats, but instead of focusing on who's to blame, it'd be better to identify some specific actions that could actually generate real increases in public safety going forward...
If we're looking for radical changes in the way we live, does technology have a role? Is the answer smart gun technology? Mandatory metal detectors at night clubs? Better data analysis algorithms for the federal government? Bulletproof fabrics?
Share your best ideas in the comments. Could there be a technological solution to the problem of mass shootings?
If we're looking for radical changes in the way we live, does technology have a role? Is the answer smart gun technology? Mandatory metal detectors at night clubs? Better data analysis algorithms for the federal government? Bulletproof fabrics?
Share your best ideas in the comments. Could there be a technological solution to the problem of mass shootings?
Not at all what happens in states with right to carry. Gun violence is *down* from other states. But, spout some more prop.
The big difference: Europe never allowed citizens to own guns the way the US does. Maintaining the gun control in Europe is much easier than introducing one in the US. In the US, it requires the taking back of a lot of guns, which is not likely to happen. Specially not the illegal ones.
It doesn't have to be like this. All we need to do is make sure we keep talking.
My local school has tried to reassure parents by pointing to the double locked doors, the front desk staff, the required sign-ins, etc...
That "school" sounds more like a prison to me.
It's really sad to see that things have come this far.
But maybe we're on to something here . . . maybe we can consolidate schools and prisons . . . ?
Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
Also, the worst mass killing in a nightclub simply used gasoline to kill 87.
I'd argue that there's a fair number of cases where the usage of firearms probably saved lives - because when terrorists go for arson or explosives they frequently kill more people.
Worst school attack, fatality wise? Explosives
Worst night club attack? Arson
etc...
I don't read AC A human right
That is woefully ignorant thing to say.
Ignorance is what is toxic.
Liberals and progressives don't believe in the power of the state.
The power of the state can originate in many places.
In western liberal political theory that place is the people, ie, the consent of the governed.
That is then represented though democracy, either direct or representative.
the power of the state can also originate in a belief in divine right of a special family. we call those monarchies.
some places believe in the power of god (or other religion) empowers some religious leader. those are theocracies.
or in the power of the military. we call those military dictatorships.
Liberals and progressives believe that all political power and authority, ie "the state", originates in the people, the governed, not the state itself, nor do we worship it.
Question is: where do you believe it originates?
Since you seem to have a problem with a basic tenet of western liberalism.
Are you one of those conservatives who is tired of the military being limited by civilian oversight?
Maybe a military junta is more to your liking then.
Or perhaps you think the people have limited religion too much, and a theocracy would be more to your liking?
Or there's always merry old England, if a King/Queen is more your thing.
The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
the downward trend in crime is very long-term and consistent and shows zero correlation to the increase in CCW permits.
what we have instead in this country, on both state-by-state basis, as well as a metro-area basis, is very clear correlations between gun prevalence and gun deaths. and it's summed up thus: more guns = more deaths.
this trend also is clearly shown at the national levels as well, as of all western nations the US has by far the most gun deaths of any nation not currently engaged in an active conflict.
as for permit carriers actually stopping crimes, for every gun used in self defense, 34 people die.
and yes, the FBI and CDC has statistics.
In 2012, there were 8,855 criminal gun homicides in the FBI's homicide database, but only 258 gun killings by private citizens that were deemed justifiable, which the FBI defines as "the killing of a felon, during the commission of a felony, by a private citizen."
That works out to one justifiable gun death for every 34 unjustifiable gun deaths.
Or, look at it this way. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that in 2012 there were 20,666 suicides by gun. That works out to one self-defense killing for every 78 gun suicides. CDC data show that there were more than twice as many accidental gun fatalities as as justifiable killings.
There are, of course, plenty of solid arguments for robust 2nd Amendment protections. Millions of people use guns for sport and recreation every day. The vast majority of gun owners are responsible citizens, not criminals.
But, though some people certainly use guns for self-defense, the data suggest that overall, guns are used far more often for killing than self-defense. As a result, it may be worth thinking twice about arguments for more guns in schools, churches and other public places.
Don't like those statistics?
Then lobby Congress to remove the ban on funding for actual dedicated research of gun violence.
After all, what have you got to lose?
If you're right and the current statistics are completely wrong, then actual dedicated statistics research and collection should prove that.
The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
The greatest number of people killed in the 20th century were killed by atheists in China and the old Soviet Union.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/... And that was a trained policeman who shot one of his own by mistaking him for the assailant. Or the admission of someone at the Gabby Giffords shooting who said he came very close to shooting someone who had wrestled the gun away from the attacker. http://www.slate.com/articles/... You really need to stop believing movies are reality. If you don't have situational awareness you hurt more than help. And if your in the thick of an attack you don't have it.
People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people