A Prayer

[ChenPengFi]

Pertinent read here:
http://www.krusekronicle.com/kruse_k...l#.UM9asHeZPMk

Summary: It's getting safer in the US with regards to violence in general, and mass killings are on the decline as well.

Interesting paper here: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.c...ract_id=161637

Few events obtain the same instant worldwide news coverage as multiple victim public shootings. These crimes allow us to study the alternative methods used to kill a large number of people (e.g., shootings versus bombings), marginal deterrence and the severity of the crime, substitutability of penalties, private versus public methods of deterrence and incapacitation, and whether attacks produce copycats. Yet, economists have not studied this phenomenon. Our results are surprising and dramatic. While arrest or conviction rates and the death penalty reduce normal murder rates, our results find that the only policy factor to influence multiple victim public shootings is the passage of concealed handgun laws. We explain why public shootings are more sensitive than other violent crimes to concealed handguns, why the laws reduce both the number of shootings as well as their severity, and why other penalties like executions have differential deterrent effects depending upon the type of murder.

[submessenger]

On what planet did your statement make any sense? You asked what the difference was, I told you what the difference was. Dead vs not dead is pretty much the biggest possible difference. Or are you one of those assholes who refuses to concede a point, no matter how wrong?

No, I didn't ask what the difference was. I asked erezb to tell me:

... how the 22 Chinese children are better off than Lanza's victims because they weren't shot.

Hence, my post about value systems...

[ermghoti]

Pertinent read here:
http://www.krusekronicle.com/kruse_k...l#.UM9asHeZPMk

Summary: It's getting safer in the US with regards to violence in general, and mass killings are on the decline as well.

Interesting paper here: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.c...ract_id=161637

That's all well and good, but we still need to ban black rifles because WHY WONT ANYONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!??!!

[NeilG]

Hence, my post about value systems...

Value systems has nothing to do with it. The kids in China are not dead, because the assailant was armed with a knife not a gun. If the guy in Newtown had only a knife, he would have been tackled by some teacher before he could do nearly as much damage.

[submessenger]

Value systems has nothing to do with it. The kids in China are not dead, because the assailant was armed with a knife not a gun. If the guy in Newtown had only a knife, he would have been tackled by some teacher before he could do nearly as much damage.

I think your emotions are running away with you.

[NeilG]

I think your emotions are running away with you.

Refute the argument, not whatever delusion you have about my emotional state.

[mike321]

Pertinent read here:
http://www.krusekronicle.com/kruse_k...l#.UM9asHeZPMk

Summary: It's getting safer in the US with regards to violence in general, and mass killings are on the decline as well.

Interesting paper here: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.c...ract_id=161637

Lot of homework for me here. I have noticed a trend that these type of murderers seem very reluctant to engage an armed enemy. Suicide seems to be the end result of resistance even when the murderer seems prepared to go out fighting.

The reality of improving safety statistics is an important part of making public policy decisions. Also, I think many see gun control as a way to stop murder. If that's the case I think anyone considering firearm restrictions need to keep the eye on the goal: reduced murder.

Does anyone know if letting a minor access a firearm unattended (even if they don't touch it, for instance unlocked on a wall) is a crime?

[NeilG]

Does anyone know if letting a minor access a firearm unattended (even if they don't touch it, for instance unlocked on a wall) is a crime?

Yes, in some states.

[Zerstörer90]

Value systems has nothing to do with it. The kids in China are not dead, because the assailant was armed with a knife not a gun. If the guy in Newtown had only a knife, he would have been tackled by some teacher before he could do nearly as much damage.

Conjecture much? There is no way to determine the following:
a. Had the attacker in china had a gun, he would have been as effective and determined as Lanza in committing the killings.
b. That had Lanza had a knife instead of a gun, he would have been stopped more easily.
c. That Lanza wouldn't have just made a bunch of explosives in his basement and leveled a city block instead of going on a shooting spree, because he had no access to these firearms.



Also, more Gun control is a problem, not because of taking guns away from the average law-abiding citizen in and of itself. The problem lies in that those motivated to do such things will still find a way to get them, and the rest of us don't have any guns to stop them. Organized crime exists, has existed, and will exist, and can and will absolutely take advantage of a position where they can have high powered semi-automatic weapons that citizens cannot.

Also, I'm not comfortable living in a society where only the military and police can own and carry firearms legally. I do not trust the judgement of a few weighed against the lives of many. None of you should either. All we need do is look at history for the reason why.

Gun safety and awareness for mental health should be the primary factors argued here. I've always been taught that your guns stay in your safe unless you are carrying them. Period. And the ammunition is put in a different safe. Only the gun owner should know the combinations...

[alex]

can guarantee that after all the hand wringing and whining is done, not a fucking single extra cent will be spent on mental health funding.