Gun Control

[Montmorency]

That's besides the point. I wasn't arguing a direct causal relationship so much as pointing out that more guns do NOT equal more violent crime.

The latter implies the former, so that's a bit dishonest. But this relationship certainly doesn't necessarily imply that gun-quantity does not affect the level of violent crime. Perhaps without so many guns the drop in crime rates would have been even greater? Prove me wrong.

Here is a neat graph, illustrating the drop in homicides over the past few years while the ownership of high powered firearms has hit record levels. Notice the level of deaths caused by rifles and what direction they are moving in spite of record numbers of AR/AK buyers.

That chart is only for death by murder; suicide, homicide of accident/manslaughter... not reflected. Looking it up for myself:

Half of suicide by gun, out of up to 40000-a-year.

CDC lists 19400 by gun-suicide in 2010, so my approximation of 20K is about corect.

CDC further lists 600 killed (in 2010) by "accidental discharge" (an admittedly small figure), and 11000 gun "homicides" - I assume this means something over 2000 killed through manslaughter-by-gun, subtracting from the FBI figures for murder that you put up.

CDC: 31,672 firearm deaths in 2010. Suicide + homicide + accidental discharge and it adds up.

850 deaths by accidental discharge in 2011 - a leap of over 40%. Interesting... Also in 2011, a near-2% rise in suicide-death by firearm.

In 2011 (still above link), 32000+ accidental injuries by firearm.

As for historical trends on suicide, injury, and accidental-discharge death - someone else can do that; I've done my part.

[ICantSpellDawg]

Without question, if a particular gun is connected with abnormal accidental discharge rates, the company should be potentially negligent if investigation should manufacturing fault.

You can't blame guns for suicide, people want to kill themselves lately all over the place in record numbers. You'd just prefer that they take pills or slit their writs? it is way less effective. If people use a gun to do it, that's their own problem. Policies can be put in place to discourage this behavior, as I'm sure the NY requirement that therapists must report all individuals who seem dangerous to the authorities will do...

[Montmorency]

You'd just prefer that they take pills or slit their writs? it is way less effective.

That's a matter of one's personal view on suicide and "right to death"...

If people use a gun to do it, that's their own problem.

If one believes in permitting suicide where it is desired, then one might agree to guns used in 'executions of charity', but not as DIY - certainly if "effectiveness" or lethality are sought after...

But the main point is that guns make suicide easier, regardless of ideology or taste.

Policies can be put in place to discourage this behavior

This falls under mental-health care reform.