Recent Tweets by astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science communicator, and other-wise pretty smart guy Neil deGrasse Tyson have shared some interesting statistical numbers on guns and death in America.
But, at who's expense? Gun control advocates argue that reducing the availability of guns in America will reduce gun deaths. That seams plausible, but is this probable? Has this tactic worked with illegal drugs? How many billions of dollars have been spent to eliminate drugs from our city streets? Who still thinks they couldn't go to any city, in any state and buy whatever illegal drugs they want? So, making guns illegal won't solve the problem.
Guns need ammunition to be lethal. There is talk of controlling types of ammo available for sale. I would argue that a well placed shot from a .22 could kill just as easily as a military grade 5.56mm round. This argument doesn't seem plausible.
Limiting the capacity of rounds in a magazine. This one actually made me laugh. Does anyone remember how long it took Oswald to fire off three rounds from a bolt action rifle scoring three headshots from over a few hundred yards away... at a moving target? 6 seconds, according to the Zapruder film! It can take a seasoned firearm expert half that time to eject and reload a 10 round magazine from just about any platform. Really, reducing 30 round, or "high-capacity" magazines. Nope.
We already have laws about felons and offenders not being allowed to own guns, but that is pretty hard to enforce seeing as it is illegal to search them without probable cause... and being a felon released from prison, who served their time... is NOT probable cause.
My point is, there is no real legitimate gun control that will do what is needed... reduce gun violence. Here is why... people who commit gun violence are going to find a way, just as a drug addict will find a way. The only real solution is to take full responsibility for yourself, your weapon (should you choose to carry or not), and your training. Responsible gun ownership is the only real solution for gun control in America.
I am a licensed conceal carry permit holder. I am a veteran of the military with extensive training in firearm safety. I understand fully what a firearm can do, what it is intended to do, and the risks involved with carrying a loaded weapon. I train monthly at the range. I do not consider myself an avid "gun nut". I carry everywhere I am aloud to carry. I have a plan should I ever have to use my weapon in defense. I study the laws regarding guns in my state, and I seek to learn about any changes. I teach my children the universal gun safety rules:
I carry my weapon on me because there are people out there who have guns and make stupid choices. I carry my weapon at all times because there are imbalanced people with guns thinking up craziness. I carry everywhere because I cannot know the time or place I will be required to defend myself or another. I pray to God everyday I don't have to use my weapon to take a life. I thank Him at the end of each day I succeed in not using my weapon.
But, rest assured, if that day ever comes where lives are on the line and the use of deadly force is necessary... I will not hesitate a second to use my weapon. For me, I don't need a politician to decide for me what is right with my ability to defend myself. I will not get caught bringing a knife to a gun fight. In the end, I believe gun control is just another senseless argument used by politicians to divide a nation even further. I believe gun control to any real extent is futile.
You cannot stop crazy. You can only prepare for it.
It is better to have a gun and not need one, than to need a gun and not have one.
JP
- 1.4 million Americans have died in all wars fought since 1776. 1.4 million Americans have died via household guns since 1968.
- 400,000 Americans died in WWII. 400,000 Americans died by household firearms since 2001.
- 3,400 Americans died by terrorism since 2001. 3,400 Americans died by household firearms since five weeks ago.
- (Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) Nov 9, 2015)
- There were 30,057 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2013, in which 32,719 deaths occurred. That averages out to about 630 deaths a week, or 3,150 over a 5 week period. (IIHS, 2015)
- 600,000+ people die each year from heart disease. almost 600,000 from cancer. 130,000 from deadly strokes. 85,000 from Alzheimer's. (CDC, 2015)
But, at who's expense? Gun control advocates argue that reducing the availability of guns in America will reduce gun deaths. That seams plausible, but is this probable? Has this tactic worked with illegal drugs? How many billions of dollars have been spent to eliminate drugs from our city streets? Who still thinks they couldn't go to any city, in any state and buy whatever illegal drugs they want? So, making guns illegal won't solve the problem.
Guns need ammunition to be lethal. There is talk of controlling types of ammo available for sale. I would argue that a well placed shot from a .22 could kill just as easily as a military grade 5.56mm round. This argument doesn't seem plausible.
Limiting the capacity of rounds in a magazine. This one actually made me laugh. Does anyone remember how long it took Oswald to fire off three rounds from a bolt action rifle scoring three headshots from over a few hundred yards away... at a moving target? 6 seconds, according to the Zapruder film! It can take a seasoned firearm expert half that time to eject and reload a 10 round magazine from just about any platform. Really, reducing 30 round, or "high-capacity" magazines. Nope.
We already have laws about felons and offenders not being allowed to own guns, but that is pretty hard to enforce seeing as it is illegal to search them without probable cause... and being a felon released from prison, who served their time... is NOT probable cause.
My point is, there is no real legitimate gun control that will do what is needed... reduce gun violence. Here is why... people who commit gun violence are going to find a way, just as a drug addict will find a way. The only real solution is to take full responsibility for yourself, your weapon (should you choose to carry or not), and your training. Responsible gun ownership is the only real solution for gun control in America.
I am a licensed conceal carry permit holder. I am a veteran of the military with extensive training in firearm safety. I understand fully what a firearm can do, what it is intended to do, and the risks involved with carrying a loaded weapon. I train monthly at the range. I do not consider myself an avid "gun nut". I carry everywhere I am aloud to carry. I have a plan should I ever have to use my weapon in defense. I study the laws regarding guns in my state, and I seek to learn about any changes. I teach my children the universal gun safety rules:
- Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
- Never point your weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
- Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
- Keep your weapon on safe until you are ready to fire.
I carry my weapon on me because there are people out there who have guns and make stupid choices. I carry my weapon at all times because there are imbalanced people with guns thinking up craziness. I carry everywhere because I cannot know the time or place I will be required to defend myself or another. I pray to God everyday I don't have to use my weapon to take a life. I thank Him at the end of each day I succeed in not using my weapon.
But, rest assured, if that day ever comes where lives are on the line and the use of deadly force is necessary... I will not hesitate a second to use my weapon. For me, I don't need a politician to decide for me what is right with my ability to defend myself. I will not get caught bringing a knife to a gun fight. In the end, I believe gun control is just another senseless argument used by politicians to divide a nation even further. I believe gun control to any real extent is futile.
You cannot stop crazy. You can only prepare for it.
It is better to have a gun and not need one, than to need a gun and not have one.
JP
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