"Now is not the time for a gun debate"

[Pacafishmate]

251. Are you seriously insinuating that guns cause people to murder?

That is without a doubt one of the stupidest things I've ever read. How can an inanimate object cause someone to want to murder? If I want to murder, it's because of jealousy, greed, hatred, lust etc etc, not because of the availability of a lump of metal. Please actually try to form a coherent arguement when you post.

As far as the studies go, I propose the following. Michigan prevents local governments from enacting laws stricter than state law. If gun ownership guided the murder rate, one would expect for all counties in Michigan to have a relatively equal homicide rate. However, the homicide rate in Detroit is significantly higher than all other areas of Michigan. Homicides occur for a variety of reasons, but firearms prevalence is not one of them.

For the suicide issue, I will admit that firearms are often the number one choice of method due to ease of use and high likelyhood of success. I don't see this as a problem however, because I see suicide as an extension of self determination. I have a right to die if I so choose.