In 2011 almost 9000 people were hospitalized because of dog attacks (a 55% increase from 2001).

[Nine]

14. Are people really going to even deny that we have a DOG attack problem?

I didn't mention the "P word." I didn't advocate BSL. I'm asking people for their ideas on a serious issue and all I get is quibbles about an accurate headline and ridiculous claims that I'm equating dogs with guns. The stats I listed are completely honest, and if they weren't people would be disputing the numbers instead of creating strawman interpretations. The only point I was trying to get across is that this is a serious problem that rivals other issues (like accidental shootings) in magnitude of injuries but which doesn't get as much attention.

I know some people reject the notion that one breed of dog can be more aggressive or dangerous than another. I know some people believe it's not possible to accurately identify dogs. Fine. But I'm not talking about breeds. I'm talking about DOGS. I'm asking for a real discussion, offering people the opportunity to push their non-BSL solutions to this issue, and no one seems to have anything relevant to say.

I don't think it was inappropriate to compare the number of deaths and injuries from dog attacks with the number of deaths and injuries from accidental shootings. They're similar categories to my mind - tragic accidents that might be reduced through better policy. To me it would have been inappropriate to compare dog attacks with deliberate gun violence. That would have implied that dog owners or perhaps the dogs themselves had evil intent the way someone who commits gun violence has. But since the headline has become a distraction, I will change it now.