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In reply to the discussion: 90,000 since Sandyhook?? [View all]passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)48. Across states, more guns = more suicide
Using a validated proxy for firearm ownership rates, we analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and suicide across 50 states over a ten year period (1988-1997). After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, across the United States, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of suicide, particularly firearm suicide.
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hicrc/firearms-research/gun-ownership-and-use/
It's silly trying to compare this to other tragedies. We need to look at statistics to understand why there are so many gun deaths, and then try to reduce those numbers.
We already do something to try to reduce drunk drivers and distracted drivers. Laws that prohibit driving drunk without penalty, and also driving while distracted on cell phones, etc.
Where are the laws to prohibit suicide by gun, or any other kind of gun deaths? Sure, it's illegal to commit suicide. Do we put those bodies in jail?
Once you have a gun, a law isn't going to stop you, if you intend to use it to kill someone, even yourself.
the only way to prevent deaths by guns is to pass some common sense laws that keep some kinds of guns out of the hands of all people, and to keep all guns out of the hands of mentally ill people, or people determined to be a threat to other humans (like this guy who beat his ex-wife regularly until her father rescued her).
We need to eliminate the most deadly kinds of guns that are most often used in mass shootings. That won't end all deaths in mass shootings, but it might reduce the numbers of people killed, and in doing that, we make it look much less glamorous to those socially disturbed people who idolize previous mass shooters/killers. Like this guy did the Boston Bombers.
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Nope and notice they are trying to rationalize gun culture by saying those that killed themselves
Rex
Jun 2016
#10
For people that pulled the trigger and ended a life? Yep, she is using accurate numbers.
Rex
Jun 2016
#55
We can't talk about deaths from gun violence unless all deaths from all other causes are stamped out
Major Nikon
Jun 2016
#44
People who try to commit suicide with poison or cutting there wrists etc, usually back out.
LiberalArkie
Jun 2016
#27
I'm sorry for your loss. Suicides happen by other means, yes, but guns do make it easier.
Zynx
Jun 2016
#40