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Gun Control & RKBA

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flamin lib

(14,559 posts)
Tue Jun 7, 2016, 02:58 PM Jun 2016

A recent thread sort of asked why we can't have cogent discussions about guns. [View all]

It's largely because the two sides of the issue live in separate universes with separate rules of logic and laws of physics.

Beyond the fact that people who hang out in places like the gungeon are deeply invested in the issue of guns and are arguably on the fringe of gun owners as a whole the two sides talk past each other instead of to each other. I found a characterization of this split in outlook in a book I'm reading about law suits and the gun industry. The book is ostensibly neutral but I haven't read enough to make a judgement on that and it's an uphill slog, like reading a phone book, fact filled but extremely sleep inducing.

In chapter one the author discusses the problem with studies and statistics. Criminologists and Medical professionals approach the topic from two distinctly different places and, like us, talk past each other. Criminologists see gun violence as a criminal issue. After all, Crime is in the name, right? Medical researchers see it as a vector issue. Medical researchers look at all injuries involving guns, criminologists see only crime related injuries. That means that accidents and suicides are given short shrift by criminologists.

Putting this in an allegory about the Zika virus it works out like this:

Medical researchers look at microcephaly and conclude that it is caused by the Zika virus, analogous to looking at wounds and concluding that guns caused them. Criminologist would look at microcephaly and see that Zika is spread by mosquitoes analogous to seeing wounds and concluding that a criminal used a gun.

The results are that the medical perspective is to control or defeat the vector; develop a vaccine or restrict exposure to the virus, analogous to passing restrictions on access to guns while criminologists tend to control mosquitoes thru insecticides and such analogous to strictly enforcing laws and harsh sentencing.

The problem I see with the criminologist outlook is that it doesn't address suicide and accidents, analogous to ignoring sexual transmission of Zika. We can't prevent people from having sex so why try addressing it (they'll just use another method of suicide) and you can't legislate stupid out of existence so why try?

Both approaches have merit but the two sides of the gun issue can't see or recognize that. There's also the perceived need to 'win' as if decreasing gun violence is a zero sum game, one side having to lose for the other to win. The truth is that both sides of the issue would benefit from a reduction in violence involving guns regardless of which model is applied.

And of course, some people want to make it personal and just pick a fight . . .

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Recommended. My addition would be the words guillaumeb Jun 2016 #1
Yes, people will reject you if you attribute to them things they have not said and do not believe. Nuclear Unicorn Jun 2016 #14
Universes... beevul Jun 2016 #2
"separate universes with separate rules of logic..." jmg257 Jun 2016 #3
We can dismiss your argument... theatre goon Jun 2016 #4
That's not a derogatory remark, simply saying that people who hang out in flamin lib Jun 2016 #5
Sure, keep moving those goalposts. theatre goon Jun 2016 #6
And then there are some people . . . nt flamin lib Jun 2016 #7
What if you hang out in discussion groups TeddyR Jun 2016 #10
who is also a crappy musician gejohnston Jun 2016 #13
You called me fringe Duckhunter935 Jun 2016 #12
Noting the same "like this one." I do seem pretty leftist, now that you bring it up. Eleanors38 Jun 2016 #20
The NRA membership may be only 3% of gun owners, benEzra Jun 2016 #52
Yes, I saw that Duckhunter935 Jun 2016 #11
Some of them do seem to believe... theatre goon Jun 2016 #15
What you're describing... beevul Jun 2016 #17
Wonder how much of that Skinner will tolerate with his renewed rules of civility? DonP Jun 2016 #18
Uh huh. beevul Jun 2016 #19
Add ammosexuals to the list Duckhunter935 Jun 2016 #27
Do you think that juries sarisataka Jun 2016 #28
It would be surprising Duckhunter935 Jun 2016 #29
An appeals process means those ignoring the rules will be recognized... beevul Jun 2016 #30
I hope so Duckhunter935 Jun 2016 #31
I also note this singling out of the NRA in the context of pre-banned RW sources... Eleanors38 Jun 2016 #22
Reminds me of an incident in H.S. I was a big civil rights supporter, a redneck friend wasn't... Eleanors38 Jun 2016 #21
That reminds me of "bailing out" my daughter in High School DonP Jun 2016 #24
Heh-heh. Those were the good ol' days. (Afraid it sounds like an old tale, too.) Eleanors38 Jun 2016 #25
She's 40 now and teaches English Lit at Chicago's top High School DonP Jun 2016 #26
He best legends are family legends. Eleanors38 Jun 2016 #34
Bansalot Puha Ekapi Jun 2016 #23
The OP is a rather weak dancer IMO. pablo_marmol Jun 2016 #36
Bear in mind this is originating from a universe where words have... Marengo Jun 2016 #39
K&R - great post! Kang Colby Jun 2016 #8
Wonder why the OP never responded to your question about the book he was reading. pablo_marmol Jun 2016 #32
Reminds me of of another poster Duckhunter935 Jun 2016 #33
Guess we got our answer re. why we can't have cogent discussions, eh? pablo_marmol Jun 2016 #35
I would use a stronger term Duckhunter935 Jun 2016 #37
I can't imagine the answer to be so awkward or revealing as to trigger... Marengo Jun 2016 #40
I could kick at your analogies a bit, but that'd be nitpicking. Decoy of Fenris Jun 2016 #9
Oh, look. It's another "It's hard to have a civil discussion because you 'people' suck" thread. Nuclear Unicorn Jun 2016 #16
What is the name of the book? Duckhunter935 Jun 2016 #38
I would also like to know the title of this book... Marengo Jun 2016 #41
Seems like "Suing the Gun industry" by Timothy D. Lytton jmg257 Jun 2016 #42
Sorry to be so late but that's the book. flamin lib Jun 2016 #43
Thanks for the heads up - and about the "sleep inducing". Cheers! nt jmg257 Jun 2016 #44
Must say.....not surprised that you'd be drawn to a book with that title. pablo_marmol Jun 2016 #45
Kleck couldn't research his way out of a paper bag with a road map and a razor blade.nt flamin lib Jun 2016 #46
Would you say that... Puha Ekapi Jun 2016 #47
There are several issues with Klecks methods. flamin lib Jun 2016 #49
just a few things gejohnston Jun 2016 #51
Sorry, GE, but you are positively, absolutely WRONG on every point. nt flamin lib Jun 2016 #54
Asserted without evidence -- dismissed without evidence. NT pablo_marmol Jun 2016 #57
You talking to me or to GE? flamin lib Jun 2016 #59
"Either way you bring NOTHING to the conversation. pablo_marmol Jun 2016 #61
Mr. Johnston did a good job on slapping your nonsense down.....but more points: pablo_marmol Jun 2016 #55
Yeah and suppressors will save your hearing. Naaa, they just make your gun longer flamin lib Jun 2016 #60
That nonsense again? Straw Man Jun 2016 #62
After all the complaining about a lack of cogent discussion... Marengo Jun 2016 #64
From that right-wing CDC: (Ooooooops!) pablo_marmol Jun 2016 #56
But the CDC is banned from doing research regarding guns! theatre goon Jun 2016 #63
No........you don't need the sarcasm tag. pablo_marmol Jun 2016 #65
LOL - even though pro-control academics have reached the same conclusions re. DGU's. pablo_marmol Jun 2016 #48
See #47. nt flamin lib Jun 2016 #50
I still have yet to see many on the gun control side acknowledge the rarity of rifle misuse, benEzra Jun 2016 #53
Part of the reason is faith-promoting rumor like the following-note who the author is: friendly_iconoclast Jun 2016 #58
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