news:9omdnYzpxavN1ZvG...@westnet.com.au...
Nice assertion, but I note the lack of any proof of causality.
Further I note you don't address the issue of whether it’s the strong rule
of law that actually saves lives with or without gun control.
It's enough to note they are looking at a correlation and one which looks at
states as a whole rather than with a more focused approach.
Because in 54% of US counties there was a ZERO homicide rate in 2016.
And 2% of US counties comprised 51% of the homicide rate, and 5% comprised
68% of the homicide rate.
So I really doubt that you're going to find that strong gun control is
associated with a reduced homicide rate unless you open it up to state wide
levels to dilute the hot spots where homicides are really taking place.
As far as suicides are concerned, and I bet they are the KEY factor in
producing the correlation noted making the homicide issue a moot point but
including it is great for implying a false implication, all the correlation
shows is that where more people have guns, more people are likely to use
guns when engaged in serious suicide. Which when you think about it, really
doesn't tell us anything we don't already know. The guns don't cause them to
be suicidal and it's not like the individual couldn't and wouldn't simply
switch to an alternative highly lethal method if guns weren't around.
Further, the research presented shows that serious suicide is deemed to be
means independent.
So....other than a correlation produced by suicides who are more likely to
chose a gun if one is around and the implied implication that murderers
would do the same, NONE of which shows or even implies causality.
So why would we think that gun control would have ANY impact on that, or
that should an impact occur that the individuals involved wouldn't simply
switch to a similarly lethal means?
No, your fly by hit piece really doesn't show anything that would indicate
the gun control saves lives. At most it might influence means, but unless
you think that people are less dead because they were killed with something
other than a gun.....what are you after?