I find in the wake of multiple mass shootings recently, the amount of people talking gun control is appalling. It really is needless to say that “Guns do not kill people, its the people killing people”, But I will say it anyways.
Any one of these individuals could have killed anyone with anything, for example, a yellow school pencil if they really wanted to. This article is going to be about the types of death in America and will give you bit more perspective on things.
The next link is from the UK Guardian. I figure a little perspective on how we are perceived in the world. This is the mainstream liberal newspaper of Great Britain. It touts that …
And the murder figures themselves are astounding for Brits used to around 550 murders per year. In 2011 – the latest year for which detailed statistics are available – there were 12,664 murders in the US. Of those, 8,583 were caused by firearms.”
Roughly 67% of murders were achieved with guns. This implies that 33% done in other creative ways. So already there are other ways to die apparently.
The paper here is trying to compare the small size of Britain and their population in comparison here. There is just under 60 million within England, Scotland and Wales. The land mass is equivalent to 95,000 Square miles. Alaska is 10 times greater in mass with 9 times less in population, has a near 60% of Alaskan population own guns, yet the gun murder rate is 2.58 per 100,000. That’s as near to ZERO as you can get, especially when you consider you have a hard time getting a gun in Britain. While the argument that might be made is there is so much landmass and the argument is not sound. I submit that the person using this argument obviously has not considered the fact that for the most part, people live near each other for a multitude of reasons. They are called population centers! Now for one to accept the fact that all these citizens living next to each other and yet near zero gun deaths. Again 2.58 per 100k in population. Roughly 15 deaths a year in Alaska.
When you look at the map of America which shows the hot spots you will see it is population centers. What do all these places have in common is my question?
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/12/geography-us-gun-violence/4171/
Let us look to other ways that are killing people in America, through someones inventiveness!
The American lung association has said this.
“Cigarette smoking has been identified as the most important source of preventable morbidity (disease and illness) and premature mortality (death) worldwide. Smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 443,000 American lives each year, including those affected indirectly, such as babies born prematurely due to prenatal maternal smoking and victims of “secondhand” exposure to tobacco’s carcinogens. Smoking cost the United States over $193 billion in 2004, including $97 billion in lost productivity and $96 billion in direct health care expenditures, or an average of $4,260 per adult smoker.”
Almost half a million people a year for deaths in the tobacco industry. That is 22 times the amount of gun deaths per year. Where is all the outcry for this? You may say adversaries of Big Tobacco have been trying for years, but in vain.
Why would they “kill” the tobacco industry? The Liberals and RINO’s (republican in name only) in congress get far to much taxes of this industry. For instance, every year cigarettes go up with taxes. If the government did not tax so much for this product, it would probably be $2 a pack without all the regulation(hint: Gun Control). Back to the government taxing Big Tobacco.
http://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/2010/06/22/how-much-is-the-government-making-off-of-tobacco/
What else is out there that kills Americans that someone else is apparently to blame in this new President Obama culture?
What about medical errors?
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/11856.php
Almost 200,000 dead from your doctors and nurses making a mistake or intentional. We will never know. That is 10 times the amount of gun deaths and no outcry to ban hospitals.
How about Alcoholism? 47,000 deaths. That is twice the death rate from guns(which by the way includes the mass shootings). Are we going to put the distilleries out of business? NO!
http://recoveryfirst.org/alcohol-related-injuries-and-deaths-in-the-us.html/
What about motor vehicles?
Are we going to ban cars? Highly doubtful!!
Lets mention prescription drugs. There are 20,000 deaths from pharmaceutical drugs. Two third are from narcotic pain killers. While we are here, what about all advertising for the new drugs on the market? Have you noticed the side effects list goes on and on so fast it is a wonder, even with a fast talker 30 seconds isn’t long enough for them to get all the adverse effects in the commercial.
And lastly, what about Non-firearm murders. While the stat is very similar, hammers, bats and knives eeeks it out.
There are many other forms of death. For example, cancer, suicide, suicide by gun as well…. as a whole host of other ways.
The solution is not gun control. Fact of the matter people kill people whether it is intentional or not. With a wide variety of ways. You take a risk every time you walk out the door. With all the shooting lately of truly “innocent’ victims lately, Do you really want the Liberals taking away your GOD given RIGHT to Bear Arms as the Second Amendment allows, TAX the very ammo you need to protect yourself, or publish your name and address for the general public to know.
Hunting rifles aside, The Second Amendment was designed by the founders for the protection of the citizens from the very government that was oppressive in Europe and to GUARD against these type actions again on a new continent for a NEW way of governance.
With the current administrations similar oppression on our economy, our foreign policies and military, We as Americans need to stand up and fight our Rights. We have so few left!
“. . . data from the United States suggests that about 30% of assaults involve alcohol (without other drugs) and 40 to 50% of violent crimes involve alcohol or a combination of alcohol and drugs.”
Also I would add, if you take into account the total population of 300-320 million+ into play, most of these numbers are infinitesimal.
Vote Conservative.
I am not American therefore I am clearly spiritually, morally and intellectually lacking if I’m reading your posts correctly but in my humble opinion if you want to give a bit of perspective on how the rest of the world feel about gun ownership in your country quoting one politically biased British newspaper article isn’t going to do it.
As my fellow (heathen, barbaric) countrymen no longer have to arm themselves to the teeth just to survive attacks from wolves, bears and land marauding clansmen why would I have to be armed in this day and age?
The most dangerous animal I will ever have to protect myself from is most likely another person. There are many people who’s judgement is distorted by drugs/drink, not to mention the 1 in 4 who will suffer from mental health issues in any given year.
Are you seriously saying that government should allow these people access to weaponry which is specifically designed to kill? And that the the best way of controlling this is to buy your own gun then shoot them if they start to get out of hand??? Really?
By the way, as a barbaric Scot if anyone tries to stab me with a yellow school pencil I will break their arm.
My point was simply, that Britain is an ally and is trying to make America look bad with our guns in our citizens hands. Most countries are not a true ally and therefore do not care what their paper says about us. While there are many newspapers in Britain I am sure(Lived there), most are no doubt of liberal bias. If it was not for America, it would be hard to figure out where Britain would be on the world stage. It was a guns from America, sacrifice in blood, as well as treasure to hold Europe together since the early 20th century.
As for your comment on the clansmen and the wilds, you yourself said the only thing you have to fear is another human. So your saying that only 75% of a given population is acceptably sane in a given year. Odd, since that is still a majority, I find it appalling that people of that mindset would let the rest of the citizens not arm themselves because of a few.
With everything there will be issues. Nothing is perfect, however we can make it as fair as possible for the rest of the population. While we are on the mental health issue, I wonder if the British papers have said anything about the policies going on in America at the moment. For instance, If it is a mental health issue, why are we talking gun control? Why is ammunition being taxed at a much higher rate? While a little off topic, Democrats and liberals in America hate profits from corporations, why then are they taxing the citizens instead of the profits themselves? CONTROL is the answer!
The Second Amendment was derived because of the persecution from a european governing badly. The constitution these days from a liberal standpoint, thinks the constitution is an outdated document. They fail to regard the founding principles as the sole reason we survive as a country. Rules are fair for all. We are guaranteed a shot at happiness. It doesnt say we will attain it, but we all have an equal go at it. Providing the people vote for fairness and for the protection of their fellow man, instead of voting for personal bias and selfish reasons.
Governments are atrocious throughout history and Americas system of things allowed Americans to get much further than any other nation/state in all of history. Not only did we as a nation do it far quicker, but we also have lasted longer than most empires in history. It is because the people govern themselves. We want guns, and yes, a few will get into the wrong hands but you say it is a mental health issue, I say it was a choice. While i understand certain issues in the health industry are serious, most are a liberal concoction for blame to be taken off the person and placed on society. Psychology is a great example. While I believe our society is in decline in morals and values, it all still comes down to choice. For instance, voting to take God from American life. Take God out of the equation and things get evil real quick!
We have an issue with punishment in this country. No one is punished harshly anymore. Yes they may go to prison but it isnt a REAL punishment like the old chain gangs. For example, state or city could benefit from free labor from prisoners, since we spend roughly 100,000 dollars per inmate. Money out of my paycheck to pay for the “care and maintenence” of people who if they murdered someone should be put to death so it doesnt cost civilians. Along with all the other tax increases going on in this current administration.
We need to fix some things in America, but Gun control is not the issue! $2000 in new taxes i will have to pay next year. JUST ME!! Taxes are what the current administration are after. America is in the hole like never before because of liberalism. Spending to “help the less fortunate. What is ok for some is not ok for others. So lets tax the producers. There is a lot of money in the armament business.
Now on to the friendly chat part, I find it funny that with all the other ways to die in this country by someone elses hand in this article, you never mention one. There are far more deaths. Gun deaths are the least deaths in this country when compared to similar inventions.
Historically, Scots were barbaric, but if pencils are all you have to use?….. Well it is a good thing for judo huh??
I appreciate you debating me on the issues Marie.
Ok, if I’m not shot to death then I will die from something else. Simple fact. Life is risky!
Actually, historically Scots weren’t particularly barbaric. The Romans portrayed them as such to justify retreat to the rest of the empire in order to provide manpower elsewhere in Europe while trying to dominate the world. Brittania was controlled by the Roman Empire for nearly 400 years.
America has only been at it since 1776….I’m only kidding!
Good point, however, I would submit to you that the Roman Empire was sporadic for the last half of the empires period. The new era of satellite and aerial archeology has found over 260 Roman camps in Scotland. More force was used on Scotland than England and Wales combined.
Funny thing about history, since we were not there, we are forced to rely on interpretation. It is true that the Scots were not defeated by the Romans, but every bit about what they said about the Scots being brutal is true. I would like to point out the reason the Scots fought so hard might have been they did not want to be subjegated to foreign rule or for that matter rule by anyone even England.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland_during_the_Roman_Empire
Also, Check out Scottish battles and timeline- Just gooogle those words. Copyrighted and wont let me copy/paste link for you.
Another funny thing is, Everything that was just said sounds very much like America in a lot of ways when it comes to How a group of people want to be in charge of their own country. the only question was HOW? A few hundred years later the founding fathers envisioned a way and wrote it down over several years during the birth of America. The Constitution.
Your remark about Rome being a longer lasting empire might be correct depending on who you talk to, however I would add that the empire was approximately 200 million at that time in histroy.
America has over 300 million and we are on top of the world as well as the police force for the world. Not because we want to be but because we have to be. Otherwise, nations like Russia and China would be your rulers. Which would you rather have as a friend/ally? A nation full of people with guns and personal choice or a nation who will rule with an iron fist.
I Realize that America is not liked in the world. Envy, jealousy or whatever the reason. Might I suggest you read Americas constitution and Bill of Rights. Compare to other charters in the world.
http://usconstitution.com/
http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/
You will notice that there is only one set of documents that have God the Creator mentioned. That is Obviously America. Which is why we are BLESSED as a country(along with support for Isreal, years later which might have been the sole reason for the countries founding, only God knows) Until we lose God in all sectors of society.
This is the main plan for liberal minds for the last 125 years or so. Start with the schools to dumb the kids down, judicial, and media. Collectively, a huge part in the decline of our country.