Salon: NRA’s favorite myth, demolished: Australia debunks right-wing narrative
The NRAs favorite myth, demolished: Australia debunks the right-wing narrative that smarter gun policy cant make a differenceAustralia got rid of rifles and shotguns and saw their suicide and homicide rates plunge
While conservatives are busying trying to shutdown any debate on gun control following the 45th school shooting this year by yelling about Chicagos murder rates apparently unaware that Chicago is the third largest city in the country but not even in the top five cities with the highest murder rate per capita and reflexively decrying any mention of gun control as a gun grab, what if we just entertained their wildest conspiracy theories for just a bit?
A 2015 study found that when guns are used to kill people in the United States, they are overwhelmingly used for murder rather than self-defense. That study found that in 2012, there were only 259 justifiable homicides, or what is commonly referred to as self-defense, compared to 8,342 criminal firearm homicides. In 2008-2012, the report says, guns were used in 42,419 criminal homicides and only 1,108 justifiable homicides.
So if Americans arent using their guns for self-defense, does it make sense to do away with the charade of sensible gun restrictions talk and just get real about banning at least some guns outright?
Of course, America is awash in guns with approximately one gun for every U.S. citizen, but would examining Australias model on guns, as President Obama has suggested, be instructive for our gun violence crisis?
When Australia had a mass killing it was just so shocking the entire country said, Well, were going to completely change our gun laws, and they did. And it hasnt happened since, the president recently told comedian Marc Maron.
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http://www.salon.com/2015/10/02/the_nras_favorite_myth_demolished_australia_debunks_the_right_wing_narrative_that_smarter_gun_policy_cant_make_a_difference/
pipoman
(16,038 posts)Chakab
(1,727 posts)gun control doesn't work down under.
If you can't stop every possible gun crime, then it's best to do nothing and keep letting disgruntled losers shoot up innocent people in public on a weekly basis.
Human101948
(3,457 posts)http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/01/2015-274-days-294-mass-shootings-hundreds-dead/
krispos42
(49,445 posts)Somebody recently introduced this new metric. If it is going to be useful, then it needs to be compared to previous years. Is there a 30-year graph available someplace?
ncjustice80
(948 posts)There is no legit reason for a law abiding citizen to possess anything more than a single shot black powder rifle for hunting.
And no, "self defense" (lol!), hunting, collecting, and target shooting are not acceptable reasons.
No one is ever going to invade us gun humpers, so Mr. and Mrs. America- GIVE. THEM. UP.
PSPS
(13,594 posts)krispos42
(49,445 posts)(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/311
lastlib
(23,224 posts)GGJohn
(9,951 posts)krispos42
(49,445 posts)Nearly all armed robberies are committed without a shot being fired, as are nearly all defensive gun uses.
You should be careful of what you "demolish", especially since you're advocating for gun confiscation.