This is why I'm unenthusiastic about higher gun sales...
The states with more guns / less restrictive gun laws clearly have more firearm deaths. And yeah, there are real studies that corroborate the intuitive message that you get from the map.
I'm not for "gun control". The phrase sounds really inappropriate... like you're trying to control who has guns. I wouldn't say that's really accurate. I'm not for controlling guns for their own sake. I also don't think there's anything wrong with owning guns, even a lot of guns, or being a gun enthusiast. I also get what Jacobtm is saying. What I don't like is the message that guns are a path to personal safety and that, the more guns there are, the more personally safe we are collectively, or individually. The opposite is true. Guns should be seen like driving-- a valid exercise, but one that has a health cost. Society must balance the right to enjoy guns with the safety benefits of minimizing gun ownership, and other regulations which may make owning guns safer to begin with.
Beet,
I have tracked back your source, and, the data is
highly misleading.
First, the majority of the deaths cited where firearms were involved were suicides. Now, I would not be surprised for you to argue that but for the availability of firearms the suicide rate would be lower. The problem is that the suicide rate is much lower in the United States than in many other countries with restrictive firearms laws.
Second, the number/rate of homicides has been dropping for about three decades. Homicides are not statistically related to rate of firearm possession or restrictive laws (D.C. has one of the lowest rates of ownership/most restrictive laws whereas Vermont allows concealed carry without a permit).
Third, the number of deaths by accidental discharge is both small and has been decreasing for decades due in part to improved firearm design and safety programs such as Eddie Eagle.
Fourth, we do not know how many of the deaths resulting from "legal intervention" involved firearms, but, even if they all did (which we know is untrue), that would amount to a mere 412
