3 ms·

"In 2016 alone, there were 495 incidents of accidental firearm deaths." In 2015 there were 1250000 incidents of violent crime. No need for further math. I'll

"In 2016 alone, there were 495 incidents of accidental firearm deaths." In 2015 there were 1250000 incidents of violent crime. No need for further math. I'll keep my guns.

verbify 9y ago
You're more likely to die via guns if you yourself own a gun. This factoid is suggestive, but there are many complex factors at play (e.g. you're more likely to own a gun if you live in a shitty neighbourhood, suicide, and you're more likely to be involved in a shootout if you try to defend yourself). However it's flippant to say that there's no need for further math.
pmyteh 9y ago
Peh. I've been a victim of violent crime five times. I was punched in the chest on my way to school age 11. I was chased by a gang of kids and punched several times in the back aged 16. I was pelted by eggs while crossing a park twice aged 22 and 23, and was fairly badly mugged aged 25. Not one of those would have worked out better had I been armed. The first time I was surprised, and the best that would have happened would have been that some guy got shot in the back walking away. Satisfying, but unhelpful. The second might have been stopped if I'd brandished, but then again I might have dropped the gun getting it out and been shot, or overpowered before I fired. I was shit scared and vastly outnumbered. The third and fourth I was both surprised and outnumbered. And anyway, who the fuck pulls a gun in retaliation for an egging? The final and most serious time, I was attacked without warning from the back, and was knocked down to the floor trying to protect my head against my assailants' kicks long before I could have thought to draw a firearm. Shittons of violent crime is like this: it mostly neither justifies nor provides opportunity for gun use. Of course, I live in England, so at no point did I have to fear being shot. But I don't think that's in favour of owning firearms just-in-case either, frankly.

"In 2016 alone, there were 495 incidents of accidental firearm deaths." In 2015 there were 1250000 incidents of violent crime. No need for further math. I'll keep my guns.

verbify 9y ago

You're more likely to die via guns if you yourself own a gun. This factoid is suggestive, but there are many complex factors at play (e.g. you're more likely to own a gun if you live in a shitty neighbourhood, suicide, and you're more likely to be involved in a shootout if you try to defend yourself). However it's flippant to say that there's no need for further math.

pmyteh 9y ago

Peh. I've been a victim of violent crime five times. I was punched in the chest on my way to school age 11. I was chased by a gang of kids and punched several times in the back aged 16. I was pelted by eggs while crossing a park twice aged 22 and 23, and was fairly badly mugged aged 25. Not one of those would have worked out better had I been armed. The first time I was surprised, and the best that would have happened would have been that some guy got shot in the back walking away. Satisfying, but unhelpful. The second might have been stopped if I'd brandished, but then again I might have dropped the gun getting it out and been shot, or overpowered before I fired. I was shit scared and vastly outnumbered. The third and fourth I was both surprised and outnumbered. And anyway, who the fuck pulls a gun in retaliation for an egging? The final and most serious time, I was attacked without warning from the back, and was knocked down to the floor trying to protect my head against my assailants' kicks long before I could have thought to draw a firearm. Shittons of violent crime is like this: it mostly neither justifies nor provides opportunity for gun use. Of course, I live in England, so at no point did I have to fear being shot. But I don't think that's in favour of owning firearms just-in-case either, frankly.