3 ms·

If you really want to do something good, don't ban semi-autos, or long guns at all. Make it way harder to get a pistol. That's what's used in the vast majority

by TylerE 4y ago

If you really want to do something good, don't ban semi-autos, or long guns at all. Make it way harder to get a pistol. That's what's used in the vast majority of murders. Those two mass shootings in California earlier this year? Both pistols. I also think that concealed carry should generally be banned for most civilians, and open carry legal. My views on guns tend to generally annoy both sides...

RajT88 4y ago
I won't go so far as to say I'm on your side, but it's a valid way of looking at the issue. It's the statistical approach - target the biggest part of the problem. IIRC handguns are used in 75% of firearm deaths from all causes (homicide, suicide, accidents).
- nullc 4y ago
  > IIRC handguns are used in 75% of firearm deaths from all causes (homicide, suicide, accidents). kind of a distorted figure there because suicide dominates by a wide margin, and gun availablity doesn't change the suicide rate. e.g. when controlling for latitude you get similar suicide rates in places without guns, people just use different means.
  - TylerE 4y ago
    Guns have by far the highest success rate.
    - nullc 4y ago
      Yet the suicide rate in the US and UK-- where there is more or less zero access to guns-- are essentially the same, especially after correcting for age and latitude.
  - RajT88 4y ago
    It's not that wide of a margin, and different aggregations (geographic region, year, etc.) see a more even 50/50ish split; https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/02/03/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-u-s/ https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/02/03/what-the-da...
idiotsecant 4y ago
Interestingly enough, this was the original intent of the NFA - banning pistols. Eventually we ended up carving out an exception for allowing pistols but kept the restrictions on short barrel rifles, which were included only so people wouldn't turn rifles into pistols after they were banned. The law is a funny thing sometimes. Generally, I agree on pistols. The whole point of the second amendment is that people should be free to defend themselves from tyrannical governments and other threats. Handguns are much less useful in that capacity than long guns. Handguns are excellent if you need to conceal a weapon but I'm not sure there is a constitutional case for that. My concern about banning pistols is that it won't stop there, though - see current Canadian gun legislation.

by TylerE 4y ago

RajT88 4y ago

I won't go so far as to say I'm on your side, but it's a valid way of looking at the issue. It's the statistical approach - target the biggest part of the problem. IIRC handguns are used in 75% of firearm deaths from all causes (homicide, suicide, accidents).

nullc 4y ago
> IIRC handguns are used in 75% of firearm deaths from all causes (homicide, suicide, accidents). kind of a distorted figure there because suicide dominates by a wide margin, and gun availablity doesn't change the suicide rate. e.g. when controlling for latitude you get similar suicide rates in places without guns, people just use different means.
- TylerE 4y ago
  Guns have by far the highest success rate.
  - nullc 4y ago
    Yet the suicide rate in the US and UK-- where there is more or less zero access to guns-- are essentially the same, especially after correcting for age and latitude.
- RajT88 4y ago
  It's not that wide of a margin, and different aggregations (geographic region, year, etc.) see a more even 50/50ish split; https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/02/03/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-u-s/ https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/02/03/what-the-da...

idiotsecant 4y ago

Interestingly enough, this was the original intent of the NFA - banning pistols. Eventually we ended up carving out an exception for allowing pistols but kept the restrictions on short barrel rifles, which were included only so people wouldn't turn rifles into pistols after they were banned. The law is a funny thing sometimes. Generally, I agree on pistols. The whole point of the second amendment is that people should be free to defend themselves from tyrannical governments and other threats. Handguns are much less useful in that capacity than long guns. Handguns are excellent if you need to conceal a weapon but I'm not sure there is a constitutional case for that. My concern about banning pistols is that it won't stop there, though - see current Canadian gun legislation.