Excellent write up! I especially appreciate the point about suicide and "gun deaths." Lumping suicides performed by firearm with homicides performed by firearms is a classic case of extremely misleading statistics, and I would go so far as calling it an intentional lie. People care about murders and being murdered, but the number is inflated by a huge pile of suicides for no useful reason. No useful reason aside from lying, that is.
To be fair, it may be a better comparison between guns and cars to consider miles driven per death. And then rounds fired, per death.
Actually, that probably wouldn't be fair either because I'm sure the ratio of rounds fired to deaths would be mind bogglingly one-sided as well.
Would be good number to know: for every X number of bullet wounds, Y bullets were fired without hitting anybody. You could even be charitable and count rounds fired *at* people in the same group as wounds. It would still be laughable one-sided.
I know this is an old post but I just had a very tingling shower thought.
Taking the estimated 60-120 homicides a year with AR-15s.
How many of those are justified homicides by people defending their homes?
more to the point though
How many of those are police? Every couple of weeks I see a video from DonutOperator or similar, of police going after someone or other, and more often than not, especially when the suspect achieves the Room Temperature Challenge, these badges are using an AR-15 pattern long gun. If this number is under 30 a year I'll be shocked. I'd guess it's higher.
Is it possible that a significant percentage, perhaps even a MAJORITY, of AR-15 rifle related homicides in this country are by law enforcement?
In fairness, the mouthbreather in chief did actually mention cancer. Claiming he was going to "beat it". So there was that...... I'm personally sick of the systemic assaults on our rights. Then again, that's why I'm an anarchist.....
There is some data on types of firearms used (p. 15) but it's sort of mushed together and somewhat distorted. For example, the report says that there were 173 mass attacks in the past 5 years. Of these, 126 involved firearms. Of those involving firearms, 40 involved "long guns." Rather than characterizing this as 23% of all mass attacks, they claim it's 32% -- meaning the % of all mass attacks using "long guns" vs. total mass attacks using firearms. Likewise, there's no way to suss out how many "long gun" mass attacks used shotguns, rifles or "assault rifles."
Still, you may want to give it a look since mass attacks seem to be the source of politicians' efforts to score points on "assault weapons."
Great write up, though I suspect it won't go over well with the 'don't bother me with the facts' crowd. Can't win 'em all. Now that COVID is fading from the headlines, fortunately or unfortunately, it appears that the 'don't bother me' crowd is increasing by leaps and bounds.
On the topic of cars, are you familiar with the wokism term "traffic violence?" It's being pushed by a lot of the "anti-car" activists, "urbanists," YIMBY's etc, such as supporters for "protected" bike lanes. These activists often the term "epidemic" too.
The "science" to support them is repeated over and over again in "the industry" but from what I've seen so far, they commit many of the same mistakes or misdirection as the anti-gun crowd and the charlatans pushing things such as gas stove bans. (and realistically, follow the money: https://principledbicycling.substack.com/p/the-streetsblog-files-part-i-of)
Here are some examples of some of these studies "debunked" :
Mass murders traumatize more people more seriously than random murders of abused girlfriends, bar patrons and armed robberies gone bad. That's why people want AR 15s and their ilk banned. Just the reality.
Re: cars, yes, they kill a lot of people, but there are constant efforts to improve their safety. Personally, I won't be happy until they perfect autonomous vehicles.
It's a little sloppy to not at least mention murders committed with "Firearms, type not stated". I would assume that some percentage of those were MSR's. You also haven't accounted for AR pattern pistols and other "assault pistols", which are used in some non-zero amount of murders. But, it's a good start.
What exactly is death by bucket? Is it like the practical joke where you balance the bucket full of water on the back of the door and some chump gets water dumped on them but it goes horribly wrong? ALS ice bucket challenge in the wrong hands? I make maple syrup every year and have over 100 three gallon buckets. Should I be storing those under lock and key so my kids are safe?
Excellent write up! I especially appreciate the point about suicide and "gun deaths." Lumping suicides performed by firearm with homicides performed by firearms is a classic case of extremely misleading statistics, and I would go so far as calling it an intentional lie. People care about murders and being murdered, but the number is inflated by a huge pile of suicides for no useful reason. No useful reason aside from lying, that is.
To be fair, it may be a better comparison between guns and cars to consider miles driven per death. And then rounds fired, per death.
Actually, that probably wouldn't be fair either because I'm sure the ratio of rounds fired to deaths would be mind bogglingly one-sided as well.
Would be good number to know: for every X number of bullet wounds, Y bullets were fired without hitting anybody. You could even be charitable and count rounds fired *at* people in the same group as wounds. It would still be laughable one-sided.
Ban deer and bees. Anyone who has ever seen those fuckers in action knows they are up to no good.
I know this is an old post but I just had a very tingling shower thought.
Taking the estimated 60-120 homicides a year with AR-15s.
How many of those are justified homicides by people defending their homes?
more to the point though
How many of those are police? Every couple of weeks I see a video from DonutOperator or similar, of police going after someone or other, and more often than not, especially when the suspect achieves the Room Temperature Challenge, these badges are using an AR-15 pattern long gun. If this number is under 30 a year I'll be shocked. I'd guess it's higher.
Is it possible that a significant percentage, perhaps even a MAJORITY, of AR-15 rifle related homicides in this country are by law enforcement?
This is a persuasive one.
Straightforward, simple, easy to follow.
3.27 OJ's better than the Gun Argument Tree.
"by bucket"? Seriously?
Is there a tally for "choked on avocado toast"?
A political wedge issue, useful to politicians and the press. AR-15 style pictures just produce terror in some people not familiar with guns.
In fairness, the mouthbreather in chief did actually mention cancer. Claiming he was going to "beat it". So there was that...... I'm personally sick of the systemic assaults on our rights. Then again, that's why I'm an anarchist.....
I don't know if this may be of interest, but it seems up your alley. The Secret Service released its report on 173 mass attacks over the past 5 years. https://www.secretservice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2023-01/usss-ntac-maps-2016-2020.pdf
There is some data on types of firearms used (p. 15) but it's sort of mushed together and somewhat distorted. For example, the report says that there were 173 mass attacks in the past 5 years. Of these, 126 involved firearms. Of those involving firearms, 40 involved "long guns." Rather than characterizing this as 23% of all mass attacks, they claim it's 32% -- meaning the % of all mass attacks using "long guns" vs. total mass attacks using firearms. Likewise, there's no way to suss out how many "long gun" mass attacks used shotguns, rifles or "assault rifles."
Still, you may want to give it a look since mass attacks seem to be the source of politicians' efforts to score points on "assault weapons."
Biden is a senile puppet, but even if he wasn't I doubt that he would have had the intellectual honesty or integrity to tell the truth.
Great write up, though I suspect it won't go over well with the 'don't bother me with the facts' crowd. Can't win 'em all. Now that COVID is fading from the headlines, fortunately or unfortunately, it appears that the 'don't bother me' crowd is increasing by leaps and bounds.
On the topic of cars, are you familiar with the wokism term "traffic violence?" It's being pushed by a lot of the "anti-car" activists, "urbanists," YIMBY's etc, such as supporters for "protected" bike lanes. These activists often the term "epidemic" too.
The "science" to support them is repeated over and over again in "the industry" but from what I've seen so far, they commit many of the same mistakes or misdirection as the anti-gun crowd and the charlatans pushing things such as gas stove bans. (and realistically, follow the money: https://principledbicycling.substack.com/p/the-streetsblog-files-part-i-of)
Here are some examples of some of these studies "debunked" :
https://cyclingsavvy.org/2020/07/bike-lane-sidewalk-roadway-safety/
https://cyclingsavvy.org//2020/07/motorist-caused-bike-crashes/
https://cyclingsavvy.org/2020/07/bikeway-study-safety-strategies/
http://john-s-allen.com/pdfs/Kary2014UnsuitabilityOfEpid.pdf
Mass murders traumatize more people more seriously than random murders of abused girlfriends, bar patrons and armed robberies gone bad. That's why people want AR 15s and their ilk banned. Just the reality.
Re: cars, yes, they kill a lot of people, but there are constant efforts to improve their safety. Personally, I won't be happy until they perfect autonomous vehicles.
It's a little sloppy to not at least mention murders committed with "Firearms, type not stated". I would assume that some percentage of those were MSR's. You also haven't accounted for AR pattern pistols and other "assault pistols", which are used in some non-zero amount of murders. But, it's a good start.
What exactly is death by bucket? Is it like the practical joke where you balance the bucket full of water on the back of the door and some chump gets water dumped on them but it goes horribly wrong? ALS ice bucket challenge in the wrong hands? I make maple syrup every year and have over 100 three gallon buckets. Should I be storing those under lock and key so my kids are safe?