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General discussion

I had to laugh - public health problem

Jan 9, 2015 6:13PM PST

I read an article today about a "public health problem" in the US.

It seems that death from firearm violence in the US, on the increase year after year, is a health and safety problem.

ROFL

More Americans 'will die from guns than cars' in 2015

The GOOD news is that death from RTA in the US is down, and is in long term decline. In fact, by 2015, you are more likely to be shot to death than to die in a car traffic accident.

So, good improvement there.

The authors of the report concluded that "further research on the nature and prevention of firearm violence is sorely needed" and that "evidence-based interventions may lead to substantial reductions in death and disability from this important public health problem".

Not just a public health problem, but an important public health problem.

So, death by shooting is a public health problem, much like broken sewers, poor hygiene, bird flu, etc.

Mark

Discussion is locked

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single incidents, single stories of shootings?
Jan 10, 2015 11:34PM PST

Let's have some more fun...

NYC police shoot 9 bystanders, by accident. Keystone cops?


Wait! It gets even crazier in NYC as cops shoot others, but blames it on an unarmed man, LOL!!!

All 3 of my daughters can shoot better than that, ROFL!!! (OK, one is a US Marine sergeant with "Expert" on rifle, twice)

When he reached into his pants pocket, two officers, who, the police
said, thought he was pulling a gun, opened fire, missing Mr. Broadnax,
but hitting two nearby women. Finally, a police sergeant knocked Mr.
Broadnax down with a Taser.


There's 2 backatya! More "Tales From The Crypt" to come???

I can match you story for story if you want, but I'm not going to waste my time doing so, more than this.

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RE: single incidents, single stories of shootings?
Jan 11, 2015 12:01AM PST

What do you want?

More stories of single shootings OR more stories of multiple shootings?

You think people should have guns, then you post about people that are supposedly trained to use guns shooting innocent bystanders. HOW is THAT supposed to "prove your point"?

It's a good thing that you picked this point in time to decide that you're not going to waste my time doing so, more than this.

As far as your daughters being able to shoot...Until/unless they are in a "situation" you/they have absolutely NO idea of what they will do. When they have a weapon in their hand they are a danger to everyone...including themselves and family members.

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Marines and weapons
Jan 11, 2015 12:22AM PST
Marine dies after shooting himself at barracks; police say it appears accidental

nor would he discuss whether investigators are looking into the "Trust" game, which has led to deaths and headlines across the country.

As part of the game, one Marine pretends to load a magazine into a weapon, points it at another's head and says, "Do you trust me?" according to accounts in the Marine Corps Times. After getting an answer, the Marine holding the gun either pulls the trigger or lowers the weapon. Either way, there should not be any bullets fired.

The Times paper has reported on service members convicted of manslaughter and court-
martialed after accidental shootings. If Schoenfelder was killed while playing "Trust," police say, something went terribly awry for him to have shot himself.


I guess guns also started out as a "toy" for the rich, now they are a "toy" for the military.
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Something Awful can...
Jan 11, 2015 12:56AM PST
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especially when you're an "expert"
Jan 11, 2015 2:07AM PST
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Hey, we're all just
Jan 11, 2015 6:22AM PST

...having some laughs with Mark.

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(NT) And I'm having some laughs with you.
Jan 12, 2015 11:31AM PST
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I haven't been here long, but I don't think James does humor
Jan 14, 2015 2:58PM PST

Not that I've detected anyway.

Ted

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Welcome newcomer...and can I offer just a small
Jan 14, 2015 5:45PM PST

bit of personal advice. I've seen and participated in quite a bit of stimulating conversation here and it's often led me to look further into important areas in which I wasn't well versed. That's the good part that I enjoy. There is, however, a part that I don't feel necessary and is too often an irritating distraction. That part is when I see members posting negative comments about other members when they reply to someone. There are also those personal "face to face" (so to speak) attacks. While not constructive, at least it's a communication directed at the target and not made "behind their back" (again...so to speak). I realize that the targets of those disparaging remarks can also read them but it's not the same as being open with the person you have an issue with. I try to make every effort to not be gossipy...which is what those aside remarks really are.

One of my favorite things to say that I've learned over the years is that it's very easy to make someone hear you but not so easy to make them listen to you. Just my thoughts. Again, Welcome.

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Newcomer?
Jan 15, 2015 5:59PM PST

Hmmm

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You're right Mark
Jan 16, 2015 5:41AM PST

I should have dummied up. Got it figured out now...getting slower as I age.

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LOL
Jan 16, 2015 5:46AM PST

Welcome to my world Steve. Mischief

Digger

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hah, hah, hah, hah.....
Jan 15, 2015 5:43AM PST

Now that's funny Laugh Laugh Laugh

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You haven't been here long??
Jan 16, 2015 6:14PM PST

I'm doubting that now and suspect you've been here under at least two names in the past. With that said, I need to withdraw "newcomer" from the welcome message.

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Undertones
Jan 11, 2015 7:32PM PST

After reading all these posts so far I still see the same undertone of attitudes.
That of the idea of banning guns will eliminate gun crime.
So isn't cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, etc... illegal?
What about illegal fireworks? There were more of those in the US in July 4, 2014 than any other.

Anyone with an IQ greater than a double digit can build a gun out of tubing, epoxy, duct tape, a battery and some wire as was confiscated from a cell in a federal penitentiary.

Most guns used to commit a crime are illegally acquired.

The bottom line is banning guns means a new illegal industry will emerge fulfilling the demand by those that are using them for their crime and no law respecting citizen will have the legal means to defend their selves, family or property.

Of course there's 911 to speedily send someone out to ID your body.

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Re: law respecting citizens
Jan 11, 2015 7:51PM PST

Are there any statistics and numbers about the use of firearms by law abiding cititzens to protect themselves, their family and their property? Such as:

- How much not so law respecting fellow cititzens do they actually kill while protecting themselves, their family and their property? I seem to remember a recent happening in Florida that resulted in a lot of complications.
- How much not so law respecting fellow cititzens do they only wound while protecting themselves, their family and their property?

and the most difficult one:

- How much not so law respecting fellow cititzens decide to refrain from their actions because there's a good chance some other citizen with a gun will interfere? That's called prevention. And probably it means why James could say America was so safe, despite not having remarkably many policeman. But it would be nice if you could quantify the effect.

Kees

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For what it's worth...I'd need to add
Jan 11, 2015 7:56PM PST

that if a weapon is purchased for self protection and it's never fired doesn't, by itself, make it a waste of money. We build armies we hope will never go to war, don't we?

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RE: waste of money...........here's another.
Jan 11, 2015 8:22PM PST

And then you have people that use the argument that citizens must have the right to bear arms to prevent governmental tyranny, and at the same time funding weapons for the military?

Do they think the weapons won't be used on them when push comes to shove?

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Yep.
Jan 11, 2015 8:44PM PST

That's what Boko Haram does in Nigeria and IS in Syria: lawful use of arms by law respecting citizens against the tyranny of Bashar al-Assad and the Nigerian government that against all Quran laws offers education to girls (imagine!). You wonder why it's called terrorism.

You don't even need a gun to behead somebody, a knife suffices. Even in Canada, having a knife isn't unlawful, is it?

Kees

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RE: Even in Canada, having a knife isn't unlawful, is it?
Jan 11, 2015 8:54PM PST

No problems having a knife here...IF you use it commit a crime...then the fact you have a knife is a factor.

This type of knife is prohibited

Section 91(3) of the Criminal Code [1] states that possession of a "prohibited weapon" is a criminal offence. Section 84(1) defines a prohibited weapon thus:

"(a) a knife that has a blade that opens automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife,

(f) any item under 30 cm which looks like another object but which conceals a blade."

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Some call a weapons purchase
Jan 11, 2015 10:55PM PST

voluntary insurance. Most probably never use it. You don't support that but you do support people being forced to buy medical insurance?

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RE: Some call a weapons purchase voluntary insurance.
Jan 11, 2015 11:34PM PST

Some...but not me.

Do they get a cut rate on the theft clause in their homeowners insurance if they have weapon in the house?

Is their weapon insured against theft? WHY?

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Healthcare insurance...not homeowners
Jan 12, 2015 12:58AM PST

The OP is about public health as related to gun ownership and how it compares to automobile use. Healthcare isn't just about paying for medical treatment but finding ways to avoid needing it. Maybe Obama could get people to voluntarily give up their guns by trading them in for flack jackets?

I think the number of posts on the topic just shows my first one to be accurate...that the comparison made to auto deaths goes nowhere and just leads to distract folks from the real underlying problems.

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OK
Jan 12, 2015 2:30AM PST

Do they get a cut in their medical insurance if they are packing heat?

Would they get the another reduction if they purchased a flak jacket?

Could they double dip...get both reductions?

Would they get a reduction if they took medication daily that would cause their blood to thicken and prevent/reduce bleeding if/when they got shot?

Could they triple dip?

If they shot an uninsured person that had a weapon and they didn't get wounded themselves...would they get a credit?

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are you looking toward...
Jan 12, 2015 2:57AM PST

... a system of "no fault" shootings? Makes about as much sense as "no fault insurance".

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"So, death by shooting is a public health problem, like...."
Jan 11, 2015 7:38PM PST

Yep

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I don't know how many times in open carry states
Jan 12, 2015 2:17AM PST

that i've heard of people coming up behind someone with a gun holding a gun and stealing the gun from the good guy. No I don't have links and I don't have time to look them up.

What I would like to see is classes and testing to use guns like what happens with a car. You have to pass written and driving tests to get a driver's license. I would like to see written and practical tests to get a gun. Just a piece of paper saying you passed whether you get a gun or not or whether the place where you live requires a license and background check or not.

How many times has a gun been used on the owner or cops accidentally shot themselves (and cops are supposed to be trained).

I visualize someone with a gun drawing it on the bad guy and shooting a lot of the good guys because nobody taught them how to aim and shoot properly.

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yes
Jan 12, 2015 3:00AM PST
I visualize someone with a gun drawing it on the bad guy and shooting a lot of the good guys because nobody taught them how to aim and shoot properly.

Oh, you've been reading about the NYCPD too? That's why to make up for such embarassment, they go out and kill anyone selling "onesies" on the street.
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That's why the First Amendment advocates
Jan 12, 2015 3:12AM PST

promote and even offer proper training. I'm not an NRA member but, if you look up their early history, they're purpose was to safety train people in the handling of guns. This was after a finding that way too many Civil War soldiers had no clue about how to handle and shoot a gun. Too many hurt themselves. Of course I'm sure many will say that was just fine with them.

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The NRA used to be about gun safety and
Jan 12, 2015 4:23AM PST

background checks. Now they are against a law in a city (don't remember which one - medium sized) that says that a gun owner whose gun was stolen or lost should report it.