victor809 wrote:Huh...
Because 18 kids being killed over the course of a year due to accidents is somehow better than 18 kids being killed over the course of a year in 3 separate massacres?
If you believe having guns everywhere will prevent massacres, that's fine. I'm just saying that you need to factor an increase in accidental discharge death and injury. Not a big deal, just has to be assessed.
For instance, with current ownership numbers, what is the accidental death rate with firearms?
What's the current number of people killed in massacres?
How many massacres would be prevented/reduced in severity with a doubling of firearm ownership numbers?
How many additional deaths from accidents would occur with a doubling of firear ownership numbers?
Which of those two numbers is bigger?
I haven't bothered to look it up, but I can guarantee you that both sides of the issue ONLY use one of the two numbers when pushing their respective agenda.
I understand your point, Victor, and it is a legitimate one. But, it's not something that you'll likely find a true answer to. Whatever source you use is going to provide you with skewed numbers. How many times have you heard “the gun just went off”, or “someone dropped it and it discharged”? This could happen with old guns if they where banged hard or dropped, but guns made in the last 30 years or so have firing pin blocks and disconnects that prevent accidental discharge. More then likely when a gun “just went off” or was “dropped” some idiot pulled the trigger. A gun firing when someone pulls the trigger is not an “accidental” discharge. It may be an unintentional discharge (I pulled the trigger and surprise, the blasted thing just went off, duh), but it’s not accidental, even though government statistics would classify it as such.
Another problem statistic is the number of children killed each year by firearms. Anyone 20 years and under is a “child” under these statistics. Every 18, 19, 20 year old gang banger shot by another gang banger, and even a 20 year old robber shot by police are added to this statistic. Teenage suicides by firearm are also included.
The true numbers are considerably less then those thrown out by the Brady Bunch and government agencies. I’m not saying that this should not be a concern, but you’ll never be able to come up with an unbiased answer to your question as long as these statistics are calculated the way they are today.