Guess we just aren't going to talk about this

[Dylan]

[wormwood]

[wormwood]

[Dylan]

Do you think every single accidental discharge that does not result in an injury is reported? If so, you're wrong and naive. If not, how many do you think occur each year? Just curious how far apart we are on estimates. My basis is logic. There are likely more incidents that don't result in injury and thus are unreported than otherwise because when a weapon accidentally discharges it is very unlikely to hit someone. Accordingly, the majority of accidental discharges would not result in injury. Do you disagree and, if so, what hole do you see in my logic?

We aren't Mexico.

Sounds good. Enjoy your gun, but it's selfish to expose the rest of society to your foolhardy behavior.

I see no substantive refutations, just nitpicking as to my reasonable estimate of accidental discharges.

[Dylan]

[wormwood]

[Spider]

Are we banning things on the basis of how many deaths we can attribute to them? Is it purely a numbers game?

Because we should probably start with alcohol if thats the case. Banning that has worked extremely well in the past.

Or maybe tobacco. That picks off almost half a million each year.

I know, I know. Violence is flashier. It generates a more useful knee-jerk emotional response. So, we ignore the heavy hitters that are killing millions and focus on that.

There is nothing value added about sugary drinks, tobacco, alcohol, fast food, or whatever else you care to name that piles up a body count. But there will be no argument in favor of going after any of it, nor will I be met with anything but derision (*looks at watch, starts counting down) for wasting the keystrokes pointing it out.

But in the grand scheme of things violence, including that portion of it carried out with firearms, is a trivially small piece of the preventable mortality pie. Going after guns just makes people feel as though they've done something. Meanwhile, the drug fueled shootings that make up the landslide majority of the thing will continue completely regardless of what the law has to say about anything at all.

I know. I'm the devil.

/rant
/thread exit

[wormwood]

[wormwood]

[The Dharma Bum]