Chicago Mass Shooting

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

There are a lot of gross generalisations about these things, with both sides looking for evidence they are right.

The fact this happens is part of the problem. The causes are complex and very unlikely to fit with any ideological position.

Why is it that in Canada , a society with access to guns , far fewer people per head of population are killed by firearms than over the border ?

[JamesWales]

Why is it that in Canada , a society with access to guns , far fewer people per head of population are killed by firearms than over the border ?

Because gun laws are far stricter is no doubt a very large part of the story.

Guns are utterly ridiculous. I can, at a stretch respect their right to bear arms, and owning a pistol to protect your family or whatever, but the rest is ridiculous.

My point is more that access to guns is a constant in the US and is a constant across the US - sure, access to them is stricter in some places than others and thats good, but fundementally if you wanted one you could get one.

And yet, despite that constant, gun deaths are soaring and they vary hugely by state, which suggests that as ridiculous as their gun laws are, there is something else happening too.

There were 1,002 gun murders in Chicago alone last year. 1,002!!!!
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/...eaths-82053645

[Hilts]

Because gun laws are far stricter is no doubt a very large part of the story.

Guns are utterly ridiculous. I can, at a stretch respect their right to bear arms, and owning a pistol to protect your family or whatever, but the rest is ridiculous.

My point is more that access to guns is a constant in the US and is a constant across the US - sure, access to them is stricter in some places than others and thats good, but fundementally if you wanted one you could get one.

And yet, despite that constant, gun deaths are soaring and they vary hugely by state, which suggests that as ridiculous as their gun laws are, there is something else happening too.

There were 1,002 gun murders in Chicago alone last year. 1,002!!!!
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/...eaths-82053645

Respect their right to bear arms!!!!!!!!????

[JamesWales]

Respect their right to bear arms!!!!!!!!????

Well it's a large part of the country's culture. I don't agree with it at all, but I understand the history behind it and the reasoning. I'm in favour of strict gun laws, but I'm also in favour of women wearing mini skirts if they wish. It doesn't mean I don't understand why it is frowned upon in parts of the muslim world.

The reality is people have a right to own a gun in America, and I think it's pointless looking to ban them entirely so the focus is on assault weapons etc, but also, my point being that gun ownership is a constant, whereas gun deaths has seen a huge increase in recent years, which suggests there are other factors at play.

I think gun suicides have doubled in a decade.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Well it's a large part of the country's culture. I don't agree with it at all, but I understand the history behind it and the reasoning. I'm in favour of strict gun laws, but I'm also in favour of women wearing mini skirts if they wish. It doesn't mean I don't understand why it is frowned upon in parts of the muslim world.

The reality is people have a right to own a gun in America, and I think it's pointless looking to ban them entirely so the focus is on assault weapons etc, but also, my point being that gun ownership is a constant, whereas gun deaths has seen a huge increase in recent years, which suggests there are other factors at play.

I think gun suicides have doubled in a decade.

Suicides in many demographics have increased over the last decade. Social media usage and people with disabilities being two groups with greater suicide ideation. Access to a gun makes suicide attempts significantly more successful. So I think there's any easy correlation.

[JamesWales]

Suicides in many demographics have increased over the last decade. Social media usage and people with disabilities being two groups with greater suicide ideation. Access to a gun makes suicide attempts significantly more successful. So I think there's any easy correlation.

This is my point. America's relationship with guns makes this all far worse, there is no question of that, and maybe some tightening of rules will help, which I would support.

But the fundementals are this: Americans have always had access to guns and always been able to undertake mass shootings, and yet gang murders, homicides, suicides, mass shootings are all up.

The problem is guns, but that is a constant, so the rise is also down to other issues too and we should explore them if we want to solve this, especially as I think the same issues may be happening in other societies, thankfully with less devastating consequences, but still..

[Citizen's Nephew]

This is my point. America's relationship with guns makes this all far worse, there is no question of that, and maybe some tightening of rules will help, which I would support.

But the fundementals are this: Americans have always had access to guns and always been able to undertake mass shootings, and yet gang murders, homicides, suicides, mass shootings are all up.

The problem is guns, but that is a constant, so the rise is also down to other issues too and we should explore them if we want to solve this, especially as I think the same issues may be happening in other societies, thankfully with less devastating consequences, but still..

Respect. Good point here and I agree with you.