[geeks] [rescue] Guns - what are they good for? - was Re: TME and Apple II and other Drive emulator questions.

[Nick B]

You are completely correct, guns *are* "tools for killing".  "Tools for
killing" as you describe them are remarkably *BAD* at your stated problem,
and in fact while killing someone with a band saw, a circular saw, a car, a
bus, a plane, or a thousand other items is trivial, killing someone with a
gun requires you point the gun at them, you have a properly maintained gun,
it's loaded correctly, and a host of other factors.  I presume you ignored
ignored it, but I've already sent you the very best study of "Gun control"
in the USA - First Reports Evaluating the Effectiveness of Strategies for
Preventing Violence: Firearms
Laws<http://www.cdc.gov/mmwR/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5214a2.htm>
The conclusion is incredibly harsh - "Evidence was insufficient to
determine the effectiveness of any of these laws".  100 years of studies,
millions of dollars of research, no result whatsoever.  And it gets better
- one might ask "Why is the center for disease control looking into
firearms, which are not a disease?"  Well that's an interesting question,
and the answer is even more interesting - their official policy is that
Private Guns are a Public Health Crisis.  And they still couldn't find a
single shred of evidence in support of their cause.
Nick


On Thu, May 15, 2014 at 3:15 PM, Andrew Jones <andrew at jones.ec> wrote:

> On 05/15/2014 02:02 PM, Phil Stracchino wrote:
>
>> Propaganda aside, the number is FAR fewer than die every year as a
>> result of accidents involving*each of*  bicycles, swimming pools,
>> skateboards, and bathtubs.
>>
>
> One of these things is not like the others. As you mentioned, deaths by
> bicycle, swimming pool, skateboard, or bathtub are accidents.
>
> Death by firearm is a feature.  Most firearms are designed to cause death
> or grievous injury.  That's what they're *for*.  (It is possible to have a
> firearm-related accident, but it will be a very different kind of accident
> from the others.)
>
> However you feel about individual policy measures, tools-for-killing are
> unique.  They are unlike other consumer goods.  It is perfectly reasonable
> to demand specific regulation for these unique products.
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