Gun Thoughts
Jul. 26th, 2012 09:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chris_gerribAs previously stated on this blog, I do own guns, and am generally in favor of "shall issue" laws. For the uninitiated - "shall issue" laws means that the state shall issue a concealed carry permit to anybody who meets defined criteria. This usually includes getting fingerprinted, background checks, gun safety training and posting a bond. In my travels on the Internet, I've found several gun-related posts of interest, which I'd like to discuss here.
Declining violence
This post points out that gun ownership in America is declining, as well as gun violence. One of the headlines is "In 2010, violent crime rates hit a low not seen since 1972; murder rates sunk to levels last experienced during the Kennedy Administration."
That's good news, but, 1972 was not a particularly peaceful year. The first Dirty Harry movie came out in 1971, and the Charles Bronson vigilante series Death Wish started in 1974. Crime was up relative to the 1960s, and public concern about crime was high. Also, although the 2010 murder rate is lower, some part of that is due to vastly better medical and emergency services. In short, some of what would have been murders are now attempted murders.
Paranoia as a Marketing Strategy
Again, I own guns. I haven't bought one for years. They don't wear out, or at least not with any reasonable care, and I can only shoot one gun at a time. So, as this article asks, "who's buying guns?" The author comes to the conclusion that a lot of gun sales are to people who are collecting arsenals. Now, I personally have no problem with that. Some people collect toasters, some collect guns.
On the other hand, when you have noticeable spikes in gun sales 1) during Democratic administrations and 2) after a mass shooting, this is not a response of collectors. It's a response of "OMG they're gonna take my guns!!11!11!" Paranoia and guns don't mix.
I don't have answers to these problems, and I'm not even sure that high gun sales count as a problem. So, consider this post as presented for your consideration.
Declining violence
This post points out that gun ownership in America is declining, as well as gun violence. One of the headlines is "In 2010, violent crime rates hit a low not seen since 1972; murder rates sunk to levels last experienced during the Kennedy Administration."
That's good news, but, 1972 was not a particularly peaceful year. The first Dirty Harry movie came out in 1971, and the Charles Bronson vigilante series Death Wish started in 1974. Crime was up relative to the 1960s, and public concern about crime was high. Also, although the 2010 murder rate is lower, some part of that is due to vastly better medical and emergency services. In short, some of what would have been murders are now attempted murders.
Paranoia as a Marketing Strategy
Again, I own guns. I haven't bought one for years. They don't wear out, or at least not with any reasonable care, and I can only shoot one gun at a time. So, as this article asks, "who's buying guns?" The author comes to the conclusion that a lot of gun sales are to people who are collecting arsenals. Now, I personally have no problem with that. Some people collect toasters, some collect guns.
On the other hand, when you have noticeable spikes in gun sales 1) during Democratic administrations and 2) after a mass shooting, this is not a response of collectors. It's a response of "OMG they're gonna take my guns!!11!11!" Paranoia and guns don't mix.
I don't have answers to these problems, and I'm not even sure that high gun sales count as a problem. So, consider this post as presented for your consideration.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 03:38 pm (UTC)Nor do I have a problem with collections. I have a friend with a collection of 19th and 20th century revolvers which, I assume, is worth something including an early-ish Colt his grandfather had owned.
That said. I don't really see them as being all that useful for self defense, at least not without a LOT of training so you are likely to be able to defend yourself. There's a lot of reasons why armies spend a lot of time drilling people to do things like shoot guns. Drilling people in things lets them deal with stuff that stops them freezing.
I also think that if we license motor vehicles, we should license guns and that there should be background checks and all the other stuff.
I'm also fairly sure that individuals don't need extended magazines nor assault weapons.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-26 11:28 pm (UTC)I suspect it's a market thing, not over-punctuation.
Gun bans - in the past - have grandfathered equipment. Suddenly, post-ban, they cost more. And can be sold for more.
It's in investment in equipment that, as you noted, doesn't wear out.