Uncleromulus
Plain grey will be fine
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2001
cslittle: Of course they don't carry those stats! But their point seems to be that those who saved themselves at least had a CHANCE to save themselves.
One can find inherent danger in virtually every aspect of life.
Cell phones might cause brain tumors
Antibiotics can have dangerous side effects.
You can fall getting out of bed, hit your head on the night stand and die instantly.
However, you never hear news of a dysfunctional teen killing classmates with a prescription of Cipro.
Or....of a person getting hurt in a theme park parking lot cleaning his night stand.
Or ...someone holding up a convenience store with their iPhone
Yet each of these things if used improperly could cause bodily harm and therefore be construed as a weapon. The difference being that none of these things was designed as a weapon.
Guns are designed and meant to be used as weapons. That's pretty much their sole purpose. Yes, they can be used for target practice, which can be considered sport, but that sport is basically practice for being proficient at using a weapon.
While I wholeheartedly agree that all standards involving a motor vehicle could and should be more stringent, therefore offering a higher level of safety,
I don't think that the comparison to a gun holds water.
Cars, like antibiotics, cell phones and nights stands can all be dangerous, however,none were designed as weapons.
And I'm not surprised at all. I'm sure that somewhere someone is publishing those stats skewed to emphasize the harm firearms can create. A really interesting stat would be how many people have caused an accident in attempting to save themselves.cslittle: Of course they don't carry those stats! But their point seems to be that those who saved themselves at least had a CHANCE to save themselves.
A really interesting stat would be how many people have caused an accident in attempting to save themselves.
I guess a figure per million of population is more meaningful than an absolute, so:
Homicide
USA (2001): 39.8
England/Wales (2002): 1.5
Suicide
USA (2001): 59.2
England/Wales (2002): 2
Other (inc Accident)
USA (2001): 3.6
England/Wales (2002): 0.3
Now... tell me again, which country allows public access to guns and which doesn't?