Guns
As I usually do, I will let others speak for me, now on the topic of gun ownership after last week’s tragedy. No comment, other than the following:
- A comment on Reddit I found to be useful:
Let’s review what we know: There are many countries with high gun ownership per capita, with far less violence than we have in the U.S. Therefore, the existence of guns, per se, as the primary cause can be ruled out.
As for why the U.S. seems to have these killings more often, keep in mind it’s only been in the past year or so. Here, the speculation can run rampant. Take your pick: bad economy, high unemployment, lack of opportunities for the young, etc.
The killers that engage in this behavior are expressing their dissatisfaction with something and they all know that it’s a one way road with them committing suicide in the end. Take away the dissatisfaction and I think you’d get fewer massacres. So, why then?
The U.S. is a diverse place, but it lacks community and social cohesion. That’s a source of unhappiness. The bad economy, lack of opportunity for young people is another source. There have been reports that Lanza was smart, but a loner. Instead of trying to force weirdoes with “normal” people, perhaps there should be special schools for Asperger’s afflicted students that can empathize with each other more and not feel so disjointed from society.
One thing’s for sure. None of the right questions will be asked and all the wrong solutions will be put in place.
- Penn & Teller’s Bullshit!: Gun Control –
- Volokh’s thought experiment: why not arm teachers?
- This ZH column has loads of gun facts – just the facts – that are worth reading.
To learn everything you can about the effects of gun control, pick up John Lott’s materials, The Bias Against Guns and Less Guns, More Crime.