How Well Gun Control Is Working

[bountyhunter]

Interesting stat from a current article:

The gun-control advocacy group rates California's gun laws No. 1 in the nation; the state ranks 42nd in its rate of gun deaths. Louisiana's gun laws were ranked 50th and it is No. 2 in deaths, according to the group's 2014 rankings.

Does that mean that Cali is 42nd in death rate as in eight away from being WORST (highest death rate by number)?

I assume that's what it means, interested to see other data.

If we have the tightest gun control and a death rate near the worst... that pretty much says it all.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/californias-strict-gun-laws-failed-to-stop-mass-shooting/ar-AAg4gCK?li=BBnb7Kz

[gdt82]

No, I'm pretty sure it means the opposite. Louisiana ranks 50th in gun control (as in the worst in their opinion) but 2nd in gun deaths meaning 2nd most (which is bad). And California at 42nd means we have among the least gun deaths, with only 8 states scoring more poorly. So this feeds the liberal propaganda machine. However, like all statistics, you have to be very careful about what you are comparing. The absolute number of gun deaths in CA is probably highest in the nation based on population. The number they are referring to is probably a ratio of deaths to population, which might be much better than average. But correlation does not equal causation, and there are many other differences in demographics between the states, so all statistics should be analyzed within their proper contexts (most of America would be shocked that there are only 320 rifle deaths per year in this country......you'd think it's much higher based on media coverage of assault weapons. But as far as this particular statistic mentioned in this post is concerned, CA is better than Louisiana with regards to gun deaths when reported as a percentage of the total population, such as gun deaths per 100,000 people.

[bountyhunter]

Another data point:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/states-with-the-highest-and-lowest-rates-of-gun-deaths/

The study also found that gun-related deaths increased in both Florida and Massachusetts. In these states, there were more gun deaths among whites and non-Hispanics. These states also reported an increase in gun-related murder rates.

The researchers pointed out these trends do not seem to reflect gun-control efforts and law in individual states. For example, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence ranked Massachusetts the third most restrictive state for firearm legislation in 2011.After Massachusetts passed a tough law restricting gun use in 1998, gun ownership rates dropped sharply, but violent crimes and murders increased.

The drop in firearm death rates in California was largely the result of a decline in the number of gun-related suicides. Across the United States, however, the number of gun-related murders and suicides did not change between 2000 and 2010. Nationally, deaths resulting from unintentional shootings dropped significantly, the study found.

[Angrysnarf]

It's not

[nick]

"Gun deaths" is the key. Not murders, not evev "gun murders" (also a dishonest term), but "gun deaths". We're supposed to care about murders, regardless of what tool was used. And about murders, and not justifiable homicides or suicides (which are an individual choice anyway). Whenever I see "gun deaths" being used, I know right away that I'm dealing with either dishonest, or dumb people.