Approximately 2/3 of gun deaths every year are from suicide. Less than a third are due to homicide. We can't just look at legislation to make it harder to get guns as some sort of cure all. Everyone just wants to focus on one thing. There are other things we can do besides writing something on a piece of paper. Something as simple as helping these kids before they become criminals would be a big help. As you mentioned in an earlier post doing something as simple as spending time with someone who is at risk can have a big impact.
Your "point" about more guns equals more crime, would be great, if it were true. But it's not.
Mental illness is a convenient scapegoat. It makes us feel better to think that only someone with mental issues could do something like that. Even if you assume all of these shootings are committed by people with mental illness, that's still an extremely small percentage of gun deaths. Focusing on just them isn't going to do much.
That's where those words are, correct. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Liberty is the big one there. Contemporaneous writings of the framers emphasized that the Bill of Rights are natural rights that we all possess at birth, and not revocation by government
I think he was assuming, too. I dunno. Technically, "Our Creator" gave us the ability to create inalienable rights to be whatever we decide are inalienable rights at any given time. That's why the Magna Carta came first. Before that document, it was the Divine Right of Kings that ruled the land. The Church fought hard to keep the Magna Carta from replacing that. So, God has either made come concessions or doesn't really have a preference and we get to make the decisions here.
Mental illnesses are a HUGE factor in all of these cases. "Normal"-functioning minds don't do these things.
If that makes you feel better then I'm ok with you thinking that. It's certainly gives someone more comfort to think that kind of evil can't exist. But again, mass shootings are a blimp on the radar. We shouldn't just focus on them and ignore the much bigger problems.
What's your point? Are you saying that evil doesn't exist? Would you prefer a different term like hate?
Show me where you found studies and their results taken on "that kind of evil?"
I'm saying that you steered away from verifiable conditions like a mental illness (there can be any number), that science identifies and can monitor, conduct studies, etc.. And, you opted for "that kind of evil"... or "hate", which is a generalized, mythological term. "The evil reigned over us!" Like it's some mystical force that we will never understand.
Here's your science. Mental illness alone contributes very little to the overall problem. Things like impulsivity, anger, traumatic life events like job loss or divorce, and alcohol use are stronger risk factors for gun violence. In other words, most of the posters on this board are more likely to shoot someone. But we can ignore all of that and just lock up all of the crazy people. Everything will be alright then.
I never meant to imply that I want "crazy people" to all be locked up. Above, you stayed on-course with verifiable data- something we can debate. When you veer-off into "There's just evil in the world", then you're just giving up on it.
I was being sarcastic because of other factors that increase the chances like alcohol use and anger. An angry drunk is more likely to kill someone than a happy mentally ill person.
I didn't count up the studies included in the articles, but there are multiple studies that draw the same conclusion. Which is focusing on just mentally ill people is misguided and they barely register on the radar for gun violence (excluding suicide). If that's not enough science for you I can always find more. I have a feeling that you're not going to change your opinion though.
Yes. I have some people close to me that suffer from mental illness. I hadn't planned on mentioning this on the board, but I had a friend kill himself a few weeks ago, so that made it even more personal. When people just try to blame mental illness on everything I take offense to that because it's not accurate and that type of mindset is one of the reasons people don't seek help.
I provided you with multiple studies and you apparently ignored them even though you asked for them. Why would I expect someone who won't take the time to look at them to change their mind?
I ignored them? Actually, I didn't. I'm even researching the authors. One link you offered takes time to finish.
Well, you didn't even know at the time that it was more than one study. That kind of insinuates that you didn't even click on the link. I'm glad to hear you are actually reading them though. Most people don't.
Read the studies I've provided. I'm not sure what else I can say. I'm not saying to ignore them, but focusing solely on them is like putting a band aide on a finger you just chopped off.
Right, but when people just come out and say they must be crazy because sane people don't do this is counterproductive and not consistent with studies.
I'm focusing on both. At least one of the studies I provided talk about mass shootings.
No where near the extent that you are thinking it does. Again, read those studies and tell me what you think.
