Resolved: Americans Are Becoming Wiser on the Foolishness of Gun Ownership

[Nous]

The effect of a gun in the home is not to increase the occupants' safety but to greatly increase the risk of the gun-owner, family members or acquaintances dying from a gun shot: http://www.bradycampaign.org/risks-of-having-a-gun-in-the-home This increased risk of homicide and suicide in households with guns occurs regardless of storage practice, type of gun or number of guns in the home: http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/160/10/929.full

And the General Social Survey finds very clear trends of declining gun-ownership and households with guns in the US, with the percentage of households with guns dropping from 50.4% in 1977 to 31% in 2014, and a similar decline in the percentage of adults in households with guns. The largest percentage of survey respondents who reported owning at least one gun was in 1985, amounting to less than one-third of respondents (30.5%); this figure has shrunk to 22.4% in 2014 (which is slightly up from 2010): http://www.norc.org/PDFs/GSS Reports/GSS_Trends in Gun Ownership_US_1972-2014.pdf

I don't know how else to interpret these data than that Americans are becoming wiser on the injudiciousness of owning guns. There is certainly no basis for interpreting these figures as showing Americans becoming less wise regarding gun ownership, as there are no benefits to gun ownership.

Americans' progress in learning this is slow, all too slow, and Americans are far behind other countries in acquiring this wisdom, but it seems to be steady progress nevertheless.

 

[Neo Deist]

The effect of a gun in the home is not to increase the occupants' safety but to greatly increase the risk of the gun-owner, family members or acquaintances dying from a gun shot: http://www.bradycampaign.org/risks-of-having-a-gun-in-the-home This increased risk of homicide and suicide in households with guns occurs regardless of storage practice, type of gun or number of guns in the home: http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/160/10/929.full

And the General Social Survey finds very clear trends of declining gun-ownership and households with guns in the US, with the percentage of households with guns dropping from 50.4% in 1977 to 31% in 2014, and a similar decline in the percentage of adults in households with guns. The largest percentage of survey respondents who reported owning at least one gun was in 1985, amounting to less than one-third of respondents (30.5%); this figure has shrunk to 22.4% in 2014 (which is slightly up from 2010): http://www.norc.org/PDFs/GSS Reports/GSS_Trends in Gun Ownership_US_1972-2014.pdf

I don't know how else to interpret these data than that Americans are becoming wiser on the injudiciousness of owning guns. There is certainly no basis for interpreting these figures as showing Americans becoming less wise regarding gun ownership, as there are no benefits to gun ownership.

Americans' progress in learning this is slow, all too slow, and Americans are far behind other countries in acquiring this wisdom, but it seems to be steady progress nevertheless.

Garbage.

Many of those so called stats are from decades ago, not to mention they will be biased toward one side of the coin. It is a well known and documented fact that the highest murder rates involving a gun are in the cities that have the strictest gun laws. I live in a rural town where everyone and their grandmother has a gun, and my little town was listed as the safest in the state for 2016. The problem is not gun ownership. The problem is a large collection of immoral people that choose to use a gun as a tool during their criminal activity.

When are liberals going to figure out that no amount of gun laws will stop a criminal from committing a crime? They are criminals...they don't care about laws.

 

[Quetzal]

It is a well known and documented fact that the highest murder rates involving a gun are in the cities that have the strictest gun laws.

Gun laws are a joke at this point since they can still easily acquire weapons from a neighboring state.

 

[Nous]

Many of those so called stats are from decades ago, not to mention they will be biased toward one side of the coin.

Be sure to cite your sources showing any falsehood I stated or quoted.

 

[Nous]

It is a well known and documented fact that the highest murder rates involving a gun are in the cities that have the strictest gun laws.

Obviously that has nothing to do with the fact that Americans are becoming wiser on the foolishness of gun ownership. But be sure to substantiate your claim anyway. (I'm pretty sure it isn't true)

 

[Scuba Pete]

I guess that I just buck trends. I just bought a Springfield Armory Mil Spec 1911 1A pistol from the Vietnam era. The idea of only NRA types owning all the fire power in the US doesn't seem like a good idea to me. I am not only learning how to use and service it: I also want to take a combat shooting course. I've already taken a gun safety/concealed weapons course. I probably want to but a long rifle as well. Nothing fancy, but something that can be used for hunting as well as unlikely self defense. I'm leaning towards a 30-06 Winchester 1873 with a mild scope. An M1 Garand or British Lee-Enfield would also suffice. I do not want anything that appears to be an assault weapon.Low tech, easily serviceable and with lots of parts and mods available are what appeal to me. IOW, any design that's a hundred years or so old.

 

[BSM1]

Obviously that has nothing to do with the fact that Americans are becoming wiser on the foolishness of gun ownership. But be sure to substantiate your claim anyway. (I'm pretty sure it isn't true)

I still prefer taking a chance on being a foolish gun owner than a smart victim...just sayin'.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

You are on a looser here. The majority here seem to be confirmed gun owners, they swallow everything the gun lobby puts out as god' s truth.
You would need witch craft to change their minds... but they would then string you up for being a witch.

 

[Kemosloby]

So what you're saying is a gun in every home prevents people from jumping infront of trains and buses.

 

[Scuba Pete]

they swallow everything the gun lobby puts out as god' s truth.

 

[Parchment]

Gun laws are a joke at this point since they can still easily acquire weapons from a neighboring state.

Gun Laws are a joke?
ATF Home Page | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

 

[McBell]

Gun laws are a joke at this point since they can still easily acquire weapons from a neighboring state.

It isn't the laws that are the joke.
It is the "enforcement" of the laws that is the joke.

Ok, let me specify, it is not MOST of the laws that are the joke.
Banning firearms because they look scary is a joke.

 

[Quetzal]

Gun Laws are a joke?
ATF Home Page | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

My thought is that laws and many of the restrictions are only applicable at the state level. Therefore, if someone is after a firearm and their state/city/locality forbids it, they are a car ride away from getting one.

 

[Quetzal]

It isn't the laws that are the joke.
It is the "enforcement" of the laws that is the joke.

Ok, let me specify, it is not MOST of the laws that are the joke.
Banning firearms because they look scary is a joke.

Yep!

 

[Neo Deist]

The effect of a gun in the home is not to increase the occupants' safety but to greatly increase the risk of the gun-owner, family members or acquaintances dying from a gun shot: http://www.bradycampaign.org/risks-of-having-a-gun-in-the-home This increased risk of homicide and suicide in households with guns occurs regardless of storage practice, type of gun or number of guns in the home: http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/160/10/929.full

And the General Social Survey finds very clear trends of declining gun-ownership and households with guns in the US, with the percentage of households with guns dropping from 50.4% in 1977 to 31% in 2014, and a similar decline in the percentage of adults in households with guns. The largest percentage of survey respondents who reported owning at least one gun was in 1985, amounting to less than one-third of respondents (30.5%); this figure has shrunk to 22.4% in 2014 (which is slightly up from 2010): http://www.norc.org/PDFs/GSS Reports/GSS_Trends in Gun Ownership_US_1972-2014.pdf

I don't know how else to interpret these data than that Americans are becoming wiser on the injudiciousness of owning guns. There is certainly no basis for interpreting these figures as showing Americans becoming less wise regarding gun ownership, as there are no benefits to gun ownership.

Americans' progress in learning this is slow, all too slow, and Americans are far behind other countries in acquiring this wisdom, but it seems to be steady progress nevertheless.

You quote surveys and sources that say gun ownership is down. Those surveys were done by liberal media agencies that are in favor of the Brady Campaign. Of course they are going to represent data that shows what they want it to support. Are these the same survey takers that gave us statistics for a Hillary Clinton landslide in the 2016 election? Because they were waaay off base.

Here is a counter source for you: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016...erica-so-why-isnt-media-telling-about-it.html

There are other polls, such as Gallop and ABC News, that show otherwise as well. If anything, gun ownership has remained constant over those years. In this day and age, it is best to not quote statistics based off any news agency, because those agencies push certain political agendas, regardless if it is left or right.

If you want real data, look to the feds. The NCIS (background checks) showed that firearm purchases doubled from 2006 to 2014.

 

[Parchment]

My thought is that laws and many of the restrictions are only applicable at the state level. Therefore, if someone is after a firearm and their state/city/locality forbids it, they are a car ride away from getting one.

Not true, a firearms dealer in another state must abide by the rules of their own state and the laws of the state of the potential buyers home state. If an out of state seller transfers a firearm to someone who is prohibited from owning it in their home state then they are breaking the law.

 

[Nous]

You quote surveys and sources that say gun ownership is down. Those surveys were done by liberal media agencies that are in favor of the Brady Campaign. Of course they are going to represent data that shows what they want it to support. Are these the same survey takers that gave us statistics for a Hillary Clinton landslide in the 2016 election? Because they were waaay off base.

Here is a counter source for you: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016...erica-so-why-isnt-media-telling-about-it.html

The trends in households with guns and percentage of persons who own guns in the GSS data are from data covering a period of the previous 40 years. The Pew Research data were from a total of 3 years, and the differences in the results were apparently non-significant--the net "gun in household" part of the sample was 37% in mid-February 2013, and 41% at the first of May 2013, then down to 39% in 2015.

In any case, that was merely a question that Pew asked of the sample they had already randomized for other reasons; the percentage of gun owners was not what Pew was trying to determine with the questionnaire.

And by the way, GSS is not a survey "done by liberal media."

There are other polls, such as Gallop and ABC News, that show otherwise as well.

Cite all of them that show the GSS findings to be false.

If you want real data, look to the feds. The NCIS (background checks) showed that firearm purchases doubled from 2006 to 2014.

Such a figure obviously does not show or imply the percentage of gun-owners or of households with guns.

 

[McBell]

Not true, a firearms dealer in another state must abide by the rules of their own state and the laws of the state of the potential buyers home state. If an out of state seller transfers a firearm to someone who is prohibited from owning it in their home state then they are breaking the law.

If I buy a firearm from a legitimate seller in another state, I am to provide the seller the contact info for an FFL in my state.
After the purchase of the firearm, the seller then sends the firearm to the FFL in my state.
I then go to the FFL in my state, fill out all the background check paperwork, pay their FFL check fee, and when I pass the background check and ONLY if I pass the back ground check, I take possession of my firearm.

 

[Quetzal]

Not true, a firearms dealer in another state must abide by the rules of their own state and the laws of the state of the potential buyers home state. If an out of state seller transfers a firearm to someone who is prohibited from owning it in their home state then they are breaking the law.

Sure, if they are a legitimate seller.

 

[Neo Deist]

The trends in households with guns and percentage of persons who own guns in the GSS data are from data covering a period of the previous 40 years. The Pew Research data were from a total of 3 years, and the differences in the results were apparently non-significant--the net "gun in household" part of the sample was 37% in mid-February 2013, and 41% at the first of May 2013, then down to 39% in 2015.

In any case, that was merely a question that Pew asked of the sample they had already randomized for other reasons; the percentage of gun owners was not what Pew was trying to determine with the questionnaire.

And by the way, GSS is not a survey "done by liberal media."

Cite all of them that show the GSS findings to be false.

Such a figure obviously does not show or imply the percentage of gun-owners or of households with guns.

The GSS is flat out wrong and liberally biased. An example would be FOID cards (concealed carry license) in Illinois. The GSS states that gun ownership is dropping, yet FOID applications increase every year to the point that 2015 had 600,000 more apps than 2009. Why would people be applying for concealed carry licenses if they did not have a gun to carry?

Using the GSS or the Brady Campaign to demonstrate gun ownership data would be like asking the Vatican to show that Catholic attendance is down world wide. They will be biased.