Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
An armed society is a polite society [View all]
Oh really?
Fact-check: Various studies suggest that being armed increases your chances of getting into a confrontation.
• Nine percent of Americans report signs of "impulsive angry behavior" (such as breaking things and getting into fights)—and say they own a gun.
• Drivers who carry guns are 44 percent more likely than unarmed drivers to make obscene gestures at other motorists, and 77 percent more likely to follow them aggressively.
• Among Texans convicted of serious crimes, those with concealed-handgun licenses were sentenced for threatening someone with a firearm 4.8 times more than those without.
• In states with Stand Your Ground and other laws making it easier to shoot in self-defense, those policies have been linked to a 7 to 10 percent increase in homicides.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/pro-gun-myths-fact-check
Note: Sources for the statistics available at the linked page (URL-linked highlights in article).
• Nine percent of Americans report signs of "impulsive angry behavior" (such as breaking things and getting into fights)—and say they own a gun.
• Drivers who carry guns are 44 percent more likely than unarmed drivers to make obscene gestures at other motorists, and 77 percent more likely to follow them aggressively.
• Among Texans convicted of serious crimes, those with concealed-handgun licenses were sentenced for threatening someone with a firearm 4.8 times more than those without.
• In states with Stand Your Ground and other laws making it easier to shoot in self-defense, those policies have been linked to a 7 to 10 percent increase in homicides.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/pro-gun-myths-fact-check
Note: Sources for the statistics available at the linked page (URL-linked highlights in article).
When the right-wing gun lobby pushes through their "constitutional carry" insanity, it will be refreshing to know that potential felons with a CCW will be allowed to roam the country looking for victims while carrying their precious, and drivers with road rage tendencies will use our national highways while armed and dangerous. Current background checks do not uncover sociopathic mental issues. Hate speech alone does not kill. Hate speech while armed can, and does kill.
The Second Amendment, as interpreted by the right-wing's poster boys in the SCOTUS, does not automatically bestow the right to carry a gun in the public venue. That is just a extremist gun owner's wet dream.
11 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read