From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Mon Mar 13 2000 - 17:56:11 MST
On Mon, 13 Mar 2000, Zero Powers wrote:
> >From: "Michael S. Lorrey" <mike@datamann.com>
> >
> > > >Facts are that guns are what keeps as many people in this country in
> > > >circulation as possible. Proven fact, undeniable. Largest statistical
> > > >database examined to date (and the most unbiased one).
> > >
> >FBI Database of Crime Statistics, 1979 to 1995.
[Note *1995*....]
>
> Not even remotely close to "undeniable." Sure everyone knows that crime has
> been steadily decreasing recently. *Nothing* I have ever seen attributes
> this trend to the large number of guns circulating in society.
I believe it was mentioned on the list a month or two ago (perhaps
before Mike returned), but not particularly well discussed, that the
current working academic theory (albeit a very controversial one),
circa *1999*, is that the decline in "crime" in recent years correlates
strongly with the legalization of abortion. Fewer unwanted children -->
fewer criminals, nothing to do with guns at all, entirely a sociological
phenomena.
Now, just to balance the discussion, I've seen "statements" to the
effect, that the rash of youth violence in recent times is not a change
in the actual incidence but a change in the reporting by news hungry
sensationalistic media. Where adultery and children running amok
were once "private" issues, they have now become fodder for public
voyerism.
I will state however, that IMO, the gun manufacturers are being
irresponsible in this day and age of technology, selling products
that are not engineered so that only the owner can turn them on.
If you can protect a computer from misuse, you should be able to
engineer weapons so that they cannot accidentally (or intentionally
in the wrong hands) harm people. If you accept this premise, the
efforts by the gun manufacturers (or members of Congress) to try
and enact laws that can keep people from suing the gun manufacturers
are highly misguided. [I might be willing to grandfather certain very
old weapons, but modern day products should be engineered to be safe.]
Robert
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Nov 01 2002 - 15:27:21 MST