Nevada: One of Earth's most violent places (LTTE)

[jpak]

http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/nevada-one-of-earth-s-most-violent-places-129578733.html

To the editor:

In reading about the tragic shooting in Carson City, I couldn't help but recall a letter that was sent to the editor after the Norway massacre earlier this year. The contributor made the argument that because Nevadans are so heavily armed a massacre would be unlikely to happen here.

<snip>

Nevada is considered "the gun state" because we have more registered guns on a per capita basis than any state in the United States. We also have 26 gun deaths per 100,000 population, which makes Nevada one of the most violent places on Earth. If Nevada were a country, we would be ranked fourth in terms of gun deaths behind South Africa, Columbia and Thailand. Something to be proud of!

Gerry Hageman

Las Vegas

<more>

[gejohnston]

1. why only gun deaths?

Because it distorts reality and is semi dishonest. Gun death includes suicides and only limits killed with a gun, and has nothing to do with murder rate.

Nevada's murder rate is only 5.9 per 100K If Nevada were a country, it would be behind closer to 70 countries.

Almost all of Nevada murders, even per 100k,is centralized in the Vegas area.

http://www.usa.com/nevada-state-crime-and-crime-rate.htm

http://www.unlv.edu/centers/cdclv/healthnv/crime.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

[ileus]

5. Excellent work....+1 POTD

[MyrnaLoy]

11. and we are sure of at least two things,

they are less dead when it's a suicide and death in Vegas doesn't count because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Bottom line, no one is sad because of a suicide. Families faced with a suicide should just get over it because they are not really dead.


I'm not even going to use a sarcasm tag.

[Kennah]

12. U.S. barely makes the top 40 in suicide, and Canada even beats us

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rate#List

[MyrnaLoy]

13. So get over it!

American families touched by suicide, Canada has a worse problem!!


Once again, no sarcasm tag needed.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

14. To include gun-related suicides when discussing gun-policy is not only dishonest, but it's insulting

The person DECIDED to kill themselves. The means matters not because they are just as dead. This can be seen in countries with extremely high suicide rates and very strict gun control.

People who use guns to kill themselves are past the "cries for helps" and want results. Their situation has nothing to do with gun politics and using their deaths in such contexts of gun policy debate is purely dishonest. A determined individual will kill themself one way or another and to place any blame on the object used - as if draconian law would prevent their death - is outright paumpous and insulting. With that kind of mindset, you might as well support outlawing suicide... maybe that'll stop 'em. :eyes:

[spin]

2. Big whoop! Nevada has MORE REGISTERED GUNS ...

on a per capita basis than any state in the United States. Not all states have firearm registration. You can not register your firearms in Florida. No one knows exactly how many guns there are in Florida or who owns them and that is exactly the way it should be.

Florida Laws: FL Statutes - Title XLVI Crimes Section 790.001 Definitions.

790.335 Prohibition of registration of firearms; electronic records.


(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.--

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that:

1. The right of individuals to keep and bear arms is guaranteed under both the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and s. 8, Art. I of the State Constitution.

2. A list, record, or registry of legally owned firearms or law-abiding firearm owners is not a law enforcement tool and can become an instrument for profiling, harassing, or abusing law-abiding citizens based on their choice to own a firearm and exercise their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed under the United States Constitution. Further, such a list, record, or registry has the potential to fall into the wrong hands and become a shopping list for thieves.

3. A list, record, or registry of legally owned firearms or law-abiding firearm owners is not a tool for fighting terrorism, but rather is an instrument that can be used as a means to profile innocent citizens and to harass and abuse American citizens based solely on their choice to own firearms and exercise their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed under the United States Constitution.

4. Law-abiding firearm owners whose names have been illegally recorded in a list, record, or registry are entitled to redress.
http://law.onecle.com/florida/crimes/790.335.html

If the crowd that prefers a disarmed nation ever gets their way and tries to confiscate all firearms, they will have a harder time in Florida than they will in Nevada.

[gejohnston]

3. I missed that

and registration is only Metro Las Vegas. Being a large city, gun ownership per capita is probably lower than the rest of the state.

[ileus]

6. Another excellent post...thanks

[spin]

7. Thanks back. (n/t)

[ileus]

4. Glad I don't live in Nevada or I'd have to buy more firearms.

[rl6214]

8. Point?

Oh that's right, you don't make one. Just another drive-by news report.

[jpak]

9. All those holy guns did not prevent the shooting or result in a "polite society"

get it?

prollynot

[gejohnston]

10. Want to talk about DC?

[SteveM]

15. Unrec. for embarassing animal sounds, parading as debate. nt