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 General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

flamin lib

(14,559 posts)
Wed Mar 2, 2016, 05:24 PM Mar 2016

Yet another study about guns and death

http://www.gq.com/story/new-gun-control-study
Massive New Study Shows How Effective Gun Control Can Be

A few months ago, I went to Los Angeles's beautiful Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood to see a midnight screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I had never seen the lobby so crowded. There were more than thirty separate sold-out or near sold-out screenings of the movie happening that evening. Every single screen was dedicated to the return of the legendary franchise, and the crowd seemed impossible to navigate through. People were so happy and excited. It was the kind of night that you dream of if you love going to the movies. But, as much as I wanted to just enjoy it, I couldn't shake a low-level, but constantly nagging sense of dread. "This would be the type of event that a gunman would want to destroy," my brain kept whispering to me. It felt like our very happiness was dangerous, and somehow made us targets. That at any moment there was a real possibility that a damaged person with a gun could end our fun.
====
The study, which was published by Epidemiologic Reviews, looked at gun laws around the world and the gun violence stats both before and after those gun laws were enacted. The results? Well, while the academics are quick to say that the study doesn't conclusively prove that gun control reduces gun-related homicides, it does show that there is a trend whereby an increase in restrictions on firearm purchase and ownership leads to a decrease in gun deaths. So even though the evidence might not "prove" that gun control reduces deaths, the evidence does strongly suggest that.
====
Here's how Vox characterizes the findings.

"Rather, countries passed big packages of gun laws, which overhauled the nation's firearm code fairly broadly, which all tended to share similar features. According to [lead author Julian] Santaella-Tenorio, they generally included:

Banning "weapons that are actually very powerful," like automatic weapons.
"They all implemented background checks."
"They all required permits and licenses for purchasing guns."
South Africa's comprehensive Firearm Control Act, passed in 2000, contained all these measures. One study found that firearm homicides in five major South African cities decreased by 13.6 percent per year for the next five years."
====
By contrast, laws favored by the National Rifle Association (such as concealed carry or stand your ground), when implemented, either had no effect on gun deaths or increased gun violence. And Santaella-Tenorio found this by considering not just studies that reached this conclusion, but also studies that supported loosening gun laws.

Most of the studies that supported these laws were written by a handful of authors, like Florida State's Gary Kleck and independent scholar/Fox News columnist John Lott. Scholars who reexamined their conclusions, sometimes even using their own data, generally came to the opposite results.

The point, then, is that the pro-gun studies tended to be outliers in the literature, and were not supported by the most rigorous available analysis.


Additional reading: http://www.vox.com/2016/2/29/11120184/gun-control-study-international-evidence

http://www.gq.com/story/american-shootings-nra-gun-lobby

Cue the Gungeoneers! The study is bogus. It's not peer reviewed by people we like. It's biased (yeah, toward the truth). Second amendment!!1!! God Given Right1!11!! Violent crime is down! That's why we need guns! Cause freedumb!

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Yet another study about guns and death (Original Post) flamin lib Mar 2016 OP
So if Democrats are for gun control... revbones Mar 2016 #1
Don't bring your crazy ass Bernie primary shit to me. flamin lib Mar 2016 #2
Did I mention Bernie? revbones Mar 2016 #3
You didn't need to. flamin lib Mar 2016 #4
So because that listed my fav group for 23 posts, I'm not allowed to comment on gun control? revbones Mar 2016 #5
No, Just leave your primary shit where it belongs. There are three groups for that shit. flamin lib Mar 2016 #7
Excellent study flamin lib! monicaangela Mar 2016 #6
Really? Jackson3000 Mar 2016 #8
Did you read the study? monicaangela Mar 2016 #9
 

revbones

(3,660 posts)
1. So if Democrats are for gun control...
Wed Mar 2, 2016, 05:25 PM
Mar 2016

And the NRA hates those that are for gun control...

And the NRA is now raising money for Hillary...

What does that mean?

flamin lib

(14,559 posts)
2. Don't bring your crazy ass Bernie primary shit to me.
Wed Mar 2, 2016, 05:28 PM
Mar 2016

I've trashed all the primary groups for a reason.

flamin lib

(14,559 posts)
4. You didn't need to.
Wed Mar 2, 2016, 05:33 PM
Mar 2016

Account status: Active
Member since: Mon Feb 1, 2016, 03:31 PM
Number of posts: 462
Number of posts, last 90 days: 462
Favorite forum: General Discussion: Primaries, 393 posts in the last 90 days (85% of total posts)
Favorite group: Bernie Sanders, 23 posts in the last 90 days (5% of total posts)
Last post: Wed Mar 2, 2016, 03:30 PM

 

revbones

(3,660 posts)
5. So because that listed my fav group for 23 posts, I'm not allowed to comment on gun control?
Wed Mar 2, 2016, 05:43 PM
Mar 2016

Or Hillary being hypocritical on it by taking NRA money?

I thought we were supposed to be in favor of gun control and anti-NRA - AND that we were Democrats.

flamin lib

(14,559 posts)
7. No, Just leave your primary shit where it belongs. There are three groups for that shit.
Wed Mar 2, 2016, 06:19 PM
Mar 2016

If there is basis for such blathering from a Bernie bro show it.

monicaangela

(1,508 posts)
6. Excellent study flamin lib!
Wed Mar 2, 2016, 06:04 PM
Mar 2016

It appears that these studies are overlooked by those in power, those that have the power to do something about this problem. We have known for a long time now that our laws are a big part of the reason we have so many deaths due to firearms, but we have chosen to look the other way, even when other countries like Austria, Australia and South Africa have proof that restrictive laws, that do not take away gun privileges but just remove the ability of their citizens to purchase weapons that are made for war, weapons that are used for killing humans and the ability to purchase those weapons easily without proper background checks as in our internet sales, gun show sales etc are implemented. Every time I look at the situation we have in the U.S. all I can think is GREED is a big factor, the maniacal efforts of a faction that loves seeing the population culled through the use of these weapons are also a big part of it, and citizens that are so afraid of their government and their fellow citizens they refuse to see the havoc that is being wreaked upon our nation by the NRA and these weapons merchants that apparently have little to no conscience when it comes to providing guns for violence in this nation.

Jackson3000

(7 posts)
8. Really?
Wed Mar 2, 2016, 06:26 PM
Mar 2016
Austria, Australia and South Africa have proof that restrictive laws, that do not take away gun privileges but just remove the ability of their citizens to purchase weapons that are made for war,

You need to read about those countries you are pointing to. And you really think we would be better off if we were like South Africa? You do know their homicide rate is like 5 times ours, right?

monicaangela

(1,508 posts)
9. Did you read the study?
Wed Mar 2, 2016, 07:00 PM
Mar 2016

I was referring to this:

This finding doesn't highlight one specific law, like an assault weapon ban, in isolation. There were "so many different kinds of laws," Santaella-Tenorio explains, that it was hard to make good international comparisons on every specific kind of gun restriction.

Rather, countries passed big packages of gun laws, which overhauled the nation's firearm code fairly broadly, which all tended to share similar features. According to Santaella-Tenorio, they generally included:
Banning "weapons that are actually very powerful," like automatic weapons.
"They all implemented background checks."
"They all required permits and licenses for purchasing guns."

South Africa's comprehensive Firearm Control Act, passed in 2000, contained all these measures. One study found that firearm homicides in five major South African cities decreased by 13.6 percent per year for the next five years. "Reductions in nonfirearm homicides were also observed," Santaella-Tenorio et al. note, "although not as pronounced as the ones observed for firearm homicides."

Austria's 1997 firearm law, similarly, required background checks, limited access to powerful firearms, and imposed rules about how gun owners had to store their guns. Santaella-Tenorio reviewed two studies on Austria's 1997 law, both of which found evidence that the law had reduced deaths. According to one of them, firearm homicides went down by 4.8 percent, while suicides went down by 9.9 percent.

Australia's 1996 National Firearms Agreement (which outright confiscated 650,000 guns, in addition to imposing background checks and licensing rules) is perhaps the best-studied of any of the international laws. Santaella-Tenorio et al. reviewed eight studies on it, most of which found clear and strong evidence of a reduction in firearm deaths after the law's passage.


Which was included in the study. My reference was to the study, and I have read about the countries I referred to and do realize they are at least trying to do something about the problem, we don't seem to be able to find anyone intelligent enough in this country to even be able to address the issue, or to care enough about the issue to address it. Big Difference.



This sounds so familiar, it appears it is the excuse across borders and cultures and, well just watch



And Austria, same problem, citizens wanting to take the law into their own hands



So, just to make a long story short and so that you don't have to do too much reading about what I know, I hope you have an idea of what I think about guns and what I think about the gun game, and last but not least, why I think the study was a good one.
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Gun Control Reform Activism»Yet another study about g...