Ensign just unwittingly made a case against gun ownership: "If you take out...gun deaths,

[jenmito]

because we have a lot, you know we like our guns in the United States and there's a lot more gun deaths in the United States..."

He was trying to explain that our health care system survival rates would be the best in the world if you don't count car and gun deaths. I hope people use this in the future when Repubs. claim guns make our country a SAFER place.

[flor de jasmim]

1. But we have the best gun care in the world! (just not the best care of guns)

[jenmito]

2. It's a shame Ensign just made a case against owning guns, then...

having the best gun care in the world and all. :D

[Honeycombe8]

31. Funny comment he made, for sure. But I don't agree that's a case against gun

ownership. Not at all.

[villager]

5. guns are far more cherished and venerated than mere people, here in the U.S. of A.

n/t

[Chulanowa]

20. Just go to the local gun forum for a list of examples

No shortage of people jacking off on the corpses of people who've been killed by guns in there.

[villager]

24. they have more empathy for the *gun* used in the crime, than the victims!

n/t

[Chulanowa]

29. Because no matter what, the victim "deserved it"

Either because the victim was a "bad person" or because the victim was unarmed and therefor "asking for it"

[LiberalFighter]

22. There should be insurance for guns.

It should include an annual physical to make sure the firearm is in proper working order.
Oil enemas would be included to ensure a clean action.
Sights would be tested for accuracy.

80% of any firearm inspection fees would be covered.

Firearms would have to be purchased within the approved network of dealers.

Cosmetic changes (surgery) would not be covered.

If there has been any prior existing conditions such as rust, scratches or evidence of prior shooting claims would be disallowed.

Severe rusting or commission of a felony would require destroying (death panel) the firearm.

[rd_kent]

3. May not make us safer

but they dont make us any less safe either.

[jenmito]

6. According to Ensign, they are a big reason our death rate is higher than other countries.

:shrug:

[rd_kent]

11. And a politician has never been wrong?

:shrug:

[jgraz]

14. He's not wrong in this case

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6166

The gun-related deaths per 100,000 people in 1994 by country were as follows:

    U.S.A.           14.24
    Brazil           12.95
    Mexico           12.69
    Estonia          12.26
    Argentina         8.93
    Northern Ireland  6.63
    Finland           6.46
    Switzerland       5.31
    France            5.15
    Canada            4.31
    Norway            3.82
    Austria           3.70
    Portugal          3.20
    Israel            2.91
    Belgium           2.90
    Australia         2.65
    Slovenia          2.60
    Italy             2.44
    New Zealand       2.38
    Denmark           2.09
    Sweden            1.92
    Kuwait            1.84
    Greece            1.29
    Germany           1.24
    Hungary           1.11
    Ireland           0.97
    Spain             0.78
    Netherlands       0.70
    Scotland          0.54
    England and Wales 0.41
    Taiwan            0.37
    Singapore         0.21
    Mauritius         0.19
    Hong Kong         0.14
    South Korea       0.12
    Japan             0.05

Health officials believe that guns in the U.S.could become the leading cause of death attributed to injury by the year 2003, surpassing injuries due to motor vehicle crashes.

[rd_kent]

15. uh, 1994?

Did you see the latest study by the DOJ? you should read it. Its in the guns forum......

[jgraz]

18. Do Britain and Japan suddenly have a higher per-capita gun death rate than we do?

I doubt it.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

23. No because they ban guns. Less guns = less gun crime

However, less gun crime does not equal less violent crime. Guns are a tool used by criminals, remove guns and they're still criminals.
Violent crime rate is what matters - because a person is just as dead/injured/raped despite the weapon used in the crime.
The keys to lowering violent crime rates are conquering socioeconomic hurdles such as poverty, illness, and class warfare.

It's odd that you chose Britain and Japan as 'examples' - which pretty much proves my point.
Society and culture plays a much larger role than guns could ever hope to when it comes to violent crime rates.
Japan, for the most part, is a culture that thrives on honor and respect despite socioeconomic factors.
British culture, sans guns and shitty healthcare, could probably be seen somewhat similar to the USA (being our parent and all).
Compare their violent crime rates and it's no surprise to see that Japan's rate is lower and Britain's rate is much higher.

It means there are over 2,000 crimes recorded per 100,000 population in the UK, making it the most violent place in Europe.
Austria is second, with a rate of 1,677 per 100,000 people, followed by Sweden, Belgium, Finland and Holland.
By comparison, America has an estimated rate of 466 violent crimes per 100,000 population.
02 Jul 2009 www.telegraph.co.uk

It's almost not even worth the time to look up japan's statistics... it's pretty much uncontested that they are VERY low.

[jgraz]

25. More specifically: fewer guns = fewer gun deaths

It's a pretty simple and indisputable formula. Yet people here would rather keep their toys and wild-west fantasies than save lives.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

27. Fewer guns = more deaths using other weapons

SeewutIdidthar?

[jgraz]

28. Yes, I see what you did thar. You spewed nonsense.

Are you telling me that Britain and Japan have death rates from other weapons that rival our gun death rates? Is there any country that does?

[Chulanowa]

30. Don't bring logic to an idiot fight

There's no stopping them really. Just stand back and wait for them to leap off a building with a towel pinned to their shoulders

[jgraz]

32. I keep doing it and expecting different results.

I keep thinking "this time, they'll really get it". Unfortunately, when they start to "get it" they just resort to insults until you go away.

[kestrel91316]

4. Yay for guns!!!!! Yay for gun deaths!!1!!! USA! USA! USA!

[rd_kent]

13. Hahaha!

:banghead:

[Arugula Latte]

21. More carnage! Bring it on! We're #1!

Office shootings, mall slaughterings, toddler deaths, accidental shootings, mistaken "prowler" family members -- We totally rule!! :bounce: :woohoo:

[Ikonoklast]

7. Well, at least we still lead the world in one thing.

Per capita gun deaths.

[jenmito]

9. Yup...

and now we pretty much have Ensign saying so.

[jgraz]

8. You're assuming Repugs have any problem being inconsistent

For his next speech, the NRA will direct him to say we have the safest country in the world because of our guns.

[jenmito]

10. No, I'm not. I'm saying we now have it on video of him saying what he said...

and if/when he IS inconsistent, this video can be played.

[jgraz]

12. I hope you're right

Unfortunately, I haven't seen ANY Democrats willing to take on the gun lobby. Maybe Rachel or KO will latch onto this. Failing that, let's hope Stewart and Colbert use it.

[benEzra]

34. Ummm, Feinstein? McCarthy? The rest of the Third Way communitarian Old Guard?

They were plenty willing to "take on the gun lobby." It backfired; it turns out that in this country, enough Dems and indies prefer the right to choose on the issue that the DLC support for new bans didn't actually work out very well in practice. That, plus the utter irrelevance of restrictions on rifle stock shape and other miscellany, caused the gun-control wing of the party to collapse under the weight of its own rhetoric.

Had Clinton spent more time building consensus on health care and less time wasting political capital restricting threaded rifle muzzles and raising magazine prices, the health care issue would probably be further along today, IMO.

[jefferson_dem]

16. I saw that. Funny as fuck.

He realized he stepped in it once he started...

[madmom]

17. So are we supposed to ignore the people injured by gun or auto related injuries?

[jgraz]

19. No, you're supposed to celebrate them.

They're symbols of our FREEDUMB. :patriot:

[depakid]

26. Bizarroland

Why is this man still in the Senate?

Oh that's right- same reason Diaper boy is- and Widestance was.

No accountability.

[jenmito]

33. You got THAT right...

these "family value" Repubs. are not held accountable for the things they themselves rail against!