I looked for a state that’s taking gun violence seriously. I found Massachusetts.

[SaysWho?]

Massachusetts has the lowest amounts of gun deaths in the nation with its permit-to-purchase program.

 

How to get one:

 

Quote

Drive a few miles south to Massachusetts, though, and the process is very different. First off, it doesn’t begin at a gun shop; it begins by obtaining a permit to purchase a gun from your local police department — basically, a gun license. Obtaining this permit is a potentially weeks-long process, which requires paperwork, an interview, a background check, and, even if you pass all of that, the police chief has some discretion to deny the license anyway — if he or she, for example, knows something about your past that may not necessarily show up in your criminal record.

 

Only once you clear that entire process can you go to a gun store. Then, you have to show your license and pass additional background checks. If you do that, you can get your gun, which will have to be registered in a database of all the state’s firearms, the Massachusetts Gun Transactions Portal.

 

There are also rules for private sellers: Even if your dad gives you a gun, he has to make sure you have a firearm license and that the transfer of the gun is recorded in the state database — or seriously risk legal troubles of his own, since police may notice he’s not in possession of a firearm the database indicates he owns.

 

Gun death stats in Massachusetts versus states with higher gun ownership:

 

Quote

The system, experts said, is one of the major reasons Massachusetts consistently reports the lowest gun death rates in the US. Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, Massachusetts had 3.6 gun deaths per 100,000 people in 2016. In comparison, New Hampshire’s gun death rate was 9.9 per 100,000 people, and the top three worst states for gun deaths in the country — Alaska, Alabama, and Louisiana, all of which have loose gun laws — each had more than 21 gun deaths per 100,000 people.

 

Police chiefs like the system:

 

Quote

Arlington Police Chief Fred Ryan cited the example of a domestic violence case. If the police are called in, “we can, on the spot, temporarily suspend someone’s gun license and remove the firearms from the home if there’s any information leading us to believe that there’s domestic abuse going on.”

The police chiefs I spoke to were generally positive about the state’s system. Brooks called it “excellent.” Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes said the system is “balanced” and that “we have a good system in place.”

 

Data supports gun laws such as Massachusetts' laws:

 

Quote

The big studies so far come out of Connecticut and Missouri. In Connecticut, researchers looked at what happened after the state passed a permit-to-purchase law for handguns — finding a 40 percent drop in gun homicides and 15 percent reduction in handgun suicides. In Missouri, researchers looked at the aftermath of the state repealing its handgun permit-to-purchase law — finding a 23 percent increase in firearm homicides but no significant increase in non-firearm homicides, as well as 16 percent higher handgun suicide rates.

 

A lot of laws have to work together:

 

Quote

Webster cautioned, though, that “it’s not just having a bunch of gun laws; it’s having the right ones.” He cited measures that seem to be particularly effective: licensing systems, background check systems that are truly thorough and comprehensive, restrictions on concealed carry in public, and stricter regulation and oversight of gun sellers.

 

[CitizenVectron]

Well, duh. Make it harder to get a tool, and uses of that tool will drop. You'll never stop all gun violence, but you can stop a huge percentage of it (crimes of passion).

[skillzdadirecta]

Alaska has a high rate of gun deaths per capita, eh? Not a lot of Mexicans or Black people there... Hell there's not a lot of ANYONE there. I'm guessing a lot of those gun deaths are suicides, right?

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

2 minutes ago, skillzdadirecta said:

Alaska has a high rate of gun deaths per capita, eh? Not a lot of Mexicans or Black people there... Hell there's not a lot of ANYONE there. I'm guessing a lot of those gun deaths are suicides, right?

Alaska has the highest suicide rate in the United States.

[skillzdadirecta]

Just now, SFLUFAN said:

Alaska has the highest suicide rate in the United States.

That's what I suspected.

[TwinIon]

10 minutes ago, CitizenVectron said:

Well, duh. Make it harder to get a tool, and uses of that tool will drop. You'll never stop all gun violence, but you can stop a huge percentage of it (crimes of passion).

While I agree with you, I'm also still surprised that it makes so much of a difference when you're pretty much never more than an hour away from a more lenient State.

 

I wasn't aware of Massachusetts' gun licencing system. I like it. It makes sense and seems to work. I doubt we'll see federal systems like it anytime soon, but hopefully the idea can spread elsewhere.

[mclumber1]

New Hampshire's gun violence rate is low.  But when you factor in gun suicides it raises the rate by quite a bit.  I disagree that suicide by firearm should count towards any gun violence statistic.

[RedSoxFan9]

Vox has the worst titles for their articles

[skillzdadirecta]

5 minutes ago, mclumber1 said:

New Hampshire's gun violence rate is low.  But when you factor in gun suicides it raises the rate by quite a bit.  I disagree that suicide by firearm should count towards any gun violence statistic.

 

Umm why? 

[Kal-El814]

5 minutes ago, mclumber1 said:

New Hampshire's gun violence rate is low.  But when you factor in gun suicides it raises the rate by quite a bit.  I disagree that suicide by firearm should count towards any gun violence statistic.

Duuuuuuuuuuuumb.

[mclumber1]

Just now, skillzdadirecta said:

 

Umm why? 

Because self harm is not violence?

[Reputator]

That sounds great. Let's get the ball rolling everywhere else.

[Chris-]

Smoking is a choice, therefore we should not consider smoking-related deaths when looking at public health statistics.

 

 

Huuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Boyle5150]

3 minutes ago, Chris- said:

Smoking is a choice, therefore we should not consider smoking-related deaths when looking at public health statistics.

 

 

Huuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

It’s not difficult to separate gun deaths and gun violence.  Duuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

I do however like this law.  

[skillzdadirecta]

9 minutes ago, mclumber1 said:

Because self harm is not violence?

It isn't?

[b_m_b_m_b_m]

SCOTUS: this is an undue burden!!! Repealed.

 

Also SCOTUS: more restrictive voter ID law's aren't burdensome. Upheld.

 

In a future coming to you.

[mclumber1]

3 minutes ago, skillzdadirecta said:

It isn't?

Is swallowing 300 tylenol at once violence? 

[b_m_b_m_b_m]

1 minute ago, mclumber1 said:

Is swallowing 300 tylenol at once violence? 

Is slipping nightshade in someone else's wine violence?

[skillzdadirecta]

1 minute ago, mclumber1 said:

Is swallowing 300 tylenol at once violence? 

In my opinion yes... now back at you, Should accidental gun deaths count too? Is accidentally shooting your kid sneaking into the house late violence? 

 

[Boyle5150]

Just now, b_m_b_m_b_m said:

Is slipping nightshade in someone else's wine violence?

Do you not understand the difference between killing another human and killing yourself? 

[b_m_b_m_b_m]

1 minute ago, skillzdadirecta said:

In my opinion yes... now back at you, Should accidental gun deaths count too? Is accidentally shooting your kid sneaking into the house late violence? 

 

Why should intent matter? The CPSC bans consumer items for far less.

[b_m_b_m_b_m]

Just now, Boyle5150 said:

Do you not understand the difference between killing another human and killing yourself? 

I do. I also understand that the question was asking if poisoning was a violent act.

[Boyle5150]

When creating gun laws, total gun deaths should be taken into account.  When speaking about gun violence, suicide should not. 

[skillzdadirecta]

3 minutes ago, b_m_b_m_b_m said:

Why should intent matter? The CPSC bans consumer items for far less.

 

It shouldn't which is why I asked the question because If you don't believe that suicides should count towards gun violence, its not a stretch to think that you probably don't think "accidents" should count too.

[Boyle5150]

2 minutes ago, b_m_b_m_b_m said:

I do. I also understand that the question was asking if poisoning was a violent act.

But that’s not the argument he’s making. He’s basically saying self harm is not violence, to which I agree. 

[Chris-]

1 minute ago, Boyle5150 said:

When creating gun laws, total gun deaths should be taken into account.  When speaking about gun violence, suicide should not. 

 

In other words, you just feel like being needlessly pedantic. 

[Boyle5150]

Just now, Chris- said:

 

In other words, you just feel like being needlessly pedantic. 

No. I don’t think they are the same, because they aren’t.  

[skillzdadirecta]

Sigh...

The definition of "Violence"

 

Quote

noun

swift and intense force:the violence of a storm.

 

rough or injurious physical force, action, or treatment:to die by violence.

 

an unjust or unwarranted exertion of force or power, as against rights or laws:to take over a government by violence.

a violent act or proceeding.

 

rough or immoderate vehemence, as of feeling or language:the violence of his hatred.

 

damage through distortion or unwarranted alteration: to do editorial violence to a text.

 

This fucking board man...

[b_m_b_m_b_m]

1 minute ago, Boyle5150 said:

When creating gun laws, total gun deaths should be taken into account.  When speaking about gun violence, suicide should not. 

Then when talking about gun violence, non self inflicted, non-fatal shootings should also be considered!

[Chris-]

Just now, Boyle5150 said:

No. I don’t think they are the same, because they aren’t.  

 

The point of talking about gun violence is for the sake of gun laws, so your distinction is pointless. If we should be considering suicide when discussing gun laws, there is no point in distinguishing between gun deaths and gun violence.

[Boyle5150]

2 minutes ago, skillzdadirecta said:

 

It shouldn't which is why I asked the question because If you don't believe that suicides should count towards gun violence, its not a stretch to think that you probably don't think "accidents" should count too.

Intent has everything to do with it, which is why we have classifications for different types of murder of which carry different sentences.  It doesn’t mean that they don’t count.  They just count differently 

[SaysWho?]

There are a few suicides in this movie but nothing violent.

[Boyle5150]

4 minutes ago, Chris- said:

 

The point of talking about gun violence is for the sake of gun laws, so your distinction is pointless. If we should be considering suicide when discussing gun laws, there is no point in distinguishing between gun deaths and gun violence.

Then maybe the narrative should change when speaking about gun control to “gun deaths in America” as to not give an excuse to those who hold so strongly to the second amendment.  

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

According to many philosophical systems, we are all of the same universal substance.  Ergo, inflicting harm to oneself is inflicting harm to all.

[skillzdadirecta]

1 minute ago, SFLUFAN said:

According to many philosophical systems, we are all of the same universal substance.  Ergo, inflicting harm to oneself is inflicting harm to all.

 

I wasn't EVEN going to go there