Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Most comprehensive study in over 20 years finds that the number of guns has gone up yet the percentage of gun owners has gone down.

Courtesy of the Guardian:  

Americans own an estimated 265m guns, more than one gun for every American adult, according to the most definitive portrait of US gun ownership in two decades. But the new survey estimates that 133m of these guns are concentrated in the hands of just 3% of American adults – a group of super-owners who have amassed an average of 17 guns each. 

The unpublished Harvard/Northeastern survey result summary, obtained exclusively by the Guardian and the Trace, estimates that America’s gun stock has increased by 70m guns since 1994. At the same time, the percentage of Americans who own guns decreased slightly from 25% to 22%.

The survey also found that more women are buying guns while the percentage of male gun buyers was decreasing slightly.  The women were more likely to own a gun for self defense, and not to feed their ego, and typically only owned one firearm.

However this desire for protection is fed by fear and misinformation:

“The desire to own a gun for protection – there’s a disconnect between that and the decreasing rates of lethal violence in this country. It isn’t a response to actuarial reality,” said Matthew Miller, a Northeastern University and Harvard School of Public Health professor and one of the authors of the study. 

The data suggests that American gun ownership is driven by an “increasing fearfulness”, said Dr Deborah Azrael, a Harvard School of Public Health firearms researcher and the lead author of the study. 

“If we hope to reduce firearm suicide, if we hope to reduce the other potential dangers of guns, my gut is, we have to speak to that fear,” she said.

Gee I wonder who is feeding into that fear?

Wayne LaPierre, NRA Vice President and fear monger.
 Yeah, I actually already knew.

The study also found that the number of guns stolen annually was 400,000.

So the next time some ammosexual jerkwad gets in your face and says that "If guns are criminalized only criminals will have guns" tell him that "The criminals only get those guns from careless legal gun owners like you, asshole!"

Because that is actually the facts.

And most of those stolen guns probably come from these folks:  

While there are an estimated 55 million American gun owners, most own an average of just three firearms, and nearly half own just one or two, according to the survey results. 

Then there are America’s gun super-owners – an estimated 7.7 million Americans who own between eight and 140 guns.

That's right the majority of the guns are in the hands of a small group of sexually inadequate cowards who are hiding under their beds for fear the government is coming to take their metal penis extenders away.

The full report will not be released until the fall of 2017, as the paper is currently being peer reviewed. (That is something that factual scientific documents are subjected to which is in direct opposition to the half baked conspiracy theories and made up "facts" that the Right Wing media is constantly pulling out of their ass.)

However the Duke University researcher who did the 1994 study called this " “a very high-quality survey”.

As you can imagine the NRA has refused to comment on this survey, and other pro-gun organizations have expressed some skepticism at its findings.

Facts, they can be so uncooperative sometimes.

P.S. For those of you experiencing a little deja vu after reading this that might be because it has a lot in common with a CBS News poll released in July of this year. 

27 comments:

  1. WA Skeptic6:33 AM

    It's a little scary to think that these multi-weapon owners might activate their "militias" to rectify an election that didn't go their way with a Second Amendment solution.

    Bundy Rebellion, anyone??

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hedgewytch7:32 AM

    My Ex is one of these Super Owners, he owns more than 25 weapons. What is so cynically funny is he thinks he is a liberal, while he fervently believes the Dems are coming for his guns, among other contradictory behaviors and beliefs. He LOVES all his pistols, rifles, shotguns, assault weapons, HE NEEDS them! He's as bad about his guns as my mother is about her drinking. Try to point out the excess in either behavior and they go ballistic.

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  3. Anonymous7:51 AM

    Unarmed black man with both hands in the air killed by white police officer in Tulsa Oklahoma. Video shows his hands were in the air. Later died in the hospital.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:52 AM

      False. His hands were down and he was reaching into his car when he was shot. He was already disregarding police orders when he reached into his car. Stupid.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous1:18 PM

      8:52

      According to who? The police?

      He could have been retrieving his ID and registration as directed. These days you cannot rely on the Police version of events.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous3:12 PM

      Uh... 1:18, police don't direct people to put their arms up with guns pointed at them, and also simultaneously direct them walk to their car and reach in to retrieve ID.

      This situation had a big police presence including a helicopter. There is more to the story. The 911 calls alone paint a much different picture than the bs you are trying to sell.

      The man was likely on pcp and incoherent. Don't be an idiot.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous7:54 AM

    My husband and I had a conversation about gun control last night after watching Trump say that Hillary wants to take away everyone's second amendment rights. My husband is a Hillary hater. I told him that Trump's statement was just not true and I heard it out of Hillary's mouth that she just wants to be sure the crazies (paraphrasing) don't get guns. I am flabbergasted that people take whatever the candidates say as fact and don't do any further research. We are legal gun owners and I have my FOID card. We used to practice shooting but I haven't shot my gun in years and it is in a safe that I would have to look up the combination to open. I have no problem with Hillary's position on better background checks and banning assault weapons. Having said all of that, our young adult son took his own life with one of my husband's legally licensed and stored handguns almost 4 years ago. I am still not against owning guns but I am against the assault weapons that no one except the military should use and I whole heartedly support better background checks. Our tragedy could not have been changed by the in-depth background check or assault weapon ban but perhaps the mass murder shootings could have. Where is the common sense?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 66gardeners8:07 AM

      I'm so sorry that you had to learn the hard way that owning a gun actually keeps your family less safe. Your husband, apparently, still has not learned that lesson. How any children accidentally kill themselves or someone else because of gun-owning parents? It is one tragedy after the next.

      My husband had guns stolen from his house when he was in his 20's, before we met. He learned then that having the guns kept him less safe. He never got another gun, and I never had one. Needless to say, there has been no accidental gun shootings at our home - ever!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:44 AM

      66-6 @8:07 Making 7:54 life experience about you?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous9:08 AM

      66gardeners 8:07....I am anonymous 7:54. You have no right to judge us or our situation. You have no idea how we live or how we do or do not use our guns. You are exactly the type of people I was referring to who do not do any further reading or research. There can be common ground between gun owners and anti gun advocates. I believe that even after our tragedy. Do you own a car? Is it legally licensed and insured? Would it be your fault if a loved one died in that car in an accident or by intent? I think not. Please check your self righteousness at the door before you comment. Your post was very hurtful.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous7:55 AM

    TV reports the black man shot by police officers in Tulsa was an unarmed father of four kids coming home from community college. He had car problems that's why he was in the street.

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  6. Anonymous8:02 AM

    Wayne LaPierre head of NRA VP was actually given a military deferral due to mental health issues, hmmm let that sink in for a few moments...mental health, pushing guns to those Americans who allow media/hysterical politicans to live rent free in their heads inciting fear in their minds...poor little pea brains

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous8:06 AM

    NRA warns voters that Clinton will leave them unprotected

    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/nra-clinton-leaves-you-unprotected-228410

    Such lying asswipes

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous8:06 AM

    My recollection is that the NRA leadership discussed that gun ownership was falling in part due to the decline in interest in hunting. They set out to specifically market to women and children. It has worked. You now see pink and turquoise guns, pink camo, all kinds of direct messaging like this. So many women I know of that own guns absorb the same fear-based and power-based messages that seems to accompany gun ownership. I am cool, I am strong, I am powerful, and this is sexy. Gross.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous8:07 AM

    Don't know why the black man was walking away from the officers but videos from two different angles showed his hands were up and then they tasered him. Kinda looks like his hand went down (not sure) but could that be his reaction when he was tasered before shooting him? Officer who shot him was a white woman.

    After watching the video in slow motion, the man right arm drops as he is falling down towards his left. Gives me the shivers. It looks like he was shot with his hands up.

    Anybody still wants to complain about athletes taking a knee during the national anthem?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:55 AM

      His hands were not up when he was shot. Watch the helicopter video. He was reaching into his car when he was shot, after already ignoring police commands. Gonna guess he was on something and was somewhat incoherent.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous1:37 PM

      8:55

      According to the lawyer who is defending the cop who killed him.

      Really? That's your reliable source?

      Exactly what do you think the cop is going to say?

      He was already tazered. No need to shoot to kill.

      Why don't we wait until after the audio and video are analyzed before we just swallow the bilge spewed by the cop's lawyer who's sole purpose is to get his client off?

      "Crutcher can be seen dropping to the ground. Someone on the police radio says, "I think he may have just been tasered." One of the officers near Crutcher backs up slightly.

      Then almost immediately, someone can be heard yelling, "Shots fired!" Crutcher's head then drops, leaving him completely lying out in the street."

      And this isn't suspicious?

      "Shelby did not activate her patrol car's dashcam, said police spokeswoman Jeanne MacKenzie, and the ground-level video released Monday came from the car of a second officer who arrived at the scene."

      And AFTER the shooting?

      "After the shooting, Crutcher could be seen lying on the side of the road, blood pooling around his body, for nearly two minutes before anyone checked on him. When asked why police did not provide immediate assistance, MacKenzie said: "I don't know that we have protocol on how to render aid to people.""

      Really?

      Sorry, but I'm not buying anything said by any of the police union's attorneys. After all, four years ago they did pretty much the exact same thing.

      "The shooting comes four months after ex-Tulsa County volunteer deputy Robert Bates was sentenced to four years in prison on a second-degree manslaughter conviction in an unarmed black man's 2015 death. Bates said he mistakenly grabbed his gun instead of his Taser. Shelby worked as a Tulsa County sheriff's deputy for four years before joining the Tulsa Police Department in December 2011, officials said. She has been placed on paid leave."

      It sounds like Crutcher had the misfortune to break down in a rabid white racist neighborhood where every black man is assumed to be a violent criminal and high on something.

      You're playing right into their bigotry.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous3:08 PM

      Listening to the lawyer 1:37?

      No sorry, but watched the videos, the helicopter video clearly shows him putting his hands down and trying to reach into his car.

      You stop with your lying bullshit.

      We will see if the police have any charges filed against them, but Mr. Crutcher's actions certainly are what led to getting shot.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:08 PM

      Well, the police car video shows his blood splattered on the window and running down the door. So HIS WINDOW WAS ROLLED UP.

      So much for claims he was reaching in to the car.

      No, I don't believe shit coming from this police department.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous8:21 AM

    This Sickening Pro-Gun Meme Is Quite Possibly The Most Vile Thing On The Internet (IMAGE)

    http://addictinginfo.org/2016/09/20/this-sickening-pro-gun-meme-is-quite-possibly-the-most-vile-thing-on-the-internet-image/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous8:36 AM

    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/tulsa-fatally-shot-terence-crutcher-pcp-article-1.2799465

    Sow Pig becomes diagnostic Doctor, Judge and Executioner!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anita Winecooler5:46 PM

      Love breaking stories, they always bring out the best and worst in people. The cop thought he was high on pcp, but of course! Why else would an UNARMED man of color be flailing his arms next to a disabled vehicle? I'd like to see how this turns out, what the blood level of pcp was in the victim's bloodstream vs. the amount of donuts in the police's bloodstream. Doctor, Judge, Jury, Executioner and if there wasn't video, undertakers.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:04 PM

      Except your bs narrative breaks down, Anita, there was no disabled vehicle, just a man acting erratically after he jumped out and left the vehicle running in the very middle of the road.

      Full track 1 witness transcript below:

      "Dispatch: 911 police, fire, or medical.

      Caller: Police.

      Dispatch: What's the address of your emergency.

      Caller: Uhh it's south of, uhh, 36th street and Lewis.

      Dispatch: Alright. Is it on Lewis or is it on 36th?

      Caller: Uhh, no. It's actually an abandoned vehicle. Somebody left their vehicle running in the middle of the street. The door is wide open.

      Dispatch: OK, on Lewis or on 36th?

      Caller: It's on 36th Street.

      Dispatch: OK.

      Caller: It's on the west side of Lewis.

      Dispatch: On the west side of Lewis on 36th Street.

      Caller: Yes. It's on 36 Street.

      Dispatch: OK, uhhh, that is not a really good idea too.

      Caller: (laughing) No. The doors are open, the vehicle is still running. An SUV. It's like in the middle of the street blocking traffic.

      Dispatch: OK, and so it's a, what color SUV?

      Caller: Uhh, tan.

      Dispatch: OK. It's a tan(vehicle). And there's nobody around it?

      Caller: There was a guy running from it. He, like 'somebody was going to blow up.' I think he's smoking something.

      Dispatch: Ohh (laughing).

      Caller: I was rude to him too because I got out and was like, 'do you need help'? And he was like, 'come here, come here.' I said 'well, what's going on' and he's like, 'come here come here. I think it's going to blow up.' I'm like, 'nah I'm out.'

      Dispatch: OK.

      Caller: He started freaking out and he took off running.

      Dispatch: Oh, wow.

      Caller: Yeah, I think he's smoking something.

      Dispatch: Okay, a vehicle is running in the middle of 36th Street.

      Caller: And I left about ten minutes ago and came back and it's still sitting there, so.

      Dispatch: Okay. Umm, OK, and bless your heart for doing this.

      Caller: Thanks.

      Dispatch: Do you want to talk to the officers when they come out?

      Caller: Uhh, no.

      Dispatch: OK. Alright, well I will go ahead and get the call in so that we can get somebody out there.

      Caller: Alright.

      Dispatch: And did you happen to notice the tag number?

      Caller: Uhh, no I didn't.

      Dispatch: OK. Alright, that's alright. I will go ahead and call them to the officers so they can get it moved before somebody gets hurt.

      Caller: Yes, because it's blocking traffic.

      Dispatch: OK. Thank you dear.

      Caller: Mmm, hmmm

      Dispatch. OK, bye bye."

      that is just one of the 911 calls

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:05 PM

      So it seems the window was up.

      I wouldn't believe anything they said. I'd go so far as the police planted that vial just to make it look like the murder was justified.

      I still can't believe the spokeswoman who defended them allowing him to bleed out by saying they don't have medical training.

      Delete
    4. Anita Winecooler5:04 PM

      From the article

      first sentence

      "The Tulsa cop who fatally shot a 40-year-old black man after his car broke down in the middle of the street thought he was high on PCP, the cop’s attorney said."
      What nine words follow "black man in the article? Sure, it's coming from the cops lawyer, using the possibly high on pcp defense.
      Like I said, I love breaking news.

      Here's the cops side, she wasn't even responding to this call and there was no gun.

      http://abcnews.go.com/US/tulsa-police-officer-shares-side-story-terence-crutchers/story?id=42243843

      Delete
    5. Anonymous6:28 PM

      Anita you truly excell at at being a dim bulb.

      The car was found running, , in the middle of the road across the yellow lines. The deceased had exited the car in that fashion (probably because he was on pcp).

      Just as the 911 callers had said.

      'Articles' written about this event have been 90% ad-lib so far.

      Delete
  12. Phil Gram boasted, "I have more guns than I need, but not as many as I want.

    It sounded crazy at the time, but I guess he defined the distorted reality of gun ownership.

    ReplyDelete

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