General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Should America work towards becoming a gun-free Country? [View all]sarisataka
(19,456 posts)Their is violence in many places.
My wife worked as a behavioral specialist in a public school for several years. She left because district policies prevented her from any actions that might actually help kids with behavioral issues; it was always treat the symptom, ignore the cause. She did not fear being shot among this high risk population.
At the end of last year I moved from a block that saw the SWAT team do no-knock warrants 2-3 times each year. I watched police tackle, disarm and arrest a wanted felon on my front yard. I did not fear being shot
I know statistics reflect the real world and even living in a high risk area, the likelihood of being a victim of gun violence is low. Even in high risk places.
I am all for reasonable laws and regulations. What I scoff at are those who promote restriction that is not different than prohibition as being reasonable. I scoff at those who say no one wants to ban all guns yet believes privately owned guns should be locked under government control to be 'checked out' for approved use. I scoff at those who say gun owners who are in favor of better background checks expanded to all sales, laws which will enforce responsibility and accountability to gun owners whose guns are used in crime, enhanced penalties for crimes involving the use of guns... are gun owners who oppose all regulations.
Way back in the day, early 90's, I worked as security supervisor at a county hospital in a metro area. I spent much time in the ER. There were a lot of injuries from violence. Gun shots were a small amount, knives and blunt objects accounted for many more injuries/deaths. Most gun shots resulted from retaliation to other injuries as violence moved in an escalating spiral.
Yes, gun shots can be rather horrible wounds, but many things can cause death. I want to reduce the overall violence. Gun injuries should follow.