Weird Science has a drink, a smoke, and a loaded firearm

[DainBramaged]

No wonder alcohol and tobacco are handled by the same agency: The US government has an agency devoted to alcohol, tobacco, and firearms, which strikes many as an odd combination. Based on some new research, however, that may be a perfectly rational choice. One Garen Wintemute of UC Davis has looked into the habits of over 15,000 Americans, and found that alcohol and tobacco do go together. Firearms owners were more likely to drink heavily and drive afterwards. Worse still, among gun owners, those who tended to overindulge with alcohol were more likely to carry a gun for protection against others and keep the gun unsecured in the house loaded. There's no obvious connection to tobacco here, but we're going to guess "potential for self-harm" might tie them together.

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2011/07/weird-science-has-a-drink-a-smoke-and-a-loaded-firearm.ars

Association between firearm ownership, firearm-related risk and risk reduction behaviours and alcohol-related risk behaviours

Alcohol use and firearm ownership are risk factors for violent injury and death. To determine whether firearm ownership and specific firearm-related behaviours are associated with alcohol-related risk behaviours, the author conducted a cross-sectional study using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for eight states in the USA from 1996 to 1997 (the most recent data available). Altogether, 15 474 respondents provided information on firearm exposure. After adjustment for demographics and state of residence, firearm owners were more likely than those with no firearms at home to have ≥5 drinks on one occasion (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.50), to drink and drive (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.34 to 2.39) and to have ≥60 drinks per month (OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.83). Heavy alcohol use was most common among firearm owners who also engaged in behaviours such as carrying a firearm for protection against other people and keeping a firearm at home that was both loaded and not locked away. The author concludes that firearm ownership and specific firearm-related behaviours are associated with alcohol-related risk behaviours.

http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2011/06/13/ip.2010.031443.short?q=w_injuryprevention_ahead_tab

[bbernardini]

1. Excuse me while I go make some popcorn...

:popcorn:

[HopeHoops]

2. Ah, yes. Guns and alcohol - ALWAYS an EXCELLENT combination.

[DainBramaged]

5. It doesn't have Olive Garden or Casey Anthony in it, so it's uninteresting.

:eyes:

[HopeHoops]

6. Throw in some breast feeding, a narwhal (FUCK YEAH!!!!!1!) and a cheese sandwich.

[baldguy]

3. Drunk, stupid & armed is no way to go through life, son.

But that's what the RW has planned for the unwashed masses.

The GOP will take away your rights to free speech, free assembly, free press, petition the gov't, privacy, etc, etc etc.

BUT WE'VE GOT OUR GUNS, SO IT'S OK!

[spin]

8. If very liberal Democrats would simply stop trying to take away firearms ...

our party would instantly get a hell of a lot more votes.

Most gun owners believe in "rights to free speech, free assembly, free press, petition the gov't, privacy, etc, etc etc." but they are single issue voters and the Republicans have these voters locked up tight.

I talk to a lot of conservative gun owners and they agree with me on most of the issues that Democrats support but they simply refuse to vote for a Democrat because they feel they would be endangering their hobby and risking the loss of their best means of self defense.

Remember, many of these people have a significant amount of money and time invested in their enjoyment of the sport. Many people who oppose gun ownership are serious but have NO money invested and therefore are not as driven to go to the polls.

While it is true that we have a higher rate of gun violence in our nation than in many others that have draconian gun control, it is also important to realize that we have over 300,000,000 firearms in our nation and over 40 million gun owners. The other nations have few gun owners and few guns.

It is also important to consider that much of the violence caused by firearms in our nation is due to criminal activity and organized drug gangs fighting over turf. Taking firearms away from honest citizens will do little to stop criminals and drug gangs. Mexico has extremely strict gun laws and yet their army is fighting well armed drug cartels and may be losing the battle.

As a party we have often shot ourselves in the foot trying to push "feel good" gun laws which accomplish little or nothing but do turn gun owning voters against us.

[Hangingon]

4. I want to get a cup of coffee before this report is shredded again.

[RSillsbee]

7. Weird Science had tits in it too

does that cover the breast feeding thing?

[-..__...]

9. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms...

should be a convenience store... not a government agency. :smoke: