You’re intentionally conflating suicides–which account for about 2/3 of gunshot deaths annually–and the violence that Trump has repeatedly called for. Both are concerning, but they’re not the same, and should not be considered as such. “Simply” banning the tools of suicide does nothing to reduce the misery.
But gun prevalence increases suicide rates. People who would otherwise not commit suicide end up doing so because a quick and relatively easy way out is available. Should those guns not be so easily accessible, some percentage of those suicides wouldn’t happen.
Those gun deaths are a problem regardless of whether they’re suicide or homicide. And the gun lobby/Trump is perfectly happy with all that death as long as they get their sales/status quo/money. The deaths don’t need to be the same for it to be relevant.
Different root cause, different way to correct the problem. Removing the tools doesn’t solve the underlying problem. Perhaps the suicides don’t happen; but that doesn’t reduce the misery that leads to someone killing themselves.
And, again, this is wildly different from the violence that Trump supporters are being called to.
Removing the tools doesn’t solve the underlying problem. Perhaps the suicides don’t happen; but that doesn’t reduce the misery that leads to someone killing themselves.
Often times it leads to better outcomes though, which in the end solves the underlying problem. When people don’t have an easy out and stick around long enough, usually the underlying problems get solved.
And, again, this is wildly different from the violence that Trump supporters are being called to.
Cool. I know. But it is irrelevant. Gun deaths are still gun deaths, and they should be prevented.
Yes. But none of those are as easy. Hanging is a long slow death if you fuck it up. Knives are pretty slow too and require pain as you go. Carbon monoxide poisoning requires a car. Jumping requires guts. A gun is a nice easy button to end it. Few things can compare with how easy that is.
Regardless of how you want to rationalize it, the statistics show that I’m correct. Simply having a gun in the house increases your chances of suicide.
