Since there seems to be such a high volume of Articles recently talking about the huge increase of gun-related deaths, I have to ask, ultimately, what is the goal here?
I hear over and over that we (collectively) should work to reduce gun-deaths and gun-violence in America. And I also see statistics on how effective gun control is because in countries that have enacted strict gun control, gun violence has gone down. (or disappeared entirely.)
But are we asking for the right thing?
The standard, tired response we hear from the NRA and pro-gun groups is that Criminals will always have guns, and even if they didn't, they would use knives or swords or blenders or whatever, because evil!
In a way, the NRA is right. (for reference, see Blind Pig + Acorn)
If, for example, we eliminated all guns with a big can of ANTI-GUN-SPRAY or whatever, but the same number of people died in incidents of violent crime, then we wouldn't have really accomplished anything.
But I don't think that is what's happening either.
It is pretty apparent that Gun violence is not equal to Knife violence. (or other weapons) One man with a bag of guns can quickly, and easily kill tens or more people in one incident. You don't even need to be particularly skilled. But with a knife you need much more skill, and have limited range.
We saw some of this data when it was reported that there were around 20 children killed in Sandy Hook, but a nearly simultaneous attack in China with a knife only injured 20 children. Terrible, but a far less tragic outcome.
So yes, a lack of guns did not equal a lack of violence. But the Outcome was dramatically changed.
And here is where we get into the problem. If we really want to discuss actual goals with respect to weapons and violence, we need data. And certainly in the US, we have precious little. (on purpose, by the Gun Lobby)
But the data we get from other countries needs to be better too. When a country changed their gun laws, I don't care if gun violence went down, What did this do to, say, Violent Attacks? Domestic Violence? Suicide? Etc.
A gun allows a quick, easy, and low-skill attack. Nothing else is quite as efficient at personal-level killing as a handgun.
If we demand better data as relates to violence and death, can we form better questions? and perhaps, better solutions?
How about just stating a better goal perhaps.
"We want to end gun violence"
is a good goal
"We want to reduce Violent Deaths"
Might be better. How do we phrase the goal to cast a net wide enough to get the true desired result? What information do we need? Where can we get it?
I wish I knew.