I've been invited to participate in a debate that will focus on gun rights in America. I was just forwarded a list of prospective questions that may or may not be covered in tomorrow's debate. The anti-rights crowd seems to focus on feelings and emotions rather than on fact. I'd like to be able to present our position and support it with data. I know that it is short notice, but I'd really appreciate some help, input and ideas from you guys.
I've included some of the questions that I expect to encounter in bold and I've included a Cliff Notes response:
How would increased gun regulation affect gun injuries and ownership rates? Increased regulation will have little affect on ownership. I live in CA, a state with very severe restrictions, and thousands of firearms are purchased legally in the state every day. You'll never be able to wave a magic wand and make guns disappear.
How can we help prevent gun injuries? Education. Programs like NRA's Eddie Eagle would be a good start.
What effect do more guns on the market have on gun injuries? CDC data suggests that there are between 14,000 and 19,000 accidents per year. This number is borderline statistically insignificant considering there are approx. 300 million guns in the U.S.
When compared to other countries the U.S. has by far the largest gun ownership rate. Does this high rate have an overall negative effect on society? No. (That was easy)
Would you be in favor of strict gun regulation (fingerprint gun matching, wireless safety areas, large scale crackdown on unregistered guns)? No. Such technology is ineffective or doesn't exist. LEOs would be early adopters if the technology existed or was effective.
Less civilian guns has a direct correlation with lower criminal activity. Isn’t this proof that fewer guns is better for society? Chicago. 'Nuff Said.
We already regulate and ban many dangerous weapons. Would you be in favor of lifting those bans? (on, for example, surface to air RPGs)? This gets tricky. Am I correct in assuming that BATFE would classify RPG's as DD's subject to a $200 transfer fee per round and another $200 on the launcher?
The second amendment was created at a time of gun infancy. Do you think the founders of the constitution would be as unrestrictive if they had the knowledge of the power of modern day weapons? Yes. They had just overthrown an oppressive foreign regime and would have traded in the Brown Bess for a Colt 6920 given the option.
Among industrialized nations, the U.S. firearm-related death rate is more than twice that of the next highest country and eight times the average rate of its economic counterparts. To what would you attribute this phenomenon and what would you propose we could do to improve? Guns in America: 88 per 100 people. Gun deaths: 10.2 per 100,000. Sorry folks, that's the cost of liberty. I'd imagine many of those victims would have been killed by other means if no gun was available.
The next few questions focus more heavily on data:
Can you offer a method for dramatically reducing/eliminating illegal firearms. What data do you have to support your claim? The issue isn't "illegal guns", it is criminality. Vigorously prosecute people that lie on the 4473, stiffen penalties for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearms.
Can you offer a method for dramatically reducing/ Suicides by Gun? What data do you have to support your claim? Really outside my area of expertise. Suicide prevention should be the goal. the instrument used should not matter.
Can you offer a method for dramatically reducing accidental shootings by guns? Such as Kids? What data do you have to support your claim? NRA's Eddie Eagle program.
Can you offer a method for dramatically reducing Mass shootings? What data do you have to support your claim? No. Crazy people will do crazy things. The elimination of phony "Gun Free Zones" would eliminate target rich environments.
Why has the NRA worked to prevent the NIH from conducting scientific research on gun violence in the US? Isn’t this fundamentally anti-science? I've read of folks discussing this and stating that NIH was anti-gun and using skewed data but couldn't find sources to support this.
I'd really appreciate any data, ideas, insights, sources, etc. that you all can help me out with.
Thanks!