The big problem with guns by the numbers is as you say, domestic violence homicides (and suicides) that involve handguns mostly. But what I'm talking about is hate-inspired stochastic terrorism using firearms.
Some of those shootings do involve handguns, but since 2004 the vast majority have involved assault rifles. You simply cannot do a Mandalay Bay 2018 with a Glock 19. You're going to have a very difficult time doing a Pulse 2016 with a handgun as well. The difference between what a rifle round does to the body with respect to kinetic energy and temporary stretch cavities makes handguns look weak by comparison.
The conversation about guns around the Colorado Springs shooting is about anti-minority stochastic terrorism and assault rifles. And while stochastic terrorism numbers are dwarfed in comparison by suicides and domestic homicides, their impact on society from a psychological standpoint is lower than the stochastic terrorism. You're not going to die randomly in a night club or movie theater because somebody killed themselves or their ex with a handgun ya know?
Well said: "while stochastic terrorism numbers are dwarfed in comparison by suicides and domestic homicides, their impact on society from a psychological standpoint is lower".
Yup, but suicide and domestic violence don't affect greater society psychologically the way that stochastic terrorism does. I'm not going to die at a country music concert or place of worship randomly because someone killed themselves or their ex with a handgun. That's why the small numbers hit society to a larger degree than the big numbers do. It's the qualitative difference.
The big problem with guns by the numbers is as you say, domestic violence homicides (and suicides) that involve handguns mostly. But what I'm talking about is hate-inspired stochastic terrorism using firearms.
Some of those shootings do involve handguns, but since 2004 the vast majority have involved assault rifles. You simply cannot do a Mandalay Bay 2018 with a Glock 19. You're going to have a very difficult time doing a Pulse 2016 with a handgun as well. The difference between what a rifle round does to the body with respect to kinetic energy and temporary stretch cavities makes handguns look weak by comparison.
The conversation about guns around the Colorado Springs shooting is about anti-minority stochastic terrorism and assault rifles. And while stochastic terrorism numbers are dwarfed in comparison by suicides and domestic homicides, their impact on society from a psychological standpoint is lower than the stochastic terrorism. You're not going to die randomly in a night club or movie theater because somebody killed themselves or their ex with a handgun ya know?
Well said: "while stochastic terrorism numbers are dwarfed in comparison by suicides and domestic homicides, their impact on society from a psychological standpoint is lower".
The largest number of gun deaths is, IIRC by suicide. This is rarely mentioned or addressed when talking about gun legislation.
https://www.vox.com/2015/10/1/18000510/gun-suicide-homicide-comparison
Yup, but suicide and domestic violence don't affect greater society psychologically the way that stochastic terrorism does. I'm not going to die at a country music concert or place of worship randomly because someone killed themselves or their ex with a handgun. That's why the small numbers hit society to a larger degree than the big numbers do. It's the qualitative difference.
Oh, certainly. As always it is the edge cases that garner attention and create confusion, fear, and uncertainty.