Though the media's coverage regarding what goes on in Washington primarily focuses on Congress and the White House, the Supreme Court is also a fascinating source of news.
Recently, the high court delivered a ruling on gun ownership that many are hailing as a major victory for those who believe people should have the right to defend themselves from home intruders.
In its 5-4 decision, the court struck down a District of Columbia ban on handguns, as well as requirements that firearms must be kept disassembled and have trigger locks.
Since I was a boy, gun control has been a volatile issue, and the court's decision should at least bring partial closure to this debate. However, the debate will not entirely disappear.
After the decision, most major newspapers and cable news programs had predictable debates about the ramifications of this ruling.
However, there was one little nugget of information in all this debate that I found fascinating, but there was little discussion about it. When studying complex issues, the truly important tidbits are usually off to the side, and this is the case with this debate.
According to statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicides accounted for more than half of firearm deaths in 2005.
In that year, 55 percent of the nearly 31,000 firearm deaths were by suicide, according to figures reported by the Associated Press.
Am I the only one surprised by that? Frankly, this is one aspect of the gun control debate that I have rarely considered.
Most of the rhetoric in this debate is usually focused on how unsafe it can be to have a gun in the house, but suicide is rarely brought up.
When discussing safety, most of the discussion has focused on the gun being used against a homeowner by a criminal who wrestles it away from him. The focus is either on that or the potential for an accidental shooting (such as if a child were to find and play with the firearm).
An even more surprising fact is that the numbers in 2005 are not that unusual. In 20 of the last 25 years for which there are records, gun-related suicides outnumbered both firearm homicides and accidents, according to the AP.
Apparently, easy access to firearms when depressed is too much of a temptation for many. And that is truly tragic.
Personally, I agree with the Supreme Court's decision. I believe the Second Amendment does guarantee certain rights when it comes to firearms.
Like many people, I fear there are a lot of folks out there who are dangerously unqualified when it comes to owning firearms. However, laws like the handgun ban in the District of Columbia took things too far, and fortunately, the court recognized that.
I know it is a cliché, but most gun laws only succeed in keeping firearms out of the hands of people who follow the law. Criminals are still going to get their weapons, and all the laws in the world will not prevent that.
Still, the statistics presented at the beginning of this column are troubling. Let's face it; attempting suicide with a gun is a much more successful method than jumping off a cliff.
Though the numbers vary slightly, people who attempt suicide with a gun are successful between 80 and 90 percent of the time.
Therefore, having a gun easily available during a period of despair can be dangerous.
Because of this, gun ownership must then be taken very seriously. Make sure you buy one for all the right reasons.
5 comments:
Does the data show how many suicides were handguns vs. rifles or shotguns? The former are much more strictly regulated than the latter which can be purchased by anyone of legal age in most states without background check.
And the unfortunate truth is that even gun owners who themselves are legally entitled to own a firearm are often not responsible enough to keep the firearm out of the hands of others.
I've had this discussion with friends before and the conclusion we came to is that with any other form of suicide there is usually a way out, but with a gunshot once the trigger is pulled the deed is done.
It's a sobering fact and we need to be reminded of it as you have done here.
Such a touchy issue ... I believe in the right to bear arms, but then I really have problems with the fact that any idiot 18+ can walk into Wal Mart and buy a shotgun or rifle - a gun - an implement that's sole purpose is to kill. Mr. Jimmy is right. It's been my experience that most of the laymen who spout no gun control or run around with colorful bumper stickers supporting the right to own guns are the very ones who have no business owning one!
Let me clarify a bit. While I have no bumper stickers, I do have a firearm which most people will never see, even my friends. I strongly support citizen's rights to own firearms, I also feel that anyone who wants to own a firearm should be able to show they are responsible enough to know how to use it.
In order to buy a handgun one has to go through a background check - there's room for improvement there - and to obtain a hunting license many states require the applicant to complete a safety course.
Tragedys such as Chris describes more often than not involve carelessness on the part of a gun owner, and there isn't any way to test or check that, as far as I know.
Most of the people I know keep their handgun with them, and if it isn't in use, or if their are children about, the guns are in a gun safe; and only their closest friends/family will ever know.
But there is perhaps some truth to the kooky bumper sticker idea. I'd question the smarts of anyone sporting a "This vehicle protected by Smith & Wesson" bumper sticker.
Mr. Jimmy wrote: "Does the data show how many suicides were handguns vs. rifles or shotguns?"
The data I saw did not break the numbers down. If I come across any, I will pass them along.
I'm not to sure if making more strict laws going to affect the amount of crimes or even the amount of suicides....? I guess a similar situation that this idea can be compared to would have to be when the law raised the legal drinking age to 21. Now according to many people's theories this would lower accidents, but it actually cause a rise in casualties in several different predicaments. So I guess my question would be do you feel the the American people as a whole feel the same now about the gun issue as it pertains to a rise or decrease in deaths due to tighter gun laws?
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