America’s biggest gun problem is the one we never discuss

[Harry]

 

[Cerebus]

The other unknown fact about gun violence in the US is that it is not only mostly suicides, the remainder or highly likely to be localized to the drug trade, especially in urban areas.   Check out the Chicago Shootings site that is run by the Tribune.

If you really want to lower gun violence in the US, what you need to do is:

1) Massively increase public mental health funding.  This would also have all sorts of other positive societal effects, such as lower homeless rates.

2) Ramp down the war on drugs.  Prohibitions cause profit margins so large that murder is an acceptable business risk.

[oldguystudent]

 

2) Ramp down the war on drugs. 

But then gay immigrants could get high too!

[Cerebus]

But then gay immigrants could get high too!

I want gay married immigrant couples to be able to protect their marijuana plants with guns.  

[KRAM1]

The other unknown fact about gun violence in the US is that it is not only mostly suicides, the remainder or highly likely to be localized to the drug trade, especially in urban areas.   Check out the Chicago Shootings site that is run by the Tribune.

If you really want to lower gun violence in the US, what you need to do is:

1) Massively increase public mental health funding.  This would also have all sorts of other positive societal effects, such as lower homeless rates.

2) Ramp down the war on drugs.  Prohibitions cause profit margins so large that murder is an acceptable business risk.

I agree with you on both points.

But, I also must say that there is a part of me that likes it when the bad guys kill each other.  Just think of the resources saved in not having to pay to capture, prosecute and house these folks in prison.  They might be seen as doing society a favor.  OK, I know...Bad.  But, just being honest about how I feel about these thus and killers.

[LongJim]

I just read through this thread, and agree with Alonzo on every point.  Thanks Alonzo.

[ChristopherRyanWilkes]

The other unknown fact about gun violence in the US is that it is not only mostly suicides, the remainder or highly likely to be localized to the drug trade, especially in urban areas.   Check out the Chicago Shootings site that is run by the Tribune.

If you really want to lower gun violence in the US, what you need to do is:

1) Massively increase public mental health funding.  This would also have all sorts of other positive societal effects, such as lower homeless rates.

2) Ramp down the war on drugs.  Prohibitions cause profit margins so large that murder is an acceptable business risk.

That Chicago map is pretty startling. I honestly wonder how many of those shootings were even legally obtained guns? If I'm not mistaken Illinois has very strict gun laws. I can't say I understand the gun culture of the south and I don't own one but I have never had a problem with those that do. Often folks want a solution to a problem where sadly the solution isn't as simple as most think. 

[SilverEagle]

The other unknown fact about gun violence in the US is that it is not only mostly suicides, the remainder or highly likely to be localized to the drug trade, especially in urban areas.   Check out the Chicago Shootings site that is run by the Tribune.

If you really want to lower gun violence in the US, what you need to do is:

1) Massively increase public mental health funding.  This would also have all sorts of other positive societal effects, such as lower homeless rates.

2) Ramp down the war on drugs.  Prohibitions cause profit margins so large that murder is an acceptable business risk.

Or just add lithium to most public water sources....

 "The Texas Tranquilizer" from Time's archives, dated October 4, 1971:

 

By legend Texans are a grandiose breed with more than the natural share of megalomaniacs. But University of Texas Biochemist Earl B. Dawson thinks that he detects an uncommon pocket of psychological adjustment around El Paso. The reason, says Dawson, lies in the deep wells from which the city draws its water supply.

According to Dawson's studies of urine samples from 3,000 Texans, El Paso's water is heavily laced with lithium, a tranquilizing chemical widely used in the treatment of manic depression and other psychiatric disorders. He notes that Dallas, which has low lithium levels because it draws its water from surface supplies, has "about seven times more admissions to state mental hospitals than El Paso." But state mental health officials point out that the mental hospital closest to Dallas is 35 miles from the city, while the one nearest El Paso is 350 miles away—and the long distance could affect admission figures.

But FBI statistics show that while Dallas had 5,970 known crimes per 100,000 population last year, El Paso had 2,889 per 100,000. Dallas (pop. 844,000) had 242 murders, El Paso (pop. 323,000) only 13. Dr. Frederick Goodwin, an expert on lithium studies for the National Institute of Mental Health, doubts that "lithium has these magical properties in the population." Others are not so sure. If lithium does have anything to do with the relative peace in El Paso, what would it do for other cities like New York and Chicago?

 

 

[eulessismore]

Or just add lithium to most public water sources....

 "The Texas Tranquilizer" from Time's archives, dated October 4, 1971:

 

 

 

Give me Librium or give me death.

[oldguystudent]

Or just add lithium to most public water sources....

 

 

It seems a common pastime to make fun of El Paso around here, especially since joining UTEP's conference.  But for the first six years of my life in Texas, El Paso was a major part of my territory. I spent at least one week a month there.  Assessing the overall population, I've never encountered a kinder, more welcoming, warm hearted group of people than the citizens of that fine (if dusty) city.  I'd heard about the lithium in the water things years ago, and I can't but help wonder if there may be something to it.

[Cerebus]

  Assessing the overall population, I've never encountered a kinder, more welcoming, warm hearted group of people than the citizens of that fine (if dusty) city. 

I've also never ran into a group of people more likely to drive 30 on the highway.  It's the only place I've ever seen with MINIMUM speed signs up.  

[oldguystudent]

I've also never ran into a group of people more likely to drive 30 on the highway.  It's the only place I've ever seen with MINIMUM speed signs up.  

I would agree with this assessment.  Most certainly, nobody is in a hurry.  But then, to be fair, I think DFW is in an exceptional hurry.  I noticed it immediately when I came back from vacation this summer from Oregon.  Went from stoned people driving their spray painted Prius 45 on the two-lane state highways to custom wrapped F-5000s with lift kits and monster truck wheels trying to bear down on me at 95 in the slow lane of the tollway.

[Army of Dad]

I've also never ran into a group of people more likely to drive 30 on the highway.  It's the only place I've ever seen with MINIMUM speed signs up.  

Minimum speed limits and the signs are not unusual. You typically see them in mor rural areas.

[Cerebus]

Minimum speed limits and the signs are not unusual. You typically see them in mor rural areas.

Yes, but not on the interstate in the middle of a city of almost a million people.   EP is about the same size as Ft Worth.