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From: shallit@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP (Jeff Shallit)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Congratulations to the NRA
Message-ID: <494@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 19-Jun-85 11:06:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: gargoyle.494
Posted: Wed Jun 19 11:06:11 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 20-Jun-85 09:39:23 EDT
References: <484@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> <166@idsvax.UUCP> <>
Reply-To: shallit@gargoyle.UUCP (Jeff )
Organization: U. Chicago - Computer Science
Lines: 44
Summary: 

>> me
> C. Cramer
>> 
>>     The hail of bullets was responsible for 16,575 suicides, 13,841 murders,
>>  1,756 accidental deaths, 540 undetermined deaths and 276 killing by
>>  law enforcement agents. (In 1982)
>>  
>
>Tell me how eliminating guns is going to stop the 16,575 suicides from
>taking their lives with the other dangerous instruments that are available.

A good question, Mr. Cramer, and one worth discussing in detail.

In a report from the Public Policy department of the University of California,
Berkeley entitled "Handgun Violence:  Biting the Bullet on Effective Controls",
the authors discuss a study of suicides in Great Britain.  A significant
portion of the suicides there occurred by suffocation with gas.  This method
was particularly effective because the particular gas supplied to most of
Great Britain was very high in monoxides.

However, when the source of gas ran out and Britain was forced to buy gas
elsewhere, the suicide rate dropped dramatically (more than 35%) and
STAYED DOWN.  That's because the new gas had a much lower monoxide content;
people were LESS SUCCESSFUL in their attempted suicides.  The fact that the
rate stayed down indicates they did not switch to more effective means of
suicide.

A less dramatic example is afforded by the suicide statistics in the US.
Although men and women attempt suicide in roughly equal numbers, men are
much more successful.  Why?  Because the instrument of choice for men is
usually a handgun--and attempted suicide with a handgun is generally much
more successful.

Do you know anyone who's attempted suicide?  If so, then you know that
frequently suicidal impulses are temporary; counseling is often very
effective in preventing suicides.  You might as well ask, Mr. Cramer, why
isn't everyone who ever attempted suicide dead know.  By your reasoning,
they would continue using more and more violent and successful methods
until they succeeded.

The truth is that decreased availability of handguns would cut the suicide
rate, especially among males.  

Jeff Shallit