Most of Finland’s deaths by guns are suicides. 90 percent.
Murder rates by gun are about the same in Vermont, and NH compared to Finland.
I would not give Finland a pass. Finland has too many guns. The suicide rate in Finland would probably drop if Finland had fewer guns.
So owning a gun causes people to kill themselves now?
“I read recently that one-third of the deaths by firearms are suicides.”
Is this something to be proud of?
“I can’t read your link, but if Finland is doing just fine, then at least 6 of our states are doing even better.”
5 of which have the strictest gun laws in the Nation.
How does Finland compare to the 46 other US states?
dstark, I agree - Finland’s rate of suicide would probably drop if they had fewer guns. But, tbh, I am more worried about homicides and accidental death by gunfire due to irresponsible gun owners.
At least most who commit suicide don’t take anyone else out with them. I wonder what % in Finland who commit suicide, take out their family along with themselves?
I would be surprised in any other western country has a higher rate of suicide/homicide than they US.
Re: suicides. They should not be included because they are not homicides, which is what the discussion is about.
Well, then you’re gonna be surprised.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rate
“They should not be included because they are not homicides, which is what the discussion is about.”
But stricter gun laws probably would reduce the rate of suicide, too - which is often a rash decision - so easy availability of a firearm likely increases the numbers of suicides.
Didn’t Sandy Hook occur in CT?
How about better illegal drug enforcement and treatment?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/06/18/the-legal-loophole-that-allowed-dylann-roof-to-get-a-gun/
Or banning sexism?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/06/21/how-benevolent-sexism-drove-dylann-roofs-racist-massacre/
So, once again a tragedy because current gun laws are not being followed…
Didn’t Sandy Hook occur in CT?
Yes, so? No law is going to prevent everything. We have lots of laws and there are always people who will break them. Are they worthless because they don’t work 100% of the time?
However, there is statistical proof that the stricter the gun laws the fewer death by gunfire there is.
Maybe we should get rid of all law, after all, there isn’t one that is never broken.
It would be awesome if we could stop passing laws about everything, and people would just behave.
good idea. First, we can pass a law that you says you are not allowed to shoot innocent people. Then, no one will do it.
^^ Re Post #271: Now that is funny!! What a great illustration of how stupid just another law is.
We should pass another law to restrict access to drugs. That’ll reduce drug crime.
Vermont (600000) and NH (1.3 m) have tiny populations. I am sure there are 1 million people slices of Finland (or Germany or England) with even lower murder rates by firearm.
Maybe a Gun Disparagement law, modeled on the food disparagement laws, would be popular around here.
Murder has been against the law since Moses. Most of us don’t need the law to know in the very core of our being that it is the worst thing a person can do. And yet a small subset, who claim to be human beings do it anyway.
I am sure there are 1 million slices of US two-year olds who have zero murder rates by firearm. Finland doesn’t have that.
I wouldn’t be so sure about that.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/31/us/walmart-shooting-by-2-year-old.html?_r=0
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/11-year-old-killed-2-year-old-brother-plays-gun-article-1.1747398
Shoudda stuck with 1 year olds.