No. No other category. Those numbers come directly for the U.S. National Center for Health Studies.Glenn wrote:Panther,
A couple of questions for clarification:
Those three sub-totals fall 220 short of the total, is there another category?
Homocides include everything from gang-bangers & drive-bys to LEO/private self-defense & other justifiable homicides.Where are justifiable firearms deaths (police, self-defense, etc) included in this, as "homicides"?
That information is not broken out in a separate category.Are there any stats on how many of these deaths were ruled as justified?
Fundamentally, that is true... but only because those kids haven't been properly taught about firearms and are usually living in circumstances where the firearms are not legal. (I'm trying to stay as "PC" as possible here...)Mike K wrote:...the odds increase for those who have unsecured guns around kids.
It's a balancing act between accessibly and peace of mind.
In MY home, everyone knows about firearms. My daughters were taught how to take-down and reassemble different firearms when they were in their early teens... (they're grown and out of the house now...) my (now) 3-1/2 yo knows the entire Eddie Eagle program already... and firearms aren't any big deal because they aren't made to be some prohibited thing. The same lesson my Daddy taught me (IE: see that over there... this is what a gun can do... BLAM! There's no putting it back together... it's gone. A gun can do the same thing to YOU), works quite well. In fact, it works for a number of things that need to be learned to be respected... including (but not limited to) a lawn-mower, a chain-saw, power-tools, electricity, etc, etc, etc... All of those things (from electricity to firearms to sharp items) are TOOLS and can be used for good or bad. Care must be taken to prevent "accidents" and "misuse". Kids actually learn really well if given the chance (and not given the hype and drugged up like they do these days)... just MNSHO.
Valkenar wrote:...how many homicides were part of a home invasion? That's the real number you need to look at when weighing whether you want a gun to defend yourself in case of home invasion.
Generally speaking, when it comes to homicide, there are a few very high risk groups with very high murder rates, and everyone else has a very low risk. Those 13,000ish homicides aren't evenly distributed across the country.
Yeah... sure... Your other questions have been answered above... On this one, I know where you're heading. Kellerman has been thoroughly and exhaustively debunked. He's a fraud, as is the "study" that the anti-gunners still insist on quoting, so I won't bother going over it all again (for probably a dozen times in these forums). However, I will agree with your statement that those homocides aren't evenly distributed. BUT, let me point out that the premise that is being pushed isn't entirely accurate as was shown by Glasheen-Sensei's post and by other's personal experiences (who are members of these forums, including yours truly).
The only time we don't carry (including one of my now grown and moved away kids) is when we're in the shower, in the hot tub or in bed... Don't worry, it's still close even in those instances. And we have never woken up disoriented enough to simply start shooting. Then again, I have been very careful to setup our residence(s) in a manner that there is plenty of warning if someone wishes to encroach... (One example is my "love" for lab-chow dogs... very protective... and territorial too!)If you're going to routinely carry it, then that's another question, and another set of statistics.
Finally, to Bert... again, sorry for your lose. It isn't laziness that causes things to be left around in our house, it's intent. In the PRoMA, there are storage laws that require preventing access to those who are underaged or non-licensed. That isn't true in other places we go. Our kids are used to seeing ammo, "eyes & ears", targets, supplies and firearms around. It's no big deal to them. In fact, they all know how to clean firearms and it's always been a "family event". Even with a BB gun, my 3-1/2 yo can outshoot my wife's brother... the "trained, expert marksman" cop. (FYI & BTW: My wife and daughters are better shots than the 3-1/2 yo...)
If something is prohibited, it becomes "desired" among other things. I learned this the hard way with one of my other daughters... I strictly prohibited any use of cell-phone or texting while driving... (I don't even have "text" capability on my old phone, but I do make calls on the road sometimes... not a very good example... ) Anyway, she decided that it couldn't be "that" bad. Didn't get into an accident, but wasn't driving very well and it just so happened that I was running an errand when she blew past me on the highway while texting and didn't even realize it. I called her...
"Hi"
"What're you doing?"
"Nothin'" (That's a big clue right there in case non-parents don't realize it...)
"How fast are you going?"
"Dad, I only answered because I saw it was you and thought it might be important!"
"It IS important... How fast are you going and who are you texting with?"
"ummmmm..."
"Look {name of daughter}, you just blew by me and I'm doing 5 over with traffic right now... Slow down and stop texting that boy until you get out of the car!"
"How did you know?!?"
"It's a 'Daddy' thing... You can CALL in the car, but NO MORE TEXTING. Agree? Or I can have your phone restricted to emergency use... your choice."
"Sorry Daddy..." (It always works when the girls go from "Dad" to "Daddy" and they know it...)
She was in her 20s by the time the law was passed that said no teen operator cell-phone use, but she had a friend who was seriously injured while texting and driving. I could be completely wrong, but from the bills and for other reasons, I don't think she "texted" while driving after that...
Van-Sensei, I knew the same old anti-gun debate would get started if I joined in... that's why I avoided it for as long as I could. Then again, you probably knew that already...