Hypothetical. All guns dissapear. What happens?

[Starlight]

If all guns dissapeared right now what would happen? Or more accurately what would possibly happen?

I don't think my life would change in the slightest.

[Cow Poke]

Billions of humans never shoot anybody either.

EGGzackly, so we need to look at why some do.

[Starlight]

EGGzackly, so we need to look at why some do.

The obvious reason is that they have a desire to do so combined with an ability to do so. We can and should take a multi-pronged approach that seeks to lessen both their desire and ability to do so.

Things that have generally worked well in other Western countries on the topic include:
- Strong gun-control laws
- Government funded healthcare and mental healthcare services
- Anti-bullying programs in schools
- Government intervention to remove children from 'problem' homes and place them in adoptive care

Most Western countries have found that strong gun control laws almost completely eradicate mass shootings. Removing peoples desire to commit a mass shooting is complex and difficult, but removing their ability to perform one is much easier.

[Mountain Man]

If all guns dissapeared right now what would happen? Or more accurately what would possibly happen?.

If you asked me it would be short lived.

Let's expand this hypothetical: supernatural intervention causes all existing guns to vanish and makes it impossible to create new guns.

What would happen? People would go back to killing each other with bows and arrows, knives, clubs, rocks, a stout tree branch. You know, like they used to do in the good ol' days.

[TheWall]

Let's expand this hypothetical: supernatural intervention causes all existing guns to vanish and makes it impossible to create new guns.

What would happen? People would go back to killing each other with bows and arrows, knives, clubs, rocks, a stout tree branch. You know, like they used to do in the good ol' days.

I have no doubt such things would occur. I pointed out that people might look into Munenori and Talhoffer for advice on how to defend themselves. The SCA would be fine.

[JimL]

Let's expand this hypothetical: supernatural intervention causes all existing guns to vanish and makes it impossible to create new guns.

What would happen? People would go back to killing each other with bows and arrows, knives, clubs, rocks, a stout tree branch. You know, like they used to do in the good ol' days.

How many school children do you think a mentally disturbed person would be able to murder with a stout tree branch before he himself is taken down? And how many do you think would even bother with the attempt knowing that they couldn't cause enough damage to satisfy themselves? Fact is the data is in, where semiautomatics have been banned these kind of mass murders decreased substantially.

[JimL]

EGGzackly, so we need to look at why some do.

No, we have to do both. Besides, you conservatives talk out of both sides of your mouths. You say we have to have better mental health, but then you don't want to pay for it.

[lilpixieofterror]

How many school children do you think a mentally disturbed person would be able to murder with a stout tree branch before he himself is taken down? And how many do you think would even bother with the attempt knowing that they couldn't cause enough damage to satisfy themselves? Fact is the data is in, where semiautomatics have been banned these kind of mass murders decreased substantially.

You mean like in Brazil or Mexico, where strict gun control laws have lead to unarmed victims and criminals carry guns? I always notice gun control advocates ignore the rest of the world and pretend the first world is all that exist. Fact is the west had enjoyed lower crime rates not due to increase in gun laws, but due to things like increases in modern comforts, cultural harmony, or the fact you don’t need to violence to survive. If gun control = less crime, than Mexico and Brazil should be paradise with little crime. Reality is they are infested with criminals with a huge murder rate. Stop ignoring examples that prove your theory wrong. They make your side look dishonest.

[lilpixieofterror]

No, we have to do both. Besides, you conservatives talk out of both sides of your mouths. You say we have to have better mental health, but then you don't want to pay for it.

And yet is was failures of liberal policies that have lead to a few of these mass shootings to start with. Let’s ignore that little detail and keep doubling down on the same failure again and again because it’s bound to work sooner or later.

[Mountain Man]

How many school children do you think a mentally disturbed person would be able to murder with a stout tree branch before he himself is taken down? And how many do you think would even bother with the attempt knowing that they couldn't cause enough damage to satisfy themselves? Fact is the data is in, where semiautomatics have been banned these kind of mass murders decreased substantially.

Maybe not with a stout tree branch, but there have been a number of horrific mass killings using knives. At any rate, death by mass shooting is one of the least likely causes of death in America.

Alternatively, look at Chicago: strict gun control but high rates of violent crime. Liberals say, "It's not Chicago's fault because criminals are just buying guns from border states where guns are readily available!" Which begs the question: Why aren't those border states also experiencing high rates of violent crime?

Answer: Because guns aren't the problem.

[Adrift]

Maybe not with a stout tree branch, but there have been a number of horrific mass killings using knives. At any rate, death by mass shooting is one of the least likely causes of death in America.

Alternatively, look at Chicago: strict gun control but high rates of violent crime. Liberals say, "It's not Chicago's fault because criminals are just buying guns from border states where guns are readily available!" Which begs the question: Why aren't those border states also experiencing high rates of violent crime?

You mean like Gary Indiana?

[Magenta]

The universe would be a better place if sin did not exist.

Yes, it would.^_^

[Cow Poke]

You mean like Gary Indiana?

They're gonna be playing pool, and that starts with p and that rhymes with t and that means trouble! Trouble with a capital "T" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool!

[Mountain Man]

You mean like Gary Indiana?

You mean that city that became economically depressed after the steel mills shutdown?

Maybe we should outlaw poverty since that seems to lead to crime more reliably than the presence of guns.

[Adrift]

You mean that city that became economically depressed after the steel mills shutdown?

Maybe we should outlaw poverty since that seems to lead to crime more reliably than the presence of guns.

As I've been stating from the start, I'm for multi-pronged solutions that deal with both cause and effect. A nation as wealthy as America should be looking for ways to reduce poverty that will in turn help reduce crime. In the meantime, let's also get rid of the most lethal tool regularly used in violent crimes. It's a win win!

That said, don't think I didn't notice that you've moved the goalpost. You asked why border states aren't also experiencing high rates of violent crime... They are. Cities in border states like St. Louis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, South Bend, Indianapolis, and Detroit all have some of the highest murder rates in the US. But that's besides the point. As has been repeated to you over and over and over again, no one is arguing that guns make people more criminally inclined. So asking the question "why isn't their higher crime in places with less strict gun laws" is asking the wrong question. Rather, the argument is that in places that see violent crime, guns make that crime more lethal.