I think one of the problems here is how the issue is framed to begin with. Do we have a serious firearms problem or do we have a suicide problem? Two of my cousins have committed suicide by self-inflicted gunshot wound (one was an extremely successful doctor and the other an auto-factory worker.) Two-thirds of gun deaths in the US are from suicide. Bet you most of you gun-fearing folks didn't know that.
"In terms of race and ethnicity, Kaplan said that 77 percent of white gun deaths in the U.S. are suicides, while less than 1 in 5 (19 percent) is a homicide. The figures are nearly opposite for African Americans, for which only 14 percent are suicides."
Instead of a firearms problem, maybe we have a suicide (mental health?) problem and a poverty/inequality problem. Or maybe we have a media problem - neither the left, nor the right's propaganda machines seem interested in the real issues.
Suicide attempts are predominantly impulsive acts that are rarely repeated, so controlling the means of suicide is an essential component in suicide prevention. Most people who attempt suicide go from intent to action within a matter of hours, with no significant forward planning.
Women are far more likely to attempt suicide, but men are far more likely to die by suicide. This disparity is explained predominantly by the choice of means - women tend to choose less effective means like poisoning and wrist-cutting, whereas men tend to choose more effective means like hanging and shooting.
Here in the UK, acetaminophen poisoning is one of the primary means of suicide. We restricted the sale of acetaminophen to a maximum of 32 tablets in pharmacies and 16 tablets in general retailers. This led to a 43% reduction in deaths due to acetaminophen poisoning, with no commensurate increase in suicide attempts due to other means.
If you're serious about suicide prevention then gun control is a vital part of the response, alongside other measures to restrict access to means of suicide and improve access to crisis care.
I have a bottle of 500 acetaminophen tablets in our medicine cabinet, no women or children have been harmed in this household by gun or Tylenol. Personal responsibility is still a thing in some parts of the world.
>For example, single shot rifles and shotguns are legal in the UK. Yet rarely used. Why is that?
They're extremely well regulated. Many thousands of British people enjoy hunting and target shooting, but they do so under strict supervision. If you want to own a rifle or shotgun, you need to apply for a license. To receive a license, you need a clean criminal record, a clean bill of mental health and evidence that you have a legitimate sporting or agricultural use. In the case of a sporting application, you'll need to be a member in good standing of a recognised shooting club; if you're a target or clay pigeon shooter, the presumption is that you'll store your firearms on club premises unless you have a legitimate reason to keep your firearms at home.
Any purchase of a firearm has to be approved in advance by the police. Your license permits you to hold a specified quantity of ammunition; you can be asked to account for how your ammunition was used and investigated if you purchase quantities of ammunition that appear to exceed your normal use. Your firearms must be kept in a locked container when not in use, whether in storage or in transit. The police have the right to enter your home at any time to inspect your firearms.
Any breach of your license is an extremely serious offence that will almost always lead to revocation of your license and can lead to a custodial sentence.
> If you want to own a rifle or shotgun, you need to apply for a license. To receive a license, you need a clean criminal record, a clean bill of mental health and evidence that you have a legitimate sporting or agricultural use.
In the U.S., we don’t need government approval, yes we need a background check if acquiring the firearm through retail. But if I choose to hand my firearms down to my kids, the government has no business being involved. But what if your child is a known felon?! Well, that’s covered too - it’s illegal to transfer guns to people who are not legally allowed to possess them.
People who really don’t like it here are under no obligation to stay, though I will say you can find like-minded people in “progressive” states - so you can have your false sense of security and stay in the US too.
The only people I know who have rifles or shotguns either work in rural areas or are into wildfowling, or if wealthier, into grouse shooting or deer stalking. These are fairly common in some parts of the country (e.g. Scotland where I am - where large parts of the country are dedicated to shooting one kind of beastie or another) but they are still minority interests.
Most people here just aren't interested in guns.
Ironically, in some areas here in the UK it is common for kids to be taught to shoot at school!
I think there are a lot more factors at play then gun control.
For example, single shot rifles and shotguns are legal in the UK. Yet rarely used. Why is that?