Thursday, August 1, 2024

We Did Not Find What We Wanted: "Sad and shocked"

 Duke Medical School has studied the effects of gun control laws on child gun deaths.

Reading the release from Duke is more entertaining than one could imagine.  

From 2009-2020, there were 6,735 suicides and 10,278 homicides by firearm in the U.S., totaling 17,013 child deaths. Overlaid with the state law database, the researchers found:

  • States with safe storage laws and mandatory waiting periods demonstrated lower suicide mortality rates among children.
  • “Stand your ground” laws, prevalent in states with less restrictive firearm legislation, showed a correlation with higher suicide mortalities.
  • There were no significant reductions in suicide death rates in states with laws setting minimum ages for possession or purchase of firearms.
  • There were no notable distinctions between states with and without firearm laws for homicide mortality rates.

“It was surprising to me that no laws appear to be impacting the rates of homicide in children, not even safe access,” Haines said. “It’s sad and shocking.” [emphasis added]

Why would stand your ground laws increase suicides?  Homicides perhaps, but suicides?  She was sad and shocked that gun control laws make very little difference.  Maybe she should focus on finding what does matter.


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