• Re: [Democratic freedom or Democratic imcompetency] Gun Death in the US

    From ltlee1@21:1/5 to All on Fri Aug 12 10:33:43 2022
    On Friday, August 12, 2022 at 1:29:55 PM UTC-4, ltlee1 wrote:
    "More Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2020 than in any other year on record, according to recently published statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That included a record number of gun murders, as well as a near-
    record number of gun suicides. Despite the increase in such fatalities, the rate of gun deaths – a statistic that accounts for the nation’s growing population – remains below the levels of earlier years.
    ...
    The 45,222 total gun deaths in 2020 were by far the most on record, representing a 14% increase from the year before, a 25% increase from five years earlier and a 43% increase from a decade prior."

    The report also points out the number of gun death is below the levels of earlier years as if it is a redeeming feature. Is it?

    Let us compare with other no biology related, and therefore more responsive to government policy, death:

    https://i.insider.com/5717dbc452bcd025008bde4a?width=1200

    Traffic death shows a general trend of decreases over time. The decreasing trend is more drastic when the number of vehicular miles traveled is taken into account.
    https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/02/03/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-u-s/

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  • From ltlee1@21:1/5 to All on Fri Aug 12 10:29:54 2022
    "More Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2020 than in any other year on record, according to recently published statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That included a record number of gun murders, as well as a near-
    record number of gun suicides. Despite the increase in such fatalities, the rate of gun deaths – a statistic that accounts for the nation’s growing population – remains below the levels of earlier years.
    ...
    The 45,222 total gun deaths in 2020 were by far the most on record, representing a 14% increase from the year before, a 25% increase from five years earlier and a 43% increase from a decade prior."

    The report also points out the number of gun death is below the levels of earlier years as if it is a redeeming feature. Is it?

    Let us compare with other no biology related, and therefore more responsive to government policy, death:

    https://i.insider.com/5717dbc452bcd025008bde4a?width=1200

    Traffic death shows a general trend of decreases over time. The decreasing trend is more drastic when the number of vehicular miles traveled is taken into account.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From A. Filip@21:1/5 to ltlee1@hotmail.com on Fri Aug 12 20:37:59 2022
    ltlee1 <ltlee1@hotmail.com> wrote:
    "More Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2020 than in any other
    year on record, according to recently published statistics from the
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That included a
    record number of gun murders, as well as a near-record number of gun suicides. Despite the increase in such fatalities, the rate of gun
    deaths – a statistic that accounts for the nation’s growing population – remains below the levels of earlier years.
    ...
    The 45,222 total gun deaths in 2020 were by far the most on record, representing a 14% increase from the year before, a 25% increase from
    five years earlier and a 43% increase from a decade prior."

    The report also points out the number of gun death is below the levels of earlier years as if it is a redeeming feature. Is it?

    Let us compare with other no biology related, and therefore more responsive to government policy, death:

    https://i.insider.com/5717dbc452bcd025008bde4a?width=1200

    Traffic death shows a general trend of decreases over time. The
    decreasing trend is more drastic when the number of vehicular miles
    traveled is taken into account.

    Could you compare total number suicides *per million people* and number
    of killings? [More usanesse => more death ]

    I can not see what makes suicide/killing by gun worse than suicide by
    other means.

    https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi
    Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will
    look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest. If
    we want the Arms Act to be repealed, if we want to learn the use of
    arms, here is a golden opportunity. If the middle classes render
    voluntary help to Government in the hour of its trial, distrust will disappear, and the ban on possessing arms will be withdrawn.
    From a leaflet urging Indians to serve with the British Army in
    World War I, Part V, Chapter 27, Recruiting Campaign

    --
    A. Filip : Big (Tech) Brother is watching you.
    | If you really want pure ASCII, save it as text... or browse it with
    | your favorite browser... (Alexandre Maret <amaret@infomaniak.ch>)

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  • From ltlee1@21:1/5 to A. Filip on Fri Aug 12 12:19:41 2022
    On Friday, August 12, 2022 at 2:38:02 PM UTC-4, A. Filip wrote:
    ltlee1 wrote:
    "More Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2020 than in any other year on record, according to recently published statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That included a
    record number of gun murders, as well as a near-record number of gun suicides. Despite the increase in such fatalities, the rate of gun
    deaths – a statistic that accounts for the nation’s growing population – remains below the levels of earlier years.
    ...
    The 45,222 total gun deaths in 2020 were by far the most on record, representing a 14% increase from the year before, a 25% increase from
    five years earlier and a 43% increase from a decade prior."

    The report also points out the number of gun death is below the levels of earlier years as if it is a redeeming feature. Is it?

    Let us compare with other no biology related, and therefore more responsive to government policy, death:

    https://i.insider.com/5717dbc452bcd025008bde4a?width=1200

    Traffic death shows a general trend of decreases over time. The
    decreasing trend is more drastic when the number of vehicular miles traveled is taken into account.
    Could you compare total number suicides *per million people* and number
    of killings? [More usanesse => more death ]

    I can not see what makes suicide/killing by gun worse than suicide by
    other means.

    Again, gun death and the necessity for control is not any kind of personal issue.
    Rather it is an American issue per American voters. What you or I think is irrelevant.
    What matter is the ongoing political culture and how it is different from other nations'
    political culture. In case you are not familiar with the US, try the following:

    "American voters are more concerned about gun control policies now than they were
    a few months ago, before a series of deadly mass shootings rocked the nation, according
    to a new survey from Monmouth University.

    "About 38 percent of Americans say gun control is an “extremely important” issue, according
    to the survey, up from 32 percent in May.

    And the proportion of voters surveyed who say it is “somewhat important” fell from 21 percent
    in May to 14 percent in August, while respondents who agree gun control is “not important”
    dropped from 12 percent in May to 10 percent in August.

    The polling comes about three months out from the November midterm elections. The economy
    topped the list of the most pressing issues for voters surveyed ahead of Election Day, with 24
    percent agreeing that it was the most important concern for them." https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3586233-voters-focus-on-gun-policy-rises-survey/



    https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi
    Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will
    look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest. If
    we want the Arms Act to be repealed, if we want to learn the use of
    arms, here is a golden opportunity. If the middle classes render
    voluntary help to Government in the hour of its trial, distrust will disappear, and the ban on possessing arms will be withdrawn.
    From a leaflet urging Indians to serve with the British Army in
    World War I, Part V, Chapter 27, Recruiting Campaign

    --
    A. Filip : Big (Tech) Brother is watching you.
    | If you really want pure ASCII, save it as text... or browse it with
    | your favorite browser... (Alexandre Maret <ama...@infomaniak.ch>)

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  • From A. Filip@21:1/5 to ltlee1@hotmail.com on Sat Aug 13 07:51:19 2022
    ltlee1 <ltlee1@hotmail.com> wrote:
    On Friday, August 12, 2022 at 2:38:02 PM UTC-4, A. Filip wrote:
    ltlee1 wrote:
    "More Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2020 than in any other
    year on record, according to recently published statistics from the
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That included a
    record number of gun murders, as well as a near-record number of gun
    suicides. Despite the increase in such fatalities, the rate of gun
    deaths – a statistic that accounts for the nation’s growing population >> > – remains below the levels of earlier years.
    ...
    The 45,222 total gun deaths in 2020 were by far the most on record,
    representing a 14% increase from the year before, a 25% increase from
    five years earlier and a 43% increase from a decade prior."

    The report also points out the number of gun death is below the levels of earlier years as if it is a redeeming feature. Is it?

    Let us compare with other no biology related, and therefore more responsive to government policy, death:

    https://i.insider.com/5717dbc452bcd025008bde4a?width=1200

    Traffic death shows a general trend of decreases over time. The
    decreasing trend is more drastic when the number of vehicular miles
    traveled is taken into account.
    Could you compare total number suicides *per million people* and number
    of killings? [More usanesse => more death ]

    I can not see what makes suicide/killing by gun worse than suicide by
    other means.
    […]

    Again, gun death and the necessity for control is not any kind of personal issue.
    Rather it is an American issue per American voters. What you or I think is irrelevant.
    What matter is the ongoing political culture and how it is different from other nations'
    political culture. In case you are not familiar with the US, try the following:

    "American voters are more concerned about gun control policies now than they were
    a few months ago, before a series of deadly mass shootings rocked the nation, according
    to a new survey from Monmouth University.

    "About 38 percent of Americans say gun control is an “extremely important” issue, according
    to the survey, up from 32 percent in May.

    And the proportion of voters surveyed who say it is “somewhat important” fell from 21 percent
    in May to 14 percent in August, while respondents who agree gun control is “not important”
    dropped from 12 percent in May to 10 percent in August.

    The polling comes about three months out from the November midterm elections. The economy
    topped the list of the most pressing issues for voters surveyed ahead of Election Day, with 24
    percent agreeing that it was the most important concern for them." https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3586233-voters-focus-on-gun-policy-rises-survey/

    Politically the issue is simple (after translation to US political realities): How much more *federal* gun control is required?
    What is needed *at federal level* beyond laws about transporting firearms
    *over state lines*?

    Translated to China/PRC perspective: Is more US federal powers in PRC interest? Rants about "bad USA" are frequently in PRC interest ;-)

    --
    A. Filip : Big (Tech) Brother is watching you.
    | If your happiness depends on what somebody else does, I guess you
    | do have a problem. (Richard Bach, "Illusions")

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  • From ltlee1@21:1/5 to A. Filip on Sat Aug 13 04:44:20 2022
    On Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 1:52:16 AM UTC-4, A. Filip wrote:
    ltlee1 wrote:
    On Friday, August 12, 2022 at 2:38:02 PM UTC-4, A. Filip wrote:
    ltlee1 wrote:
    "More Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2020 than in any other >> > year on record, according to recently published statistics from the
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That included a
    record number of gun murders, as well as a near-record number of gun
    suicides. Despite the increase in such fatalities, the rate of gun
    deaths – a statistic that accounts for the nation’s growing population
    – remains below the levels of earlier years.
    ...
    The 45,222 total gun deaths in 2020 were by far the most on record,
    representing a 14% increase from the year before, a 25% increase from >> > five years earlier and a 43% increase from a decade prior."

    The report also points out the number of gun death is below the levels of earlier years as if it is a redeeming feature. Is it?

    Let us compare with other no biology related, and therefore more responsive to government policy, death:

    https://i.insider.com/5717dbc452bcd025008bde4a?width=1200

    Traffic death shows a general trend of decreases over time. The
    decreasing trend is more drastic when the number of vehicular miles
    traveled is taken into account.
    Could you compare total number suicides *per million people* and number >> of killings? [More usanesse => more death ]

    I can not see what makes suicide/killing by gun worse than suicide by
    other means.
    […]

    Again, gun death and the necessity for control is not any kind of personal issue.
    Rather it is an American issue per American voters. What you or I think is irrelevant.
    What matter is the ongoing political culture and how it is different from other nations'
    political culture. In case you are not familiar with the US, try the following:

    "American voters are more concerned about gun control policies now than they were
    a few months ago, before a series of deadly mass shootings rocked the nation, according
    to a new survey from Monmouth University.

    "About 38 percent of Americans say gun control is an “extremely important” issue, according
    to the survey, up from 32 percent in May.

    And the proportion of voters surveyed who say it is “somewhat important” fell from 21 percent
    in May to 14 percent in August, while respondents who agree gun control is “not important”
    dropped from 12 percent in May to 10 percent in August.

    The polling comes about three months out from the November midterm elections. The economy
    topped the list of the most pressing issues for voters surveyed ahead of Election Day, with 24
    percent agreeing that it was the most important concern for them." https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3586233-voters-focus-on-gun-policy-rises-survey/
    Politically the issue is simple (after translation to US political realities):
    How much more *federal* gun control is required?
    What is needed *at federal level* beyond laws about transporting firearms *over state lines*?

    Translated to China/PRC perspective: Is more US federal powers in PRC interest?
    Rants about "bad USA" are frequently in PRC interest ;-)


    To what degree is gun ownership (or gun control and associated gun death) is a matter
    of democratic freedom or democratic incompetence?


    --
    A. Filip : Big (Tech) Brother is watching you.
    | If your happiness depends on what somebody else does, I guess you
    | do have a problem. (Richard Bach, "Illusions")

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    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From A. Filip@21:1/5 to ltlee1@hotmail.com on Sat Aug 13 14:27:01 2022
    ltlee1 <ltlee1@hotmail.com> wrote:
    On Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 1:52:16 AM UTC-4, A. Filip wrote:
    ltlee1 wrote:
    [...]
    Again, gun death and the necessity for control is not any kind of personal issue.
    Rather it is an American issue per American voters. What you or I think is irrelevant.
    What matter is the ongoing political culture and how it is different from other nations'
    political culture. In case you are not familiar with the US, try the following:

    "American voters are more concerned about gun control policies now than they were
    a few months ago, before a series of deadly mass shootings rocked the nation, according
    to a new survey from Monmouth University.

    "About 38 percent of Americans say gun control is an “extremely important” issue, according
    to the survey, up from 32 percent in May.

    And the proportion of voters surveyed who say it is “somewhat important” fell from 21 percent
    in May to 14 percent in August, while respondents who agree gun control is “not important”
    dropped from 12 percent in May to 10 percent in August.

    The polling comes about three months out from the November midterm elections. The economy
    topped the list of the most pressing issues for voters surveyed ahead of Election Day, with 24
    percent agreeing that it was the most important concern for them."
    https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3586233-voters-focus-on-gun-policy-rises-survey/
    Politically the issue is simple (after translation to US political realities):
    How much more *federal* gun control is required?
    What is needed *at federal level* beyond laws about transporting firearms
    *over state lines*?

    Translated to China/PRC perspective: Is more US federal powers in PRC interest?
    Rants about "bad USA" are frequently in PRC interest ;-)

    To what degree is gun ownership (or gun control and associated gun death) is a matter
    of democratic freedom or democratic incompetence?

    Disarmed citizens of PRC are much less dangerous to CPC leadership,
    aren't they? Is it a matter of undemocratic competence?
    Life is a game of achieving a few (partially) contradictory goals at once.
    You seems to see *ONLY* the single goal.
    Too little and too much salt is harmful.

    --
    A. Filip : Big (Tech) Brother is watching you.
    | Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.
    | (Robert A. Heinlein)

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  • From ltlee1@21:1/5 to A. Filip on Sat Aug 13 06:02:16 2022
    On Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 8:27:50 AM UTC-4, A. Filip wrote:
    ltlee1 wrote:
    On Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 1:52:16 AM UTC-4, A. Filip wrote:
    ltlee1 wrote:
    [...]
    Again, gun death and the necessity for control is not any kind of personal issue.
    Rather it is an American issue per American voters. What you or I think is irrelevant.
    What matter is the ongoing political culture and how it is different from other nations'
    political culture. In case you are not familiar with the US, try the following:

    "American voters are more concerned about gun control policies now than they were
    a few months ago, before a series of deadly mass shootings rocked the nation, according
    to a new survey from Monmouth University.

    "About 38 percent of Americans say gun control is an “extremely important” issue, according
    to the survey, up from 32 percent in May.

    And the proportion of voters surveyed who say it is “somewhat important” fell from 21 percent
    in May to 14 percent in August, while respondents who agree gun control is “not important”
    dropped from 12 percent in May to 10 percent in August.

    The polling comes about three months out from the November midterm elections. The economy
    topped the list of the most pressing issues for voters surveyed ahead of Election Day, with 24
    percent agreeing that it was the most important concern for them."
    https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3586233-voters-focus-on-gun-policy-rises-survey/
    Politically the issue is simple (after translation to US political realities):
    How much more *federal* gun control is required?
    What is needed *at federal level* beyond laws about transporting firearms >> *over state lines*?

    Translated to China/PRC perspective: Is more US federal powers in PRC interest?
    Rants about "bad USA" are frequently in PRC interest ;-)

    To what degree is gun ownership (or gun control and associated gun death) is a matter
    of democratic freedom or democratic incompetence?
    Disarmed citizens of PRC are much less dangerous to CPC leadership,

    "Disarmed citizens everywhere are in general less dangerous to themselves and to
    their leaders." No?

    aren't they? Is it a matter of undemocratic competence?
    Is preserving citizen's lives an important goal?
    IF yes, competent government and democratic government
    is the two sides of the same coin.
    IF no, is such government really democratic.

    Life is a game of achieving a few (partially) contradictory goals at once.

    Totally agree.
    American voters are indeed wanting to achieve contradictory goals. The issue where to draw the line differentiating democratic freedom and democratic competence. And more important, however the line is drawn, is it not always SUBJECTIVE per the people and their leaders?
    And therefore cannot be UNIVERSALLY applied. There is American democratic freedom at certain time, t, could always be viewed as democratic incompetence at some other time and some other places.

    You seems to see *ONLY* the single goal.
    Too little and too much salt is harmful.
    Again, what you and I see is irrelevant.
    In contrast, what American leaders decided on gun freedom would get
    more or less gun death in the US.

    --
    A. Filip : Big (Tech) Brother is watching you.
    | Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.
    | (Robert A. Heinlein)

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From ltlee1@21:1/5 to All on Thu Aug 18 15:25:28 2022
    On Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 9:02:19 AM UTC-4, ltlee1 wrote:
    On Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 8:27:50 AM UTC-4, A. Filip wrote:
    ltlee1 wrote:
    On Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 1:52:16 AM UTC-4, A. Filip wrote:
    ltlee1 wrote:
    [...]
    Again, gun death and the necessity for control is not any kind of personal issue.
    Rather it is an American issue per American voters. What you or I think is irrelevant.
    What matter is the ongoing political culture and how it is different from other nations'
    political culture. In case you are not familiar with the US, try the following:

    "American voters are more concerned about gun control policies now than they were
    a few months ago, before a series of deadly mass shootings rocked the nation, according
    to a new survey from Monmouth University.

    "About 38 percent of Americans say gun control is an “extremely important” issue, according
    to the survey, up from 32 percent in May.

    And the proportion of voters surveyed who say it is “somewhat important” fell from 21 percent
    in May to 14 percent in August, while respondents who agree gun control is “not important”
    dropped from 12 percent in May to 10 percent in August.

    The polling comes about three months out from the November midterm elections. The economy
    topped the list of the most pressing issues for voters surveyed ahead of Election Day, with 24
    percent agreeing that it was the most important concern for them."
    https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3586233-voters-focus-on-gun-policy-rises-survey/
    Politically the issue is simple (after translation to US political realities):
    How much more *federal* gun control is required?
    What is needed *at federal level* beyond laws about transporting firearms
    *over state lines*?

    Translated to China/PRC perspective: Is more US federal powers in PRC interest?
    Rants about "bad USA" are frequently in PRC interest ;-)

    To what degree is gun ownership (or gun control and associated gun death) is a matter
    of democratic freedom or democratic incompetence?
    Disarmed citizens of PRC are much less dangerous to CPC leadership,
    "Disarmed citizens everywhere are in general less dangerous to themselves and to
    their leaders." No?
    aren't they? Is it a matter of undemocratic competence?
    Is preserving citizen's lives an important goal?
    IF yes, competent government and democratic government
    is the two sides of the same coin.
    IF no, is such government really democratic.
    Life is a game of achieving a few (partially) contradictory goals at once.
    Totally agree.
    American voters are indeed wanting to achieve contradictory goals. The issue where to draw the line differentiating democratic freedom and democratic competence. And more important, however the line is drawn, is it not always SUBJECTIVE per the people and their leaders?
    And therefore cannot be UNIVERSALLY applied. There is American democratic freedom at certain time, t, could always be viewed as democratic incompetence
    at some other time and some other places.
    You seems to see *ONLY* the single goal.
    Too little and too much salt is harmful.
    Again, what you and I see is irrelevant.
    In contrast, what American leaders decided on gun freedom would get
    more or less gun death in the US.

    If one doesn't treat Western democracy as an matter of faith and remain observant,
    it is clear all government polices inevitably involve what the people CANNOT DO.

    In other words all government policies are points along a policy spectrum with Democratic freedom on one end and Democratic incompetence on the other end.

    The balance point or the optimal point is always a matter to be decided by the people. And people could very well consider a certain point P democratic freedom
    at time T and consider the same point P democratic incompetence at some other time.

    True democracy has little to do on where is point P but satisfying the people view
    where the balance/optimal point should lie.

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