"Self Selection" in Gun Debates...

[98Z5V]

Found a really good article, and a completely different viewpoint that I haven't seen presented before:

https://gatdaily.com/self-selection-an-overlooked-factor-in-the-gun-debate/?trk_msg=0MA1MDNVQIA4R8NFIHNA13S0I8&trk_contact=8V0L65B89JG3CKL2PPP2IG35AC&trk_module=new&trk_sid=2ISK88U04FM0CBE6H9A5BK4JCC

Self-Selection: An Overlooked Factor in the Gun Debate

By DRGO

June 26, 2019

From our friends at DRGO

(from pitchfork.com)

It’s probably not what you think, so let me explain the context.

One of the obvious missions of the anti-gun lobby is to magnify the negative consequences of widespread gun ownership in America.  As you probably know, they do this in several ways.

Most notably, while discussing rare and highly disturbing crimes like mass murders of children, they throw out a number that represents all types of gun deaths.  This distracts attention from the fact that most gun deaths are suicides and most gun murders are criminals killing each other.  Misdirection is a cheap trick, but it keeps working well enough that it’s been a go-to tactic of anti-gunners for years.

Another tactic is to compare U.S. gunshot deaths with a carefully selected group of “developed” countries.  If you cherry pick the data carefully, you can make the U. S. look like a very dangerous place that is desperately in need of more authoritarian gun laws.

A more realistic measure of violence is to compare our country with all countries and use the overall murder rate rather than just gun deaths.   If you do that, the U. S. is right in the middle of the pack.  There is no tsunami of death—our murder rate has been declining for decades.   If you look beyond the primary source of homicides, gangs and drug criminals in certain cities, America is one of the safest countries in the world.  Not bad for a stressed-out, multi-ethnic society with lots of freedom and from 350 to 600 million guns in civilian hands.

So, with such a huge number of guns in a turbulent society, why isn’t our overall murder rate sky high?

One reason is never mentioned in gun law discussions.  No, I’m not going to throw statistics at you.   This theory is strictly based on my own observations, what I call “ground truth.”

Everyone in my large circle of friends knows I’m a gun guy.  I’ve taken many novices to the range to introduce them to safe gun handling.  It’s one of my passions.  I’ve had many more chat with me privately about their personal feelings regarding gun ownership.

I’ve learned that people generally know when they are not suited to taking on that responsibility.  I’d love to have a dollar for every time someone told me they don’t trust themselves to keep a gun around.  They worry about their temper, their ability to react appropriately in an emergency, their use of intoxicants, their relationship issues and other factors that affect their mental state.

The biggest reason we don’t have an astronomical rate of gun deaths is simple:  people generally choose the best option for their own circumstances without orders from the nanny state.   This “self-selection” contradicts the idea that we need to be micro-managed for our own safety.

As a result of self-selection much of what the anti-gun lobby claims they want to accomplish has already been done individually by the people themselves at zero cost.  No tax money expended, no freedoms restricted, no need for state-mandated mental health exams.

This theory of self-selection is one of several important reasons that gun control laws  have no measurable effect.  It’s been ignored in the gun control debate, probably because it can’t be weaponized in the war on liberty and our civil rights.

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—Dr. Michael S. Brown is a pragmatic Libertarian environmentalist who has been studying the gun debate for three decades and considers it a fascinating way to learn about human nature and politics.

All DRGO articles by Michael Brown, OD

[shooterrex]

Good read. He has a valad point.

[Lane]

That was indeed a very good read. I personally know plenty of people who fall into that category of "self selectors"; though I've never been rude enough to ask why, or press them about it. Fact it; it doesn't matter. To each their own, and everyone knows that; "with great power comes great responsibility". It is only those that fail to heed to a universal caution; that fall into another category. And gun ownership isn't like health care; it's not mandated in very many places...

Criminals are going to break the law; the rest of the population should have second amendment rights regardless of what state (or city) they live in. Unfortunately; none of that "self-selection" fixes that drive of the anti-gun lobby. I have recently been trying to understand just how we got to this point... After visiting the local rod and gun club, I thought more about the pistol permitting process, and why it is so strict here in NY. Then I finally decided to see just HOW LONG it's been like this. That part made me sick, here in NY state; it's the Sullivan Act of 1911. A racist (against Italian immigrants at the time?) and pointless measure to allow a corrupt group to control concealed weapons; mainly for benefit of NYC politicians (influencers?). 

It is not JUST that people are smart enough to self select in these matters. There are also the regular people around them that understand those limitations. They act as a control point in the system as well (though; don't even get me started about red flag laws). I've honestly never met a law abiding gun owner whom I would fear... People who: know, use, and understand guns are almost universally self-selected in their own way.

It does NOT have to be an us vs. them debate. You don't have to go very far back in history to erase all of the nonsense gun laws we have now. But here; where I live, the state legislature is proud to have voted on more bills than has happened in a long time... Great; we need more laws to protect and serve the people...

[Sisco]

An excellent read. And I do know self selectors who do not want the responsibility gun ownership entails.

[Magwa]

spot on...i know both groups, also a group that is too lax about gun ownership..good read

[mrmackc]

Another factor in Self Selection is in where you chose to live,  free state or otherwise.  The problem comes with those that falsely believe that they are more wise than their neighbor , therefore they should control how their more tolerant , less well educated, less intelligent. . . . (In their flawed opinion)  neighbor  behaves.

example :Left wing Democrats, Socialists,  Muslims, Communists. New York City idiots. 

IMHO,

. . . . .or maybe I am just one of those XYZhomoomniphobics that cling to their Bibles, Guns, and Liberty for all,etc., etc.....

Edited July 6, 2019 by mrmackc

[andrewtac]

56 minutes ago, mrmackc said:

Another factor in Self Selection is in where you chose to live,  free state or otherwise.  The problem comes with those that falsely believe that they are more wise than their neighbor , therefore they should control how their more tolerant , less well educated, less intelligent. . . . (In their flawed opinion)  neighbor  behaves.

example :Left wing Democrats, Socialists,  Muslims, Communists. New York City idiots. 

IMHO,

. . . . .or maybe I am just one of those XYZhomoomniphobics that cling to their Bibles, Guns, and Liberty for all,etc., etc.....

Or those who chose to live in a less than free states, their politics failed and now are here trying to force the same failed policies on us.