A few years ago I wrote a post called The Famous 10%. It became one of
my most popular, arousing much animosity from the gun-rights fanatics
and frequently quoted and referred to by gun control advocates. I reposted it here.
Almost immediately it became clear that I had been much too generous in the assigning of percentages. Soon I was talking about 35% and not long after that 50%
If you spent as much time as I do reading about gun violence, I think you'd agree with me, unless, of course, you had a personal agenda to protect.
Here's how it breaks down.
Divided into the approximately 65 million gun owners (see the latest Pew Poll) we have the following amounts.
Alcohol abuse is difficult to define, but let's take a study that found that 30% of Americans abuse alcohol. That translates straight across the board to gun owners. Please note that we're not including the regular, normal drinkers, whom some believe should be disqualified as well. These are the binge drinkers and the out-and-out alcoholics. That's 30% of gun owners who need to be disarmed for alcohol abuse.
Drug abuse is also difficult to define, let's take a survey that says 10% of Americans abuse illicit drugs.
That's another 10% of gun owners who need to be disarmed for drug abuse.
Mental disorders afflict many Americans. One conservative estimate says 22% are sufferers. It may sound harsh, but if you have a mental condition that requires medication for you to function in society, you cannot be trusted with guns. That's another 22% of gun owners that need to be disarmed for mental illness.
Rage and anger affects many people. Estimates say 7% of adults suffer from Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED). That's another 7% of gun owners that need to be disarmed for their anger problems.
FBI Crime Stats show us that about 500,000 crimes are committed with a gun each year. Let's say most are committed by criminals and only a small percentage by folks like this guy who had no previous felony convictions. Let's call it 1%. That's 1% of gun owners who need to be disarmed for turning bad.
Stupidity and clumsiness affects many people. We frequently read stories like this one representing stupidity, and this one representing clumsiness. Let's be generous and say another 1% only. That's 1% of gun owners who need to be disarmed for stupidity or clumsiness.
Obviously some of the marijuana and cocaine users also could be binge drinkers, and some of the rage guys are fueled by alcohol, so we will have some overlap.
Let's round it down to a nice even 50%. That's 50% of lawful gun owners who need to be disarmed.
Now, before you attack me for being so anti-gun, please take note of the fact that I believe in the rights of the other 50%. I don't think the 2nd Amendment has anything to do with it, being an obsolete, meaningless and antiquated piece of writing, but I do believe that the other 50% has every right to own and operate guns.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
Almost immediately it became clear that I had been much too generous in the assigning of percentages. Soon I was talking about 35% and not long after that 50%
If you spent as much time as I do reading about gun violence, I think you'd agree with me, unless, of course, you had a personal agenda to protect.
Here's how it breaks down.
Divided into the approximately 65 million gun owners (see the latest Pew Poll) we have the following amounts.
Alcohol abuse is difficult to define, but let's take a study that found that 30% of Americans abuse alcohol. That translates straight across the board to gun owners. Please note that we're not including the regular, normal drinkers, whom some believe should be disqualified as well. These are the binge drinkers and the out-and-out alcoholics. That's 30% of gun owners who need to be disarmed for alcohol abuse.
Drug abuse is also difficult to define, let's take a survey that says 10% of Americans abuse illicit drugs.
That's another 10% of gun owners who need to be disarmed for drug abuse.
Mental disorders afflict many Americans. One conservative estimate says 22% are sufferers. It may sound harsh, but if you have a mental condition that requires medication for you to function in society, you cannot be trusted with guns. That's another 22% of gun owners that need to be disarmed for mental illness.
Rage and anger affects many people. Estimates say 7% of adults suffer from Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED). That's another 7% of gun owners that need to be disarmed for their anger problems.
FBI Crime Stats show us that about 500,000 crimes are committed with a gun each year. Let's say most are committed by criminals and only a small percentage by folks like this guy who had no previous felony convictions. Let's call it 1%. That's 1% of gun owners who need to be disarmed for turning bad.
Stupidity and clumsiness affects many people. We frequently read stories like this one representing stupidity, and this one representing clumsiness. Let's be generous and say another 1% only. That's 1% of gun owners who need to be disarmed for stupidity or clumsiness.
Obviously some of the marijuana and cocaine users also could be binge drinkers, and some of the rage guys are fueled by alcohol, so we will have some overlap.
Let's round it down to a nice even 50%. That's 50% of lawful gun owners who need to be disarmed.
Now, before you attack me for being so anti-gun, please take note of the fact that I believe in the rights of the other 50%. I don't think the 2nd Amendment has anything to do with it, being an obsolete, meaningless and antiquated piece of writing, but I do believe that the other 50% has every right to own and operate guns.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
Only 1% for stupidity and clumsiness? Seems low.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. I downplayed all the percentages in order to be fair and to allow for overlap.
Delete