You never know whether you’ve pinned down the causation, but comparing those two statistics is the strongest single piece of evidence I can think of. Also, you don’t have to be absolutely certain to still use that evidence to strongly update against your previous beliefs. What else are you supposed to do with it? Ignore it because you can’t be sure?
It makes sense, too. An abundance of guns lets heated arguments escalate easily into deadly outcomes and in general adds a kill-other-human option to your toolkit. As humans are wont to do, when being presented with an option consistently, some of them will use it. Furthering a frontier mentality in a vicious circle. In a culture where ubiquitous guns are common-place, I’d feel safer with one too. Problem of the commons combined with a cavalier attitude about being provided with the means of easily kill other humans. It’s quite ridiculous from a mainstream European point of view, truth be told.
Mindkilling indeed, I was flabbergasted when I read your suggestion of having teachers carry guns.
EDIT: No, I don’t see often scrawny and reclusive types getting remotely the same kill count, or often even going through with it, using a knife or other means. The barrier of getting up and personal makes the resolve needed another category entirely, in addition to the outcome being much less predictable. Even illegaly acquiring a gun will be beyond at least the many “spur of the moment” gun killings.
You never know whether you’ve pinned down the causation, but comparing those two statistics is the strongest single piece of evidence I can think of. Also, you don’t have to be absolutely certain to still use that evidence to strongly update against your previous beliefs. What else are you supposed to do with it? Ignore it because you can’t be sure?
It makes sense, too. An abundance of guns lets heated arguments escalate easily into deadly outcomes and in general adds a kill-other-human option to your toolkit. As humans are wont to do, when being presented with an option consistently, some of them will use it. Furthering a frontier mentality in a vicious circle. In a culture where ubiquitous guns are common-place, I’d feel safer with one too. Problem of the commons combined with a cavalier attitude about being provided with the means of easily kill other humans. It’s quite ridiculous from a mainstream European point of view, truth be told.
Mindkilling indeed, I was flabbergasted when I read your suggestion of having teachers carry guns.
EDIT: No, I don’t see often scrawny and reclusive types getting remotely the same kill count, or often even going through with it, using a knife or other means. The barrier of getting up and personal makes the resolve needed another category entirely, in addition to the outcome being much less predictable. Even illegaly acquiring a gun will be beyond at least the many “spur of the moment” gun killings.
EDIT 2: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/06/sunday-review/more-guns-more-killing.html