Why I love the Violence Policy Center

[Hopalong]

Earlier this year, the Violence Policy Center released a study inadvertently indicating that guns are used more often in self defense than they are to kill.

That was awfully nice of them.

Now, I just caught wind of another study that inadvertently shows that CCW holders are responsible for less than 1% of all gun homicides.

Man, it's almost like they're secretly pro-gun or something!

Of course, neither study is framed in such a way as to support these conclusions. But if you throw in readily available FBI/DOJ data regarding total gun homicides, and then convert the VPC data to rates, the conclusions fall right out.

Numbers don't lie, even if the VPC tries to. Spread the word, and share with folks you know on both sides of the gun control debate.

 

[danb]

Earlier this year, the Violence Policy Center released a study inadvertently indicating that guns are used more often in self defense than they are to kill.

That was awfully nice of them.

Now, I just caught wind of another study that inadvertently shows that CCW holders are responsible for less than 1% of all gun homicides.

Man, it's almost like they're secretly pro-gun or something!

Of course, neither study is framed in such a way as to support these conclusions. But if you throw in readily available FBI/DOJ data regarding total gun homicides, and then convert the VPC data to rates, the conclusions fall right out.

Numbers don't lie, even if the VPC tries to. Spread the word, and share with folks you know on both sides of the gun control debate.

something is up with the link. I think that this is the correct one (third dot replaced with a slash): http://www.vpc.org/ccwkillers.htm

Here's why *I* love the VPC: you can still find press releases like this on their website: http://www.vpc.org/press/0003unsa.htm

"VPC Releases New Handgun Ban Study, Unsafe in Any Hands: Why America Needs to Ban Handguns" From March 2000.

But you know, they are not out to ban guns.

 

[Hopalong]

I fixed the original link. Thanks!

I'm sure they all got really pissy over Heller in 2008 then....

 

[Dal1as]

Doesn't homicide also cover legitimate self defense shootings also?

 

[SWO Daddy]

Earlier this year, the Violence Policy Center released a study inadvertently indicating that guns are used more often in self defense than they are to kill.

That was awfully nice of them.

Do you mine citing where that's inferred? That's a great talking point.

 

[abean4187]

Doesn't homicide also cover legitimate self defense shootings also?

Of the 10,000 homicides last year, something around 200 of them were police and citizens killing people in self defense.

 

[Hopalong]

Do you mine citing where that's inferred? That's a great talking point.

Sure. Fifth paragraph down, they state that people used guns to defend themselves 338,700 over five years. Their point is that this accounts for only 0.8% of all crime, so they call gun self-defense "rare". But when you look at the gun homicide stats over the same five years, it only adds up to about 60k, which means that even though it is statistically rare, you're still 5-6 times more likely to use a gun in self-defense than you are to be killed one. Even if you include suicides (which the Gun Control crowd LOVES to do), you're still more likely to use a gun in self-defense than to be killed by one.

Spinning a narrative is all about how you present the numbers. But do your own analysis and the truth comes out.

 

[jonnyl]

I do see your point, but don't know how you were physically able to type the title of this thread without wretching!

 

[press1280]

Doesn't the VPC only have like 3 members or something?

 

[Nanook]

Nope. 47, three with deep pockets.

 

[Hopalong]

I do see your point, but don't know how you were physically able to type the title of this thread without wretching!

The overwhelming sense of irony and immense satisfaction of using our opponents' work against them is enough to stifle my gag reflex.

 

[Klev63]

How about swimming pools

 

[press1280]

Nope. 47, three with deep pockets.

And it's laughable when the media tries to portray them and the Bradys as being on equal footing with the NRA.

 

[Hopalong]

And it's laughable when the media tries to portray them and the Bradys as being on equal footing with the NRA.

Everybody knows that journalists today can't do math.

 

[Brooklyn]

Everybody knows that journalists today can't do math.

or Journalism ..

 

[occbrian]

GREAT WORK MR. FOLDS!