Gun Policy Research

[Belsnickel]

(06-24-2017, 02:29 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: First of all, I'm glad this thread was made and I'm glad you made it.

I appreciate that.

(06-24-2017, 02:29 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: I don't personally know anyone who is against this, right up to the point of universal background checks.  I'll get into why later.

Coincidentally, on Thursday there was a report put out by Pew on attitudes and experiences regarding guns in the U.S. The timeliness of this report or me was not unnoticed. Anyway, 77% of gun owners and 87% of non gun owners are in favor of background checks for private sales, including gun shows, according to their survey. So the support is there for such a measure, that is certain.

(06-24-2017, 02:29 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: Which have shown to have no impact on gun related crime.

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/14/sunday-review/the-assault-weapon-myth.html

I don't disagree. Their use in mass shootings is noticed, but given that they make up less than 1% of gun homicides it seems pointless. Interestingly enough, though, something that also receives majority support from gun owners and non gun owners alike.

(06-24-2017, 02:29 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: Again, something no one I know would argue against.  The way to really address this though is to strengthen the ability to deal with the mentally ill and reverse the disastrous actions of Reagan.  This would not only address this issue in relation to firearms but it would make a huge dent in the homeless population as a very large precentage of the homeless are mentally ill.

Absolutely. Also, there is the issue that while we have seen mentally ill commit homicides, most were undiagnosed/untreated prior to the action they took and so would not be stopped by a background check. It is definitely something where working on policies to help with mental illness in this country will see a positive result for gun policy.

(06-24-2017, 02:29 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: The problem is that there is no faith in a non-partisan, government funded, study being possible.  Even if it was, do you think if the study showed gun control had no discernible affect on crime that the Dems would let it go?  Conversely, if it showed that gun control was effective do you think the GOP would allow stricter gun control laws?  I have zero faith in either outcome.

I know, but I have to have some hope.

(06-24-2017, 02:29 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: I'd be cool with the RAND corporation doing a study, but I don't think a study is actually important to anyone.  The gun issue is an easy wedge issue to exploit.  It energizes the bases of both parties and gets them to the ballot box and opens their wallets.  If it was actually important it could be privately funded in a second.  You think mega-donors like the Kochs or Soros couldn't pay for an in depth exhaustive study and not even notice the money they spent was gone?

Private donors like that don't care about this sort of issue, and smaller ones that do are hesitant to spend the money. There is also the issue of data collection. The FBI collects it from across the country, but reporting by localities is voluntary and the data does not include homicides investigated by federal authorities, or those deemed negligent/involuntary.

I just lament the lack of evidence based policy decisions in all areas. Ever since the war on the bureaucracy due to distrust in government we have seen a decline in that. Society does not place value on the efforts and opinions o experts in policy areas.