# Stupid Gun news of the day (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 29, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729 "2013-01-29T19:01:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/281 "2013-02-06T03:35:06Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Moral: When an attempted attack is not foiled by defensive gun use, that proves that people should be using more powerful guns. > > When an attempted attack **is** foiled by defensive gun use, on the other hand, that proves… that people should be using more powerful guns. > > I get the impression that this particular magic 8-ball has only one answer in its repertoire. I’d almost think you guys were joking, but then I realize a lot of you have zero exposure to firearms. Of course a .22 can stop crimes, and so can brandishing an empty gun or realistic toy, and these are all cool when they happen. But none of those are ideal defensive weapons. ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/282 "2013-02-06T10:34:28Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Also you would know that semi-auto firearms generally recoil less per a given caliber than do revolvers and thus would be easier for an older person to shoot, and their larger magazine capacity if needed would help **to make up for a person who was a poorer shot** (emphasis mine) Fuckin’ A! Sounds like a wonderful idea. “If you can’t hit a fucking barn door, use a high-cap semi-auto and just spray the damn neighborhood”. :smack: Count me as one of those who’d run like hell if old Granny (ETA: or anyone else, for that matter) started waving a 33-round Glock 18 around :eek: ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/283 "2013-02-06T11:06:28Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > I’d almost think you guys were joking, but then I realize a lot of you have zero exposure to firearms. Of course a .22 can stop crimes, and so can brandishing an empty gun or realistic toy, and these are all cool when they happen. But none of those are ideal defensive weapons. Quite, but the pocket Cobalt Thorium G bombs are still in production, so we’ll have to make do, God wot? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/284 "2013-02-06T12:43:24Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > No, the anecdote was still cool. You just drew an ignorant conclusion. We drew the conclusion that you’re ignorant, yes. > [@Kable](#): > > I’d almost think you guys were joking, but then I realize a lot of you have zero exposure to firearms. Of course a .22 can stop crimes, and so can brandishing an empty gun or realistic toy, and these are all cool when they happen. But none of those are ideal defensive weapons. If your point is that small pistols are not ideal defensive weapons, perhaps you should stop posting links to stories of people defending themselves with small pistols. Just a suggestion. In other stupid gun news, [old guy snaps and shoots asshole neighbors](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/05/texas-man-guns-down-couple-over-dog-poop-on-his-porch/). Clearly the answer is to ban large-capacity dogs. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/285 "2013-02-06T13:08:42Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > I’d almost think you guys were joking, but then I realize a lot of you have zero exposure to firearms. Of course a .22 can stop crimes, and so can brandishing an empty gun or realistic toy, and these are all cool when they happen. But none of those are ideal defensive weapons. You could shoot a guy six times with a .22, and he could beat you to death with a bar stool while he bled to death. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/286 "2013-02-06T13:12:52Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > You could shoot a guy six times with a .22, and he could beat you to death with a bar stool while he bled to death. 🙂 So, the only thing that stops a bad guy with a bar stool is a good guy with a bar stool… ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/287 "2013-02-06T13:43:47Z")
Slate and @GunDeaths have been trying to document all the gun deaths since Newtown since it appears that that information is not really kept by any group or entity. Yesterday, the number was 1,619. > **[How Many People Have Been Killed by Guns Since Newtown?](https://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/crime/2012/12/gun_death_tally_every_american_gun_death_since_newtown_sandy_hook_shooting.html)** > > The answer to the simple question in that headline is surprisingly hard to come by. So Slate is collecting data for our crowdsourced interactive. This ... ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/288 "2013-02-06T14:02:39Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > So, the only thing that stops a bad guy with a bar stool is a good guy with a bar stool… Yes, but the bar stool ban… ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/289 "2013-02-06T14:07:08Z")
> [@Norse](#): > > (emphasis mine) > > Fuckin’ A! Sounds like a wonderful idea. “If you can’t hit a fucking barn door, use a high-cap semi-auto and just spray the damn neighborhood”. > > :smack: Count me as one of those who’d run like hell if old Granny (ETA: or anyone else, for that matter) started waving a 33-round Glock 18 around :eek: Well you could just let Granny get murdered. You could up her hit percentage considerably if you gave her a long gun, like a shotgun or AR15. They are a lot easier to aim than a pistol. Glock 18s are hard to control and already illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/290 "2013-02-06T14:09:39Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > If your point is that small pistols are not ideal defensive weapons, perhaps you should stop posting links to stories of people defending themselves with small pistols. Just a suggestion. I’m just posting links with people defending themselves with firearms, whether they be ideal firearms for the purpose is a different matter. Less than ideal firearms are a lot better than no firearms when someone is coming after you. You knew that didn’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/291 "2013-02-06T14:11:33Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > Slate and @GunDeaths have been trying to document all the gun deaths since Newtown since it appears that that information is not really kept by any group or entity. > > Yesterday, the number was 1,619. > > [Gun-death tally: Every American gun death since Newtown Sandy Hook shooting (INTERACTIVE).](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/crime/2012/12/gun_death_tally_every_american_gun_death_since_newtown_sandy_hook_shooting.html) How many of those were killed with “assault weapons?” How does that number compare to the number of gun related deaths we had when the “assault weapon” ban was in effect? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/292 "2013-02-06T14:27:07Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Well you could just let Granny get murdered. You could up her hit percentage considerably if you gave her a long gun, like a shotgun or AR15. They are a lot easier to aim than a pistol. Glock 18s are hard to control and already illegal. A claymore would add some emphasis to “Get off my lawn!” ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/293 "2013-02-06T14:49:49Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > How many of those were killed with “assault weapons?” Why, would that make those deaths any less stupid? ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/294 "2013-02-06T14:53:22Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > A claymore would add some emphasis to “Get off my lawn!” I think this was my first example, where a lady used a shotgun to kill the rapist that was coming after her for the 2nd time. It’s just easier to hit with a long gun. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_NJQK2BscIg?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLSw0sjngejk4zIZTU40pH-4MyqCdd0I_H ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/295 "2013-02-06T14:55:28Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Why, would that make those deaths any less stupid? I’m sure some are stupid, but if few or none were committed with an “assault weapon” it will make the new proposed “assault weapon” ban just as stupid as the old one. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/296 "2013-02-06T15:14:28Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > How many of those were killed with “assault weapons?” How does that number compare to the number of gun related deaths we had when the “assault weapon” ban was in effect? I dunno, but it appears that the mass shootings have increased sine the assault weapon ban ended. Could you research that real quick? ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/297 "2013-02-06T15:21:01Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > I dunno, but it appears that the mass shootings have increased sine the assault weapon ban ended. Could you research that real quick? If you can’t answer maybe give your best guess? Out of 1619 how many of those deaths were due to “assault weapons?” ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/298 "2013-02-06T15:25:20Z")
Sure there were 20 children mowed down just before Christmas but it doesn’t look like anybody’s been killed by an assault weapon in a whole month and a half since then. Another victory for the NRA. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/299 "2013-02-06T15:35:17Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > If you can’t answer maybe give your best guess? Out of 1619 how many of those deaths were due to “assault weapons?” At least 26, most of those were 6-year-olds. Oh, sorry. “6-year-olds.” Forgot the scare quotes. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/300 "2013-02-06T15:40:56Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > How many of those were killed with “assault weapons?” How does that number compare to the number of gun related deaths we had when the “assault weapon” ban was in effect? You have asserted that the previous assault weapons ban was completely ineffective because it was easily circumvented. So what will a comparison of rates then and now tell us? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729.md?page=16)