# 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:** 336
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6701 "2016-02-25T17:50:12Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > There are more suicide deaths in Japan every year than in America and Japan is only a fraction of the size of America. All this despite the fact that we have guns. Go figure. Not true. [In 2014, Japan had 25,374 suicides](http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/01/17/2014-suicide-rates-in-japan-down-men-still-twice-that-of-women/). [The US had 41,149](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm). > [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > How are these comparisons to Japan useful for anything? > [@Scumpup](#): > > What is it about Japan that should make this statistic particularly meaningful? I think the author of the article is pointing out that Japan has strict gun laws, a sizable population and is a highly developed country and they do not kill each other with guns very often while the US has lax gun laws, a more sizable population and is a highly developed country and we do kill each other with guns very often. You couldn’t see that comparison for yourselves? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6702 "2016-02-25T17:59:32Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Not true. [In 2014, Japan had 25,374 suicides](http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/01/17/2014-suicide-rates-in-japan-down-men-still-twice-that-of-women/). [The US had 41,149](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm). > > I think the author of the article is pointing out that Japan has strict gun laws, a sizable population and is a highly developed country and they do not kill each other with guns very often while the US has lax gun laws, a more sizable population and is a highly developed country and we do kill each other with guns very often. > > You couldn’t see that comparison for yourselves? I expect the Japanese murder rate is still lower than the US murder rate even when we remove all the gun homicides from the calculations. In fact, I expect Japan has such a low murder rate that they have even fewer murders than other countries with gun laws that are similarly strict. I do not expect that encacting gun laws similar to the Japanese laws in the US will magically give us a country as, apparently, non-violent as Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6703 "2016-02-25T20:41:15Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Not true. [In 2014, Japan had 25,374 suicides](http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/01/17/2014-suicide-rates-in-japan-down-men-still-twice-that-of-women/). [The US had 41,149](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm). Oh, you’re right. For some odd reason I was comparing Japanese suicides with gun suicides in the US. > [@](#): > > I think the author of the article is pointing out that Japan has strict gun laws, a sizable population and is a highly developed country and they do not kill each other with guns very often while the US has lax gun laws, a more sizable population and is a highly developed country and we do kill each other with guns very often. > > You couldn’t see that comparison for yourselves? Are we supposed to infer that passage of strict gun laws would lead to the low levels of gun deaths that we see in Japan. Because if you are not trying to say that then isn’t that little factoid about Japan kinda meaningless? If you are trying to say that, then you don’t know what you are talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6704 "2016-02-25T20:53:11Z")
Leland Yee (a pretty rabid San Francisco gun grabber) got sentenced to 5 years for (among other things) trying to sell automatic weapons and a rocket launcher to an agent posing as a member of organized crime; he would acquire the weapons from terrorists in the Phillipines. > **[Leland Yee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leland_Yee#Arrest_on_corruption_charges_and_arms_trafficking)** > > Leland Yin Yee (Chinese: 余胤良; Jyutping: jyu4 jan6 loeng4; pinyin: Yú Yìnliáng) is an American former politician who served as a member of the California State Senate for District 8, which covered parts of San Francisco and the Peninsula. > In 2015, Yee pleaded guilty to felony racketeering charges for money laundering, political corruption, arms trafficking, and bribery. > Prior to becoming state senator, Yee was a California State Assemblyman, Supervisor of San Francisco's Sunset District, and ... I see why he wanted the money but why couldn’t he just give a few speeches to wall street firms like everyone else? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6705 "2016-02-25T21:04:55Z")
If you exclude the extreme outlier of Alaska, the average population density of Japan is about 8 times that of the US (9.6 times including AK). Somehow, the Japanese manage to kill each other and themselves in much lower numbers even with being sardined together shoulder as they are. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6706 "2016-02-26T03:23:29Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > If you exclude the extreme outlier of Alaska, the average population density of Japan is about 8 times that of the US (9.6 times including AK). Somehow, the Japanese manage to kill each other and themselves in much lower numbers even with being sardined together shoulder as they are. The Japanese are ethnically homogeneous. AFAIK, they have no underclass ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6707 "2016-02-26T03:27:16Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > The Japanese are ethnically homogeneous. AFAIK, they have no underclass They do have a smattering of other ethnicities such as the Ainu people on Hokkaido island. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6708 "2016-02-26T04:20:18Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > They do have a smattering of other ethnicities such as the Ainu people on Hokkaido island. Not to mention the Koreans that they would just prefer did not exist. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6709 "2016-02-26T08:04:04Z")
There are also the [Burakumin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burakumin) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6710 "2016-02-26T08:05:53Z")
[Iowa approves bill to let children aged 14 and under have handguns.](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3464248/Children-aged-14-allowed-use-handguns-Iowa-state-approves-bill-opponents-fear-create-militia-toddlers.html) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6711 "2016-02-26T17:27:38Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Oh, you’re right. For some odd reason I was comparing Japanese suicides with gun suicides in the US. > > Are we supposed to infer that passage of strict gun laws would lead to the low levels of gun deaths that we see in Japan. Because if you are not trying to say that then isn’t that little factoid about Japan kinda meaningless? If you are trying to say that, then you don’t know what you are talking about. Are you under the impression that I am the author of that article? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6712 "2016-02-26T17:30:38Z")
[4 dead, 14 injured in Kansas](http://www.vice.com/read/what-we-know-about-the-gunman-who-went-on-a-kansas-killing-spree). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6713 "2016-02-26T18:34:01Z")
[Don’t teach “sensitive topics” or anger students, Houston professors are warned after “campus carry” gun law passed.](http://www.salon.com/2016/02/23/dont_teach_sensitive_topics_or_anger_students_university_of_houston_warns_after_campus_carry_gun_law_is_passed/) Apparently they’re actually concerned that their own students will shoot them. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6714 "2016-02-26T18:57:33Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Don’t teach “sensitive topics” or anger students, Houston professors are warned after “campus carry” gun law passed.](http://www.salon.com/2016/02/23/dont_teach_sensitive_topics_or_anger_students_university_of_houston_warns_after_campus_carry_gun_law_is_passed/) Apparently they’re actually concerned that their own students will shoot them. To be fair public Universities in Texas have no choice about whether or not they allow guns in their schools. So I take it this ‘warning’ at a faculty meeting is a passage aggressive snide remark. Citing it as proof faculty is actually concerned about getting shot for discussing sensitive topics is pretty silly. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6715 "2016-02-26T19:48:56Z")
One University of Texas dean has taken a job out of state so as not to have to enforce the open carry law. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6716 "2016-02-26T21:11:52Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > [Iowa approves bill to let children aged 14 and under have handguns.](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3464248/Children-aged-14-allowed-use-handguns-Iowa-state-approves-bill-opponents-fear-create-militia-toddlers.html) Because hey, what can possibly go wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6717 "2016-02-26T21:43:47Z")
The Kansas shooter was a convicted felon. And yet, here is with guns… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6718 "2016-02-26T23:31:02Z")
[Gunman kills 4 in home, shoots himself following standoff in Washington state.](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-5-dead-washington-standoff-20160226-story.html) Just another day in paradise. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6719 "2016-02-27T01:49:06Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [4 dead, 14 injured in Kansas](http://www.vice.com/read/what-we-know-about-the-gunman-who-went-on-a-kansas-killing-spree). [Sarah T. Hopkins now charged with providing Kansas killer Cedric Ford with guns. > [@](#): > > An affidavit says the Newton woman gave Cedric Ford two guns: a Zastava Serbia, which is an AK-47-type semi-automatic rifle, and a Glock Model 22 40-caliber handgun. > > Prosecutors say Hopkins knew Ford wasn’t allowed to have a firearm because he was a convicted felon. ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_SHOOTING\_KANSAS\_BUSINESS\_THE\_LATEST?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-02-26-18-42-26](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SHOOTING_KANSAS_BUSINESS_THE_LATEST?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-02-26-18-42-26)) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/6720 "2016-02-27T03:19:35Z")
[Today’s VICE American Mass Shooting Tracker: > [@](#): > > Over the past week, the United States endured 12 mass shootings that left 20 people dead and 41 more wounded. That’s a glaring tally, surpassing what had been the bloodiest week of mass shootings in America so far this year by 12 deaths and four injuries. The numbers bring the country’s total mass shooting count in 2016 up to 34 incidents, with 49 deaths and 127 injuries. > > That means four more people have died in mass shootings in America in the first two months of 2016 than died in violent jihadist attacks in the US between 9/11 and the end of last year, according to figures from the think tank New America. > > Meanwhile, Europe saw two mass shootings this week: one at a club in Tyumen, Russia—apparently perpetrated by drunken patrons—and another in Nice, France, in which a car opened fire on a gated house. There were no deaths but four wounded in each incident, bringing the continent’s 2016 mass shooting casualty count up to six dead and 27 wounded. ]([http://www.vice.com/read/22-people-were-shot-in-five-drive-by-mass-shootings-in-america-this-week](http://www.vice.com/read/22-people-were-shot-in-five-drive-by-mass-shootings-in-america-this-week)) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729.md?page=335) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729.md?page=337)