Comments on: Bang bang: Science, violence, and public policy http://boingboing.net/2013/03/06/bang-bang-science-violence.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 01:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Turk_Turon http://boingboing.net/2013/03/06/bang-bang-science-violence.html#comment-1672573 Turk_Turon Thu, 07 Mar 2013 02:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216885#comment-1672573 The main weakness with all of the CDC-funded gun research is that it looked at gun violence as a disease, not as a crime. It is all well and good to speak metaphorically of “an epidemic of gun violence” but violence and crime are not really diseases. As a scientist in Maggie's article says, “A gun is not a virus.” But the CDC-funded research into guns used an epidemiological model – the researchers asserted that a gun acted as a pathogen, like a virus or a bacteria, and would actually infect those who came into contact with it: infect them with the disease of violence. While it is true that the NRA fought to prevent more studies like these from being funded by the CDC, they didn't really have to fight too hard, because most criminologists thought the studies were a waste of time and money, so Congress pulled the plug. The main weakness with all of the CDC-funded gun research is that it looked at gun violence as a disease, not as a crime. It is all well and good to speak metaphorically of “an epidemic of gun violence” but violence and crime are not really diseases. As a scientist in Maggie’s article says, “A gun is not a virus.” But the CDC-funded research into guns used an epidemiological model – the researchers asserted that a gun acted as a pathogen, like a virus or a bacteria, and would actually infect those who came into contact with it: infect them with the disease of violence. While it is true that the NRA fought to prevent more studies like these from being funded by the CDC, they didn’t really have to fight too hard, because most criminologists thought the studies were a waste of time and money, so Congress pulled the plug.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2013/03/06/bang-bang-science-violence.html#comment-1672083 Brainspore Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216885#comment-1672083 If only we could draw conclusions about gun violence based on what legal and cultural differences set the U.S. apart from similar countries that have less gun violence! Alas—the only responsible thing to do is make sure all our citizens are heavily armed, just in case that helps in some way. If only we could draw conclusions about gun violence based on what legal and cultural differences set the U.S. apart from similar countries that have less gun violence!

Alas—the only responsible thing to do is make sure all our citizens are heavily armed, just in case that helps in some way.

]]> By: Daemonworks http://boingboing.net/2013/03/06/bang-bang-science-violence.html#comment-1671981 Daemonworks Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216885#comment-1671981 Video game use is up a billion percent in the last 30 years, violent crime rates are down. Video game use is up a billion percent in the last 30 years, violent crime rates are down.

]]> By: liz http://boingboing.net/2013/03/06/bang-bang-science-violence.html#comment-1671965 liz Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216885#comment-1671965 Um, the truth is - scientists have been prohibited from studying gun violence in our country, thanks to the efforts of the NRA.  That's why they can't answer the questions. Um, the truth is – scientists have been prohibited from studying gun violence in our country, thanks to the efforts of the NRA.  That’s why they can’t answer the questions.

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