Comments on: Soldier Suicide Attempts Skyrocket

CBS News And Washington Post: Staggering New Army Numbers Show Serious Problem

[hillaryin08]

Like getting rid of banking regulations (Glass-Steagall, for example) has helped the banking industry in recent memory or privitizing energy has helped the state of California (can we say Enron)?


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Posted by whatithink at 01:15 PM : Jan 31, 2008

No,like getting rid of the failing department of education. No ammount of money in the world is going to make a child want to learn anything.

[whatithink-2009]

"Get rid of the department of education a privatize it and i''''ll give you the same effort.
Posted by hillaryin08 "

Like getting rid of banking regulations (Glass-Steagall, for example) has helped the banking industry in recent memory or privitizing energy has helped the state of California (can we say Enron)?

[hillaryin08]

sbbm said "So what you''''''''re saying, is if we take away guns, people will just ''''''''learn to get along'''''''' and the homicide/suicide rate will drop?"

Not because "people will just learn to get along" but because other weapons and methods are not as deadly!~

"You don''''''''t suppose that people will go for other ''''''''weapons'''''''' such as pipes, knives, poisons, their bare hands??? You can''''''''t stupid-proof people schoollord, they will find other means if the intent to kill someone or themselves is there"

Oh yes they will but the completion rate will be lower. That''''s why they are called "Less Deadly Weapons and Methods" by the Department of Justice. The number of households with guns went dowm from 1993 to 2000 and the number of homicides and suicides went down by 12,000 eventhough the numbers of knives, ropes, bats, bridges, etc, went up!~ Do not run away from the truth!~ Embrace it!~ Guns are at the center of the homicide and suicide problems!~



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Posted by schoollord at 01:11 PM : Jan 31, 2008

Your still not getting our guns lib. Taxes will be next. No socialist utopia in your lifetime. May I suggest a winning cause? Alternative Energy Sources. Its the capitalist way and good for the economy.

[hillaryin08]

If people had the same passion about education as they have about owning a gun, we''''d not only need fewer guns, we''''d also have the most productive/constructive society to ever exist.

Sad really.


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Posted by whatithink at 01:11 PM : Jan 31, 2008

Get rid of the department of education a privatize it and i''ll give you the same effort.

[hillaryin08]

The number of privately owned guns in the U.S. is at an all-time high. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) estimates that there were about 215 million guns in 1999,1 when the number of new guns was averaging about 4.5 million (about 2%) annually.2 A report for the National Academy of Sciences put the 1999 figure at 258 million.3 According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there were 60.4 million approved (new and used) NICS firearm transactions between 1994 2004.4 The number of NICS checks for firearm purchases or permits increased 3.2% between 2003-2004.

[whatithink-2009]

hillaryin08,

If people had the same passion about education as they have about owning a gun, we''d not only need fewer guns, we''d also have the most productive/constructive society to ever exist.

Sad really.

[hillaryin08]

The FBI reports that the nation`s total violent crime rate declined every year between 1991 2004.12 In 2004, the violent crime rate fell to a 30-year low, lower than any time since 1974. The murder rate fell to a 39-year low, lower than any time since 1965. The 2004 robbery and aggravated assault rates were lower than any time since 1968 and 1984, respectively. Since 1991, total violent crime has decreased 39%; murder and non-negligent manslaughter, 44%; rape, 24%; robbery, 50%; and aggravated assault, 33%.13 Between 2003-2004, the violent crime rate declined 2.2%.14 Concurrently, the most recent Bureau of Justice Statistics crime victimization survey found that violent crime is lower than anytime since 1973, when the first such survey was conducted.15

[whatithink-2009]

sbbm,

If someone doesn''t have a gun they can''t shoot themselves. Yes, they can find other ways. However, pulling a trigger is much easier than cutting a wrist and it would definitely safe some lives.

The fact that she was mentally ill just adds to the point that she shouldn''t have had access to a gun.

[whatithink-2009]

sbbm,

If someone doesn''t have a gun they can''t shoot themselves. Yes, they can find other ways. However, pulling a trigger is much easier than cutting a wrist and it would definitely safe some lives.

The fact that she was mentally ill just adds to the point that she shouldn''t have had access to a gun.

[hillaryin08]

The number of RTC states is at an all-time high, up from 10 in 1987 to 38 today.8 In 2004, states with RTC laws, compared to other states, had lower violent crime rates on average. Total violent crime was lower by 21%, murder by 28%, robbery by 43%, and aggravated assault by 13%.9

Violent crime has declined while many "gun control" laws have been eliminated or made less restrictive. Many states have eliminated prohibitory or restrictive carry laws, in favor of Right-to-Carry laws. The federal Brady Act`s waiting period on handgun sales ended in 1998, in favor of the NRA-supported National Instant Check, and some states thereafter eliminated waiting periods, purchase permit requirements, or other laws delaying gun sales. The federal "assault weapon" ban expired in 2004. All states now have hunter protection laws, 46 have range protection laws, 46 prohibit local jurisdictions from imposing gun laws more restrictive than state law, 44 protect the right to arms in their constitutions, and 33 prohibit frivolous lawsuits against the firearm industry.10

Studies by and for Congress, the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress, the National Institute of Justice, the National Academy of Sciences, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and even researchers who support "gun control," have found no evidence that "gun control" reduces crime.11

[hillaryin08]

The number of gun owners is also at an all-time high. The U.S. population is at an all-time high (294 million), and rises about 1% annually.5 Numerous surveys over the last 40+ years have found that almost half of all households have at least one gun owner.6 Some surveys since the late 1990s have indicated a smaller incidence of gun ownership,7 probably because of some respondents` concerns about "gun control," residually due, perhaps, to the anti-gun policies of the Clinton Administration.

The number of RTC states is at an all-time high, up from 10 in 1987 to 38 today.8 In 2004, states with RTC laws, compared to other states, had lower violent crime rates on average. Total violent crime was lower by 21%, murder by 28%, robbery by 43%, and aggravated assault by 13%.9

[mrmazerati]

This is not a gun ownership article. This is a war article. This has zero to do with domestic gun ownership. This is about soldiers, who of course carry guns. An argument about domestic gun ownership is not relevant here. This is a war article.

[whatithink-2009]

"We bought guns and ammunition like it was going out of style after Wako and Ruby Ridge.
Posted by hillaryin08 "

Your greatest fear should not be the government. Your greatest fear should be you accidentally (maybe) shooting yourself. It never ceases to amaze me...the fear and paranoia of the right.

[hillaryin08]

The number of privately owned guns in the U.S. is at an all-time high. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) estimates that there were about 215 million guns in 1999,1 when the number of new guns was averaging about 4.5 million (about 2%) annually.2 A report for the National Academy of Sciences put the 1999 figure at 258 million.3 According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there were 60.4 million approved (new and used) NICS firearm transactions between 1994 2004.4 The number of NICS checks for firearm purchases or permits increased 3.2% between 2003-2004.

[hillaryin08]

That proves that IQ is not hereditary!~ "LOL" The gun grabbing days of the 90 resulted in a large reduction in homicides and suicides. We lost the vote of a lot of funeral home owners and employees!~


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Posted by schoollord at 01:02 PM : Jan 31, 2008

Great, turn in your gun and make yourself feel better. Your just not getting mine or 60 million other gun owners weapons either. Does that inflame you lib?

[hillaryin08]

USAyesterday said "You are correct about suicide not being a gun issue."

Says who? Criminologists, emergency room doctors, mental health professionals, or you?

"Suicide is a psychological issue. People can take away the guns, put barriers/barricades on bridges, remove all sharp objects, etc. etc....

...but people bent on suicide will still find a way to kill themselves, in very creative ways that many may never have thought of."

We have more knives, poisons, ropes, bridges, buildings, razor blades, etc. than guns yet guns are used more in suicides than all the other weapons and methods COMBINED!~

"Suicides are very prevalent in jails, and clearly, there are no guns or knives handy in those environments. Tie a few bed sheets together, and you have a neuce."

Suicides do happen in jails but they are rare not "very prevalant". Close to 90% of gun related suicide attempts are fatal. Just 10% of non-gun suicide attempts are fatal. You reduce guns you reduce suicides!~ It''''s that simple!~



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Posted by schoollord at 12:58 PM : Jan 31, 2008

Great, turn in your gun and make yourself feel better. Your just not getting mine or 60 million other gun owners weapons either.

[azcagirl]

Why is this turning in to yet another argument over whether guns should be banned or not? She shot herself while serving in Iraq because she had a gun. Had she not had it, she probably would have tried something else like she did when she came home. The gun she used I am assuming was military issued, and more than likely she was properly trained on how to use it. The argument should not be about guns. If she was that set on killing herself she would''ve cut her wrists with a spork if that was all she had. Maybe we should start arguing about whether or not to ban those too.

[hillaryin08]

What the heck are you smoking, Hill? We ''''Libs'''' own many guns ourselves, in case the Bu$h administration decides to fill their Halliburton death camps with us. Hope you have ammunition, when they come for you...


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Posted by Inventagod at 12:03 PM : Jan 31, 2008

Thats great. We bought guns and ammunition like it was going out of style after Wako and Ruby Ridge. Just dont step aside on the issue for the Socialist Idology the next time the Democrats try to take them away. My father beleives in the right to own a firearm amd he''s a liberal however, he remained silent during the gun grabbing days of the roaring 90''s when his leadership was telling us it was good for America.

[hotpaulie]

Has King George asked too much from his military? Lets go get Iran!!!

[swwils]

The government needs to extensively debreif all soldiers coming from Irag,and I mean really check their brains,I am a Combat vet,and it took years before PTSD struck me,I wanted to kill people for no reason,Thankfully I went to The VAMC,and recieved medication,and counseling.Not all soldiers can cope with death and dying.This will be worse than Post Vietnam if not handled.I don''t think we need this!!