Why are firearm related deaths so much higher in the U.S. vs Canada?

That is an interesting argument. Another forum member (darrenlobo) cited that the States that bordered Canada seem to have a lower homicide rate than the rest of the country.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Violent_Crime_2004.svg

Had to dig a little but found the source for the above link.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/table-5

Although Alaska was the exception to the rule with a homicide rate per 100k of 4.0 which is well above the Canadian average.

The best arguments I have seen so far is the more prevalent gang culture in the US and that Canada has a colder climate. I think these are contributing factors... but I wounder id there is more.

 

If a person is feeling suicidal, access to a gun provides an impulsive instant irreversible method. As for insanity, I'm not the one making (*)(*)(*)(*) up about causation.

 

Mexico has drug cartels due to the USA paying them billions of freaking dollars for the drugs!!!

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In Honk Kong, everyone has instant access to a balcony.

Its a long way down.

 

Of course there is more as very few things in human behavior have a single cause. Americans tend to be psycho in their dysfunctional relationships which more often result in death in the presence of a firearm (http://smartgunlaws.org/domestic-violence-and-firearms-statistics/), for instance.

 

So does China....and they just had 29 people killed and 100 wounded by a knife attack just in March. Mexico also has strict gun control, not the safest place either with people getting decapitated daily. A lot of factors play in, and I think you are correct in saying the culture is a part of the problem. If gang related and drug related crime was eliminated, the US would be one of the safest places to live.

I do not believe guns or video games are the problem, I think psychotics and drugs are the real problem.

 

So does a noose, or jumping off a building, or overdosing.

 

True, the US is the drug using capital of the world. It does not help that our border is not secure. Might as well have a welcome mat. Their is also people who are irresponsible and use these drugs, then their children use them as well. Society plays some role in the violence and the drugs, but it is has a lot to do with how people are raised. Their are too many parents who want to be their child's friend and not their parent or many parents do not care and their children will suffer for it. The child is also responsible for their actions. No law can change this, but sending a message can. Avocation for unified families, anti-drug, and safe-sex, campaigns can be effective and will not step on anyone's rights. It is not perfect, but it is the best way to do it without taking peoples freedom.

If this can be done, our children may be able to have a good future and still have the freedom to own firearms and play video games

 

Actually that is false. Suicide by firearm is about 90% effective, suicide by hanging is about 75-80% effective, suicide by poison is about 90% effective. In Australia, they removed the guns with their gun ban in 1996, sucide by firearm went down, suicide by other methods increased and made up the difference for no change in the suicide trend (which was down before and after the ban). Removing guns does not decrease suicide rates.

 

Battle3, not to mention that gun free Japan has a higher suicide rate then the US does. See Myth: Access to guns increases the risk of suicide

 

Cultural differences. Also, with the exception of a few northern urban areas, violence goes up as you go south in the country.

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Suicides are a major issue, but they aren't crime, they are mental health.

Children don't shoot their siblings often. Yes, it's a horrific thing, but it is very uncommon.

 

The Japanese suicide rate per 100,000 is higher than our combined murder/suicide rate. I have just spent a week with middle school aged Japanese students (living in my home). They were on vacation (spring break) but they still took out their school textbooks and did homework every other night. They live in a pressure cooker of a society, and I'll take our violent one over their suicidal one any day.

 

Not me, suicide is a choice, being murdered is not.

 

First, most murders aren't occurring in the suburbs. They are occurring in the inner cities, which I avoid.
Second, most murders are intraracial. I'm white, that lessons my chances even more.
Third, I don't want my kids growing up in a society with so much pressure that they would prefer to die than live. I'll take my chances.

 

suicides by gun are gun-related deaths. That is the topic, not the criminality of said deaths.

 

Information from Australia shows that while gun bans decrease gun related suicides, overall they don't decrease suicides. It's not a gun issue.

 

Alrighty, here's the answer you've been waiting for - Blacks and Mexicans are naturally violent.

 

More accurately, Mexico's drug cartels are due, primarily, to the draconian and ineffective prohibition laws we have here in the USA. I attribute that problem directly to the 'war on drugs'.

 

sure it is. You can choose NOT to be a victim.

 

That's subjective. Did the victims of the Beltway sniper choose to be victims? Killer walks up behind his target in NYC and puts a bullet in the back of his hear... did the victim choose to be a victim. Rhetorical question as we both know the answer.

 

And of course rhetorical questions aside we know what Stjames was referencing....that those without a weapon have no choices at all but you go ahead and build your strawman.

 

You obviously do not even know how to use the strawman reference. And "we know what Stjames was referencing"... you speak for all? Go practice your ESP elsewhere.

 

A gun related death includes shooting yourself.

 

Wow, you got that from American culture? Your racism is showing.

 

She-hyaa, MY racism.

 

Yep, you are the one that extracted blacks and Latinos out of American Culture. Obvious by your posted reply.