TG:
The graph would be a tool to use when refuting the simple argument that an increase in guns will result in, or cause, an increase in violent crime. You could easily refute that argument with a graph. I would not, as my post indicates, attempt to take the argument to the next level with a simple graph; that level being that an increase in guns necessarily results in a decrease in crime. As you note, there are too many factors involved in crime to make such a simple argument. The anti gun side has been trying to simplify the debate for decades, on the other hand. A graph showing increased gun ownership vs decreased levels in violent crime would refute their simple debating point. One could then take them to the next level and state, "crime is much too complicated to make a simple statement that more guns equals more crime". That would take the steam out of more than 80% of the anti gunners who argue on pure emotion because they hate guns. It would be pretty hard for them to build upon their argument if their opponent had a nice graph showing an increasing number of guns coinciding with, while not necessarily causing, a drop in violent crime rates.
USAFNoDak. Yes for simple arguments maybe. However, (I majored in criminology in college BUT am not a criminologist!) crime is a complicated thing to explain as to causation.
I think there are many factors to consider and as Double Naught has shown in other posts like here: http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...70&postcount=1 you will have a hard time convincing someone who knows what they are talking about concerning crime to make such a simple claim. I would tread easy and arm yourself more with real facts. More work but better for us progun folk to debate.
The graph would be a tool to use when refuting the simple argument that an increase in guns will result in, or cause, an increase in violent crime. You could easily refute that argument with a graph. I would not, as my post indicates, attempt to take the argument to the next level with a simple graph; that level being that an increase in guns necessarily results in a decrease in crime. As you note, there are too many factors involved in crime to make such a simple argument. The anti gun side has been trying to simplify the debate for decades, on the other hand. A graph showing increased gun ownership vs decreased levels in violent crime would refute their simple debating point. One could then take them to the next level and state, "crime is much too complicated to make a simple statement that more guns equals more crime". That would take the steam out of more than 80% of the anti gunners who argue on pure emotion because they hate guns. It would be pretty hard for them to build upon their argument if their opponent had a nice graph showing an increasing number of guns coinciding with, while not necessarily causing, a drop in violent crime rates.
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