I don't think it is really worth anyone's effort to watch Helen Dale's video of a speech she gave to the recent, widely ignored, LDP conference (from which I gathered that the party's plan is to ensure that all married "queers"* who want to carry a gun for self protection can do so), but if you do, I defy anyone to claim she made a legitimate point about gun control and suicide.
She made a ridiculous connection between those who want gun control (partly) out of concern of an increased suicide rate from guns with a desire to made suicide illegal.
A patently absurd suggestion. People do not want to see gun suicide because, nearly all of the time, suicide is an act (often implusive) by people who are depressed or falsely believe there is no alternative, and which devastates the deceased's family and friends. Guns provide a particularly easy way to act on an impulse. I have linked before (although I cannot find it now) to articles about how research shows that reducing people's ability to act impulsively on suicidal thoughts reduces suicide. Indeed, Helen says that there is "some" evidence that tight gun control does have an effect on suicide rates.
It's common sense - and it obviously has nothing at all to do with any thought that it would be a good idea to make suicide a criminal act.
* Incidentally, I note that Helen self identifies as such now. Not entirely sure what that means in practice, but whatever.
No comments:
Post a Comment