We Were Wrong: More American Children Die From Accidental Shootings Than We Originally Thought

[Nithavela]

When President Barack Obama announced last week his plans for reducing gun deaths, Pacific Standard wrote about the science that generally backed his proposed policies. There was one exception: Obama said he was going to work with private companies to improve "childproof" gun technology, such as fingerprint readers that would allow only a gun's owner to fire it. Because the number of young children who die every year from accidental shootings is comparatively small, we wrote, such laws may not make a large statistical impact, although it is, of course, important to prevent such tragedies. We based our conclusion on an accidental gun-death count from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As it turns out, our assessment was somewhat flawed.

The official government tally—69 deaths among children younger than 15 in 2013—likely undercounts the true number of children who die from gun accidents by half, according to an investigation published by the New York Times in 2013. According to CDC estimates, 538 children under 15 were injured as a result of gun accidents in 2013 alone, and 9,818 were injured between 2001 and 2013.

http://www.psmag.com/politics-and-l...cidental-shootings-than-we-originally-thought

 

[Aureus]

Call me callous if you like, but 538 children under the age of 15 remains a tiny, and as far as policy goes, insignificant number. Fingerprint scanners on a gun so that no one else can use it because of that? No.

The perspective here is that, using the US Demographics of ages 0-14 as it was easier to get to. 538 children under the age of 15 represents 0.0009% of the US Population ages 14 and under. It would be an ever smaller percentage for 15 and under. That means people are doing an incredible job of keeping accidents involving guns and kids to a minimum already. And to improve on this, we're talking about adding fingerprint scanners to a gun? What a joke.

 

[trunks2k]

Call me callous if you like, but 538 children under the age of 15 remains a tiny, and as far as policy goes, insignificant number. Fingerprint scanners on a gun so that no one else can use it because of that? No.

While I don't really disagree with you, I think this shows how wonky our sense of risk is. If it had been 538 kids were killed in a given year in terrorist attacks in the country or something like that, the country would be outraged.

I just find it really interesting what sorts of dangers prompt a massive "we have to do something about this NOW! THINK OF THE CHILDREN!" outrage, and what barely gets a shrug.

 

[Nithavela]

In the year 2013, 69 children (age 14 and under) died of accidental firearm discharges.

In the same year, 65 childrend (age 14 and under) died because of accidental poisonings.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_02.pdf

 

[cow451]

In the year 2013, 69 children (age 14 and under) died of accidental firearm discharges.

In the same year, 65 childrend (age 14 and under) died because of accidental poisonings.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_02.pdf

Then we need to quit wasting money on those silly warning labels.

 

[SummerMadness]

In the year 2013, 69 children (age 14 and under) died of accidental firearm discharges.

In the same year, 65 childrend (age 14 and under) died because of accidental poisonings.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_02.pdf

I understand your point here, but that is not a good comparison. How many homes have children with things that could poison people versus how many homes have children with guns? The rate for accidental child deaths is much higher for homes with guns than poisonings.

 

[cow451]

I understand your point here, but that is not a good comparison. How many homes have children with things that could poison people versus how many homes have children with guns? The rate for accidental child deaths is much higher for homes with guns than poisonings.

But look how much more money businesses would save by not having to put those warning labels on chemicals.

 

[Armoured]

Call me callous if you like, but 538 children under the age of 15 remains a tiny, and as far as policy goes, insignificant number. Fingerprint scanners on a gun so that no one else can use it because of that? No.

The perspective here is that, using the US Demographics of ages 0-14 as it was easier to get to. 538 children under the age of 15 represents 0.0009% of the US Population ages 14 and under. It would be an ever smaller percentage for 15 and under. That means people are doing an incredible job of keeping accidents involving guns and kids to a minimum already. And to improve on this, we're talking about adding fingerprint scanners to a gun? What a joke.

Can you imagine the response if terrorists killed 538 under 15 year olds tomorrow? Can you honestly tell me the response would be less severe than looking at improving firearm security?

 

[cow451]

Can you imagine the response if terrorists killed 538 under 15 year olds tomorrow? Can you honestly tell me the response would be less severe than looking at improving firearm security?

Terrorists are so stupid sometimes. The smart terrorist would join the NRA and some militia gun nut group. And campaign for Cruz.

 

[Nithavela]

Can you imagine the response if terrorists killed 538 under 15 year olds tomorrow? Can you honestly tell me the response would be less severe than looking at improving firearm security?

 

[Armoured]

Terrorists are so stupid sometimes. The smart terrorist would join the NRA and some militia gun nut group. And campaign for Cruz.

Terrorists already do. Don't know if the Bundys and Duck Dynast types are my idea of smart though.

 

[Nithavela]

Then we need to quit wasting money on those silly warning labels.

I think that children should be poison trained. Stop, don't drink, leave the room, tell an adult.

Now, what would make a good mascot?

 

[Armoured]

Now, what would make a good mascot?

Arthur Arsenic and Sally Cyanide?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Many times more kids 14 and under are killed in vehicle crashes than are accidently killed by guns.

 

[cow451]

Many times more kids 14 and under are killed in vehicle crashes than are accidently killed by guns.

Maybe we should add some laws to keep that number from growing. How about making it a law that they wear seatbelts and that infants and toddlers sit in approved car seats. Maybe add airbags.

Let's get radical and make every operator of a motor vehicle pass a test in order to get a license to drive. And register every vehicle as long as we're dreaming about saving lives.

 

[Nithavela]

Maybe we should add some laws to keep that number from growing. How about making it a law that they wear seatbelts and that infants and toddlers sit in approved car seats. Maybe add airbags.

Let's get radical and make every operator of a motor vehicle pass a test in order to get a license to drive. And register every vehicle as long as we're dreaming about saving lives.

Now you're just preparing the big car grab.

 

[stamperben]

Now you're just preparing the big car grab.

They'll have to pry that steering wheel out of my dead cold hands...

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Maybe we should add some laws to keep that number from growing. How about making it a law that they wear seatbelts and that infants and toddlers sit in approved car seats. Maybe add airbags.

Let's get radical and make every operator of a motor vehicle pass a test in order to get a license to drive. And register every vehicle as long as we're dreaming about saving lives.

"No Matter the Price

No Matter how New

The Best Safety Device

In Your Car is YOU."


Burma Shave (Circa 1950)

Also

"There's no cure for stupid." Ron White

 

[Vylo]

I think that children should be poison trained. Stop, don't drink, leave the room, tell an adult.

Now, what would make a good mascot?

The characters of Cyanide an Happiness .

 

[AionPhanes]

Wouldn't finger print scanners mean that all guns would require batteries? Sounds like a rather expensive upgrade and dead batteries could equal dead owner. It's hard for poor people, precisely those who are apt to live in dangerous neighborhoods, to afford decent handguns as it is.