Doctors vs Gunowners Doctors (Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services) (A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000. (B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000. (C) Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171. Guns (Statistics courtesy of FBI) (A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000. (Yes, that's 80 million) (B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500. (C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is .000188. So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners. Remember, 'Guns don't kill people, doctors do.' FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR. We must ban doctors before this gets completely out of hand!!!!! Out of concern for the public at large, I withheld the statistics on lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention!
I remember reading a book by Dan Cruickshank, "Around the world in 80 Treasures". He made the 1851 Pattern Navy Colt one of his treasures in the 'Promised Land'. The paragraph i have lifted below has always stuck in my thoughts when discussing guns. "It has been estimated by one authority that since President Kennedy died from a bullet in 1963 more Americans have died from gunshot wounds than died in all the wars of the 20th Century. But such facts and figures was over Dale. He knows that he is right and believes that his views represent America. He is defending what he percieves to be the national way of life and is being true to his view of history. As i leave the range i see bumper stickers on the pick-up trucks driven by these champions of freedom. The slogans they carry are just as articulate as their owners, perhaps more so. One reads: 'Give me the Second Amendment and i'll protect the rest', while another declaims, 'If you outlaw guns then only outlaws will have guns'. When people have such inflexible and simplistic views about life it's hard to discuss the subtleties of cause and effect. Maybe thats the point. People who promote guns don't want to argue or discuss, they simply want their view - flawed as it might prove under scrutiny - to prevail. That, i suppose, is why they admire the gun - it's the supreme symbol of the ruthless, no compromise solution. When the gun speaks you're dead or alive, victor or loser, right or wrong - the argument's over, solved with extreme violence, with little room for dialects." I'd rather put my life in the hands of a Doctor
I've seen these stats many, many times. I've tried to verify the numbers, but all I ever got in a search was wacko right-wing websites (I'm a gun owner, but I don't like wackos or extremists regardless of what side they take). I just have a hard time believing the numbers. Even if they are true, it's not really a fair comparison. How many times a year will a gun owner let someone fondle their loaded gun? How many procedures will a doctor perform that could possibly result in the patient dying? I don't mean to rain on your parade. I like guns, but I'm a bigger fan of the truth.
So Darth: Who will you call when you or family member: 1. Has a heart Attack 2. Is in a high speed head on collision on the freeway 3. Gets cancer I work w/ doc all day, every day & they, mostly do the best they can. If they don't, the law bites them in the ass sooner than later. There are alternative healing methods if you like... How many of the stat fatalities are due to gun shot wounds seen in the ED?
When you 'look' into this, the best place to start is the mentioned U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, where the data **allegedly** came from. see if they got the numbers right.
I went to their site. I didn't find anything. Of all the times I've seen these numbers, this is the first times that they came with a cite. If you can find verification, by all means, show me. But even if you do, it's an unfair comparison. Would you let someone fondle your loaded gun once a day? Three times a day? Several hundred times a year? I wouldn't. I keep rifles, ammo, and bolts all stored separately.
The comparison is pretty meaningless in my opinion. Doctors try their best 100% of their time and have a pretty tough work life, accidents can happen in very very serious conditions, everyone knows that however we always try and minimise its occurence. Accidental deaths with guns, I cant even think of what to say...........
One almost killed my father Who you gonna call when some raving meth induced lunatic breaks through your bedroom window while your sleeping seeking all your cash and personal effects? The cops won't arrive fast enough I believe in the right to own/bear a gun for one's own self defense. Nothing more, nothing less.
A gun saved me from a grisly death by being ripped apart by two large mountain lions 3 miles from my back yard in Phoenix.
Being as you are from England did you mean this English doctor ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Shipman
While you're at it, be sure to compare "legally registered" firearms to "illegally owned" firearms used in intentional deaths. I'll bet ye 'ole compuker will spit out some heavily skewed results.
