Joe Dees wrote:
>
> >From: stencil <stencil@bcn.net>
> >
> >[...]Frequency of Drowning in Different
> > Media
> >Saltwater
> >1-2 %
> >Fresh Water 98 %
> >? ? Swimming 50%
> >Pools Private 30%
> >? ? ?
> > Public, Lakes, rivers 20%
> >? ?
> > Bathtubs 15%
> >? ? Buckets of Liquid 4%
> >? ? Fish Tanks or Ponds 4%
> >? ? Toilets ? 1%
> >? ? Washing Machines ? 1%
> >------------------------------
> >...references are cited at that website. Note that sample
> >boundaries are very fuzzy: "toddler," "infant," or
> >"pediatric population." Comparisons with firearms
> >Accidental Discharges are difficult because of recent
> >years' use - and contamination - of the stats for
> >political purposes. Mike Lorrey's point natheless is well
> >taken IMO: firearms AD's do not occur frequently enough
> >to justify hysteria; the rationale for the agitation to
> >prohibit guns must be sought elsewhere.
> >
> Most toddlers (under the age of 4) would have a hard time opening a desk >drawer, lifting the gun and pulling its trigger, so within this age group, >drowning deaths are greater than gunshot deaths. Most unintentional self- or >other-child-inflicted gunshot deaths of minors (unintentional including >bang-bang games where the child does not understand the reality of the result) >occur in ages 6 - 12, during a dip in child drownings, and in this age group, >when drowning in five-gallon buckets is much less of a danger, gunshot deaths >are most likely greater. For ages 15-24, when drowning deaths once again spike, >intentional firearm homicides and suicides are also higher than for those >younger or older.
My 3 year old nephew is quite capable of all sorts of mischief and is
quite strong, so no, I contest your dismissal of toddlers, now that it
has been proven that your hysteria with regards to them is not supported
by the statistics. Anyone on this list with kids that age can probably
contest your claims on that score. The rise in 6-12, 12-15, and 15 and
up shootings can be directly correlated to the decrease in the number of
children who are taught responsible gun safety from an early age. I shot
my first 22 at age 7, and safety, responsibility and the consequences of
shooting were taught to myself and every other child in my family. Since
the governments own studies support the contention that children who are
raised thus are far less likely to either cause accidental shootings or
commit intentional shootings, and the once plentiful and popular
shooting programs at public schools are now mostly non-existent, I think
its quite obvious that we need firearms safety back in schools as much
as we need sex safety, drug safety, and driver safety.
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