re: #171 Rightwingconspirator

Ahem. Completely random number? Sounds like an overstatement to me.

It’s a completely random figure—as in, a completely random statistic—to introduce. There’s a ton of figures on gun safety we could look at. Why is that one pertinent to the idea of firearm evangelization?

And I think this addresses your point if perhaps not to your particular satisfaction.

It doesn’t address my point in the least.

The point is that the comparison should be between populations that are as like as possible. To get a CHL license, you have to fit a bunch of criteria. Many of those criteria have to do with not being a criminal in the first place, which are obvious confounders. Others are economic indicators which are more subtle confounders, but still definitely present.

What you cited doesn’t address this in the least.

This part:

If allowing normally law abiding and peaceful citizens to carry a weapon concealed on their person were to somehow convert them into violent predators,

Is true, if an enormous strawman that nobody has presented as a serious position.

This part:

The comparison of arrest rates suggests just the opposite - Texans licensed to carry a gun are much less violent than Texans who are not

Is true but not useful, since it might equally be true of CHL-eligible people who don’t own a gun.

Do you understand?