Question

Are the values compared in this statement comparable or not comparable? “Guns have
murdered more Americans here at home in recent years than have died on the battlefields of
Iraq and Afghanistan. In support of the two wars, more than 6,500 American soldiers have lost
their lives. During the same period, however, guns have been used to murder about 100,000
people on American soil”

Answer 1

What a horrible statement.

1) Guns don't murder anyone.
2) "Murder" is a technical term and only some such killings actually qualify as "murder".
3) "Battle fields" is particularly poorly defined. We don't line up and shoot any more. This needs clarification.
4) "American Soil" is a little ambiguous. How do you count Foreign Consulates?
5) There is no reference to the known and demonstrable deterant effect of concealed weapons. This is left out of the statement as a form of "cherry-picking" t make ones point while ignoreing the contrary evidence.
6) In my hometown, in 2012, they kept counting justifiable homicide and even assailants downed by on-duty police officers. One would want to be VERY carfule about exactly what was counted.

Answer 2

I understand your passion on the subject, and I agree with you but this is a math question. I am in a thinking mathematically math class and this is one of my homework questions.

Answer 3

I answered only mathematically. I requested only clear definitions and the absence of misleading information. Please rethink your response based on this clarified explanation.

Answer 4

Are we counting suicides? How many suicides can be traced to PTSD experience by war veterans? These are ambiguities that must be clarified.

Answer 5

It is asking if they are Comparable or not Comparable. I am having a difficult time understanding the question as well. This is the exact way my professor wrote the question and he expects me to answer it. This is the reason why I and asking for help on it. I dont understand what he is looking for in an answer.

Answer 6

Okay, one purely mathematical argument concerning only logically comparable values.

How many lives have been at risk in the war theaters?
How many lives have been at risk on the homefront?

You should find these values VERY different! VASTLY different! Thus, comparing the numbers of deaths directly is simply uncalled-for and very poorly represents both issues and entirely invalidates the comparison.

Answer 7

ok thanks

Answer 8

No problem.

btw You probably should know that I am not a gun owner and don't plan to be. On the other hand, I am an enemy to junk science. :-)