Framing the gun debate

According to the Boston Globe (3.6.2013),
 
   Even the most modest [gun control] proposals may be difficult to pass, said Peter Ubertaccio, chairman of Stonehill College’s ­Department of Political Science and International Studies. Although gun control supporters have reached “the height of their strength . . . I wouldn’t expect much,” he said.

“The further we get away from the tragedy in Newtown, the more difficult it’s going to be for pro-gun control forces to sustain their argument,” he said. “Even reasonable proposals get caught up in the emotions of pro- and anti-Second Amendment conversations.”

Can anyone be surprised by this? As has happened over and over and over again for the past 20 years, the "pro-and anti-Second Amendment conversations" function as the cul-du-sac for all debate even remotely related to guns.  It's easy to blame the NRA, but it takes two to tango.  Did gun control advocates really think that this time it would be different?  Sure, Newtown was a horrific tragedy.  But so was Columbine.  And so were the many mass shootings before that.

So, what if we changed the conversation?

On December 14th, 2012, that infamous day when 20 children and 6 adults were murdered in Newtown, we can estimate (using the latest available data) that about 63 people in the US killed themselves with a gun.  On the day before that, another 63 did the same.  And on the day after the school shooting another 63...and another...and another.

Certainly there's no way to compare the senseless murder of innocent victims to the individual decision to take one's own life.  These are certainly very different situations.  But if we're struggling to figure out how to talk about gun violence, perhaps it might be worthwhile to broaden the conversation.

Here are some facts: 

In 2011, about 11,000 homicides were committed with guns; about 20,000 suicides were committed with guns.

Yes, America has a gun problem.  For the last many years, we've tried to legislate our way out of this problem.  And once again, we're stuck.  Talking about suicide deaths will not solve many of the problems now before the Congress.  But, in the meantime, why don't we take a closer look at this other gun problem.  This problem (the problem of suicides by gun) just might be one that we can make progress on without falling into the same pro/con, gun rights v. gun control trap.