@avenger: I work in academia. I know what the consensus is in academia on this issue so Im not surprised many of the academics found what they did. I think Lott is upsetting the boat in this area and his work has been duplicated many times (cited in his book). Over time You and I will see some sort of consensus developing.

John Lott ONY used FBI crime data in his work. Im sure if these graphs were rigged someone would have called him on it. I doubt anyone has. n

Im signing off now, and I thank you for your polite informative conversation with me who is in disagreement much of the time with you. Im sure we would get along well if we knew each other. Thanks,

@avenger: People are always going to criticize work due to its validity in this area. Not surprised. John has all his data available to other researchers to find errors in his work. And he spend a good bit of time referencing his detractors in his second edition. I was surprised how much gun research is funded by anti-gun groups.

Here is a link to graphs showing a lot of different crime rates before and after gun bans. Included is Chicago and Washington, DC. You can see the correct trend lines here.

http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2012/12/so-did-piers-morgan-and-christiane...

@avenger: You are correct, households with guns have been dropping although some data recently show it increasing. BUT over the last few years the number of concealed carry permits have gone way up. Georgia has about 400,000 permittes. This has to have an effect on criminal behavior. John Lott proved it in his book, 'More guns, less crime". Hes not a gun nut and not dependent on donations from the Brady Campaign or the Joyce foundation, etc.

When the gun bans in Washington DC and Chicago were instituted, both experienced a rather large jump in violent crime. I was able to find graphs quickly through google. I get a lot of data on all things from justfacts.com. All the data you want and then some.

@avenger: I cannot comment on these studies you cite. Ive never heard of them. I do tend to believe statistics collected by the Department of Justice. And I have seen studies that suggest more guns = less crime. I reckon the truth is just not sorted out yet.

Since DC and Chcago have been forced to allow some people to legally own guns, violent crime is going down. Saw this on John Lotts blog a few weeks ago. Both mayors predicted a bloodbath, and he quoted their reactions when the bans were lifted. I know this is a small set of data, but it is representative of everything else Ive seen.

Gun ownership has skyrocketed while the violent crime rate is about half what it was in the 1980's.. I just dont seem to believe a lot of what you are saying, sorry.

@avenger: Now I see where you are getting your information. Yes, people with guns are responsible for some terrible things, but many more crimes are kept from happening by people with guns. The US Dept of Justice National self-defense survey, the National crime victimization survey, and lots of other research document somewhere in the neighborhood of 800, 800 to several million crimes averted yearly by defensive gun uses. About a fourth of mass killings weren't mass killings because of a defensive gun use (which usually doesn't make the news). A good start for you would be to look at wikipedias article on defensive gun uses.

If the Brady campaign were to have its way, we would see fewer good guys with guns and a terrible increase in violent crime. Since our violent crime rate is already very high, the Brady campaign will be complicit in much more violence occurring. Every country has experienced a rapid increase in crime as gun control limits the private ownership of firearms.

Georgia now has the highest percentage of concealed carry permits in the nation, which John Lott has shown in one of the largest crime studies done, decreases violent crime.

@avenger: 5,285 children? Somebody is including 18 and 19 year olds here. More children aged 0-9 last year were killed by appliances and furniture falling on top of them. CPSC data and CDC statistics.

Good article about Felipe Calderons drug war. Forty-thousand dead and nothing to show for it except making the cartels even more violent. Sad.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/world/americas/calderon-defends-milita...

Good article about Felipe Calderons drug war. Forty thousand dead and nothing else to show for it. All he did was made the cartels more violent. Sad.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/world/americas/calderon-defends-milita...

@avenger: That could be quite true, however, the stepped-up military-type actions of Calderon likely accounted for most of these. Again, you could still buy assault weapons during the ban that had a detachable magazine + two of either a pistol grip, folding stock, flash suppressor or bayonet lug. The ban should have had no effect. Calderon was a real disaster for Mexico and I hope the new president goes back to less military style actions against the drug cartels.

@avenger: The peak in murders in Mexico had a lot more to do with the election of Felipe Calderon, who declared war on the drug cartels. The assault weapons ban didnt ban a lot of so called assault weapon, you could still buy an AR-15 without a folding stock, flash suppressor or bayonet lug. The AWB had probably nothing to do with this increase in killings and everything to do with Calderons tenure, which was a disaster as it related to Mexicos murder rate. I suspect the rest of Chicoines work to be slanted too, but havent had time to check it out. I find it very useful to determine who funds such people.

The good news is such deaths are way down from just 20 years ago. Not much solace for these parents, I cannot imagine how they feel.
More children died last year (aged 0-9) from furniture and appliances falling on top of them, according to FBI data and CPSC data.

I would prefer instead of subsidies, to spend money on research coupling solar tech with fuel cells and similar systems. Right now if you include the subsidies, solar is one of the most expensive options for reduction per ton of CO2. Improved energy efficiency from appliances to industrial applications are the most economical way to reduce CO2 emissions along with building weatherization. Plus, instead of subsidies, Id like to see some of this money spent on malaria, clean water, etc in poor countries.

@Tyler Faby: Thanks, Tyler. Ive too found much information that suggests energy efficiency is by far the most cost effective method to reduce CO2. I thought you may have had knowledge about the solar angle.

I read this article about Warren Buffett. Made me think he was much more a sinister person than I though. He invests based on his political connections. This gives him early knowledge of protectionist legislation, subsidies, etc.
http://reason.com/archives/2012/02/09/warren-buffett-baptist-and-bootlegger

@Tyler Faby: Have there been recent studies showing solar to be the cheapest alternative per ton of CO2 reduced? I know as early as several years ago it was rated so expensive it wasnt even considered. (McKinsey consultants report).

@Duke Briscoe: No kidding. My building has such large gaps in its doors that reptiles occasionally enter. Some building parts stay cold, others too hot. No air flow in the bathrooms. Im always closing doors and windows that are propped open (for some unknown reason). Windows are not very airtight either.

Programmable thermostats and insulation would go a long way, you are right on the money, Duke.

@keepitsimple: Thats another possibility but the stone dam at the Whitehall forest is already owned and I was told or read somewhere it supplied Athens with its electricity a little over a hundred years ago. Amazing if thats true, but then again, we didnt use that much electricity back then. UGA now has an engineering school so I think it would be an easy thing to check out, Barnett Shaols dam or the Whitehall dam.

I wonder if UGA has done a feasiblity study of hydropower from the dam on the River at the Whitehall Forest.

A good letter supporting abortions only in the first trimester except in the rare instances when the life of the mother is at stake.

This shows the NOAA saying the recent drought had nothing to do with global warming. Demolishing another alarmist narrative.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/climate-change-drought-2012_n_3...

Someone, quick, give this woman more research dollars!

A few months ago NYC police officers took down a shooter at the empire state building. Yes, they did, while also shooting 11 innocent bystanders. Seems these people forgot the first rule- know whats behind what youre shooting at.

Nothing in the current legislation will prevent another of these mass killings of white people. On a single weekend, 40 shootings occurred in Chicago. A recent policeone survey of 15,000 police revealed some good ideas on averting these killings. Sadly the administration is going for the 'feel good' laws that wont do anything.

@Logical: I second Logicals suggestion. That was an excellent article. A similar one came out in Reason magazine about a month ago.

@Logical: I originally liked the idea of everyone paying insurance to reduce costs and give people better care, etc. But my disagreement with Obamacare is that it covers so much. Why not offer essentially a major medical plan that has a high deductible that would cover hospital costs and cost one hell of a lot less. No payments for viagra, birth control pills, doctor visits for runny noses, etc. Ive heard Obamacare compared to car insurance that covers brakes, tires and windshield wipers. Most personal bankruptcies would be avoided by major medical. Any comments? Would this be far cheaper and more acceptable to many of those that just dont want to pay for medical insurance? You guys seem to be up on things. Id love to hear your comments.

I just watched the movie 'Prometheus'. Although it was pure fiction, it does make the plausible suggestion if we do find life out there, will it come eat us instead of being nice?

@hardrocker: I like your post. I see the study of astrophysics and other sciences as getting a glimpse into the mind of God. How things function so perfectly, how the natural laws govern everything and the provision of everything we need on the earth to be happy and our gift of reason suggests to me there was a creator.