There are other metrics beside “least fatalities” to factor.
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
Your comment would be just fine without that swipe.
The parent statement was not literal, making your expansion meaningless and honestly a little stunning.
Correct. Instead it was agenda driven sarcasm, which while not forbidden on HN, adds nothing to, and always lowers the quality of discussion.
Rather than take the emotional bait and be sarcastic in return, the person who responded pointed out the misrepresentation that was behind the sarcasm, which is the most civil way to address it.
Their response was far more measured and constructive than the "take it to Reddit" response that the parent comment type usually elicits. There was absolutely nothing stunning about it - rather it was a standard civil response method in a debate whose civility has been lowered through sarcasm.
No, 5 miles means you have a different government with a different policy response. (The difference itself doesn't justify either side.)
That's just inherent in the existence of political borders.