Geographic ‘hot spots’ for cigarette and firearm deaths in the U.S.

Re:Geographic ‘hot spots’ for cigarette and firearm deaths i... by scotty79 on Sunday September 17, 2023 @06:53PM (#37550136)

There's another quality that allows to group cigarettes and guns together. They are both completely optional lifestyle choice. While cars and diet might be way harder to opt out given how cars are needed to get to work and stores and the most unhealthy diet is the cheapest and fastest one.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Geographic ‘hot spots’ for cigarette and firearm deaths i... by dbrueck on Sunday September 17, 2023 @07:09PM (#37550256)

> They are both completely optional lifestyle choice.

Kind of like alcohol, right? (which has nearly 4x the annual deaths vs firearms)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Geographic ‘hot spots’ for cigarette and firearm deaths i... by scotty79 on Sunday September 17, 2023 @08:10PM (#37550707)

Yes. Should be included in the group as well.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Geographic ‘hot spots’ for cigarette and firearm deaths i... by conductr on Sunday September 17, 2023 @07:06PM (#37550239)

Even “optional” gets a little fuzzy when all these things are likely to be a cultural phenomenon; as in, influenced by your parents/family.

It’s like saying that Christianity continues to be the most popular choice of religion in the US. Sure it’s optional, but there’s a bit of inertia involved.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Geographic ‘hot spots’ for cigarette and firearm deaths i... by scotty79 on Sunday September 17, 2023 @08:13PM (#37550720)

There's inertia in everything.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Geographic ‘hot spots’ for cigarette and firearm deaths i... by BaculumMeumEst on Sunday September 17, 2023 @07:06PM (#37550237)

Do you also consider living in an area with high rate of violent crime to be a lifestyle choice?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Geographic ‘hot spots’ for cigarette and firearm deaths i... by scotty79 on Sunday September 17, 2023 @08:12PM (#37550715)

In nearly all cases, no.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Geographic ‘hot spots’ for cigarette and firearm deaths i... by dudul on Sunday September 17, 2023 @09:41PM (#37551244)

Don't they count fatalities due to assault? Is it optional to live in an area with high crime?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Geographic ‘hot spots’ for cigarette and firearm deaths i... by chmod600 on Sunday September 17, 2023 @11:06PM (#37551756)

There's always some way to group things together, but I find it unhelpful in this case.

Even grouping all firearm deaths together is almost always unhelpful. Ordinary violent crime with firearms is very different from a school shooting is very different from suicide by firearm.

Then grouping firearm deaths together with a highly addictive and slow-killing vice like cigarettes just adds to the confusion.

[ Parent | on HN ]