Yesterday during another one of his illogical gun rants, CNN host Piers Morgan suggested that because many mass shootings are carried out by people under 25, that we should ban gun purchases and ownership of guns for everyone under 25.
Given the young ages of most mass/random shooters in America, I'd make it illegal for anyone under 25 to buy a gun of any kind.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 27, 2014
He also tried to compare owning a gun to renting a car.
It's almost impossible to rent a car under the age of 25 in America - why not regulate guns the same way? Just common sense.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 27, 2014
First off, I take issue with people like Morgan classifying mass murderers as "gun owners." Second, mass shootings make up a tiny fraction of the overall crime rate and death by gunshot wound rate in America.
For all the attention they receive, mass shootings are not the main source of gun violence. In 2010, according to the FBI, around 8,775 people were murdered with firearms in the United States. Less than 1 percent of those victims were killed in mass shootings.
Third, a major crime study released earlier this month showed that it is nearly impossible to identify mass killers who use a firearm in crimes because their characteristics are those of many in the overall population.
Murderers tend to be male Caucasians with psychological issues, but these characteristics apply to a very large portion of the population.
Finally, comparing the act of renting a car and owning a firearm is absurd and irrelevant, not "common sense." Renting a car isn't a constitutional right. In many states, teenagers are allowed to own a car in their name at the age of 16, not to mention it isn't impossible to rent a car before age 25, it just costs more. There are already laws on the books when it comes to firearms purchases and in many states people can purchase a handgun or rifle at the age of 18, taking full advantage of their Second Amendment rights just as they would take advantage of their right to vote. Other states require a person be 21 before being able to legally purchase a firearm.
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, 21.8 percent of target shooters in America are under the age of 25. None of those people are mass murderers but instead law abiding citizens exercising their rights in an effort to be responsible for their own safety. The smearing of gun owners, especially young gun owners in America, only further shows Morgan's ignorance on the issue.