83 percent of guns illegally obtained

[philip964]

From a USA Today story today.

No their headline was " 23 percent of young people hurt in assaults owned a gun"

Of those folks only 17 percent obtained it legally.

See I can play with headlines and figures and make them say what I want.

They also are more likely to use drugs and endorse " revenge is a good thing"

Group was 24 and younger who sought care at a trauma center in Flint, Michigan.

10 percent were just holding it for someone.

52 percent said easy to get a gun.

[JALLEN]

67.3% of the time statistics are misleading, the rest of the time flat wrong.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Is it wrong that my first thought when I saw the headline for the news article was "96 percent of young people hurt in assaults owned a hoodie."

[The Annoyed Man]

67.3% of the time statistics are misleading, the rest of the time flat wrong.

There's lies, danged lies, and statistics.

[cb1000rider]

I'm all for statistics, as long as I can see how the data was derived.

In this case "83 percent of guns illegally obtained". What does that mean? In Texas, I know of two ways to obtain an illegal gun:
1) Steal a gun
2) Buy a gun that was already stolen

Seems odd that 83% of whomever they were interviewing admitted to that.. Was there any info on what "illegal gun" means?

[VoiceofReason]

This is true. I navigated away from the page before noting the address. If I find it I will post it.

Since the early 1970s the General Social Survey has asked the question: “Do you happen to have in your home (if house: or garage) any guns or revolvers?

[C-dub]

Since all of my guns have been legally obtained I guess I'm finally in a minority.

[Dragonfighter]

Figures never lie but liars figure.

[philip964]

My simple assumption was that in Michigan you may not own a gun unless you are 18. Since the cut off was 24, 83% of the people they interviewed were under 18.

But I am just guessing here, rather than figuring.

[Vol Texan]

A statistician is a person who can have one foot in the oven and his head in the freezer, and say, "On average, I feel fine!"

[Deltaboy]

Well I guess I got all mine legally for my time.

[cb1000rider]

Is it possible to register a gun in TX?
Years ago, a family member was the victim of a break in and 4-5 guns were stolen.
They were eventually recovered, but were held in evidence for over a year pending trial and then, as I understand it, they could not be claimed without a receipt or proof of ownership...

[steveincowtown]

72% of statistics are made up on the spot.

[Beiruty]

Statistical sample size is less than 100 out of 1.2 millions, so whatever the statistical figure, said figure is irrelevant but to MSNBC and their like.