Gun violence is a primary cause of statistics. The numbers mount so fast and so deep that the human beings represented by those numbers fade to insignificance except to their families and friends who mourn them deeply.
Statistics themselves can point in any direction desired by the counter. There are three kinds of lies, said Benjamin Disraeli: lies, damned lies, and statistics. I once knew a sheriff who manipulated his numbers according to his need. When he was up for re-election, his numbers highlighted how the occurrence of crime had decreased during his time in office. At budget time, however, he would trot out the stats reflecting an increase in criminal activity sufficient upon which to base his request for a larger piece of the county’s financial pie.
Politicians fling statistics at us like paper airplanes. They dive and loop and land in unexpected places. I’ve no doubt that the cowardly Senators who voted against the gun safety bill the other day have numbers to cite to explain their vote. Not only would I give their stats no credence, if tomorrow I see one of those Senators lying on the ground in flames, I wouldn’t pee on him to put him out.