News Flash - The Trace Doesn't Like Guns

Gee, who'da thunk it? The Trace: Guns Are Toxic!

They have a "statistical study" to prove it. Or something.

The Trace wants gun owners to think about one word after leaving the range: toxic.

Dramatic framing? Sure. Completely invented? No.

For those of you not paying attention, The Trace was founded with money from Bloomberg, and is basically the media arm of Everytown for Gun Safety, which also has ties to Bloomberg. How do you spell "bias?"

Guns do produce toxic fumes. Some lead if you are using lead bullets. It is worse if you are shooting in an indoor range than if you are outdoors. You should wash your hands, but you should do that anyway.

The Trace is worried about, wait for it ..., the children.

The report estimates that roughly six million American children live in households where someone shoots lead-based ammunition but practices no post-shooting hygiene.

That number sounds alarming. However, it needs some important context.

They did not survey 6 million households. They reference a survey. (never talk to surveyors about your firearms.) Based on the answers they got they made some guesses.

The survey did appear in American Journal of Preventive Medicine, but that doesn't mean any inference from the survey will hold up to scrutiny.

Here is the critical distinction: The study did not test six million children.

It did not collect blood samples from the children, measure lead dust inside their homes or determine whether any particular range trip caused harmful exposure.

Read the whole thing; it isn't long. Hat tip to MaddMedic at Freedom Is Just Another Word…

On the subject of firearm-related surveys: If someone rando opinion surveyor asks you if you own firearms, the only answer is "No." Or "Of course not; I'm insulted." Or something to that effect.