[goodnesswins]

"Each state's peace index score was determined by analyzing its homicide, violent crime, policing, and prison rates, as well as by the availability of guns among its residents."

So...is availability of guns....a positive or a negative?

[9YearLurker]

Only two out of the five criteria they use reflect actual crime rates. Guns? Police? Prison? Who needs those!

[BwanaNdege]

Demographics?

Caliber?

Magazine Capacity?

I wonder which factor is most important?

What about the percentage of SUVs?

/s

[UnwashedPeasant]

"So...is availability of guns....a positive or a negative?"

The worst kind of violence is legally owning a gun for self defense, even if you never use it. I think that is what we can learn from this new study.

[arthurus]

So...is availability of guns....a positive or a negative?

Surely a negative, considering the source and the very use of the phrase, "availability of guns among its residents" instead of "ownership of guns." Availability of guns is considered to be, in itself, violence and certainly not peaceful. Availability of guns is in the category with assault, murder, crimes against property, etc., regardless what is done with the guns. And note it is "availability of guns among its residents," rather than, say, ease ơf acquisition by criminals.