1
The annual accidental death toll for
handgun-related incidents is slightly under 200
Actual handgun total is 187 some unknown
fraction of the 804, likely much more than 200.
2
Offenders Sentenced in U.S. District Courts under
the U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines (fiscal
year 1999)
bIncludes Native Americans, Alaska Natives,
Asians, and Pacific Islanders.
The explanation The statistics are limited to
federal cases, and the federal government very
rarely prosecutes sexual abuse (which is mostly a
state law crime) except on Indian reservations.
230 is pretty few sexual abuse cases for the
whole country, isnt it?
U.S. District Courts just what courts are those?
3
Find four problems with this graphic, which
refers to the case that held that use of under
God in the Pledge of Allegiance is
unconstitutional.

• 1. Did the court of appeals rule that the
  Pledge . . . is unconstitu-tional?

1. Did the court of appeals rule that the
Pledge . . . is unconstitu-tional? It ruled
that the inclusion of under God in the Pledge
is unconstitutional. The remaining 25-odd words
were untouched. A picky point, but precision
counts.

• 2. Most of who say Pledge is constitutional?

2. Most of who say Pledge is constitutional?
Seems like it should mean most readers, or most
Americans but fine print says law students and
legal associates. Not what readers would expect.

• 3. How were the respondents chosen?

3. How were the respondents chosen? They were
self-selected (true of most online surveys),
not randomly chosen. Probably a highly
unrepresentative sample even of all law students
and legal associates.

• 4. Is the margin of error really 3?

4. Is the margin of error really 3? With 235
respondents, the margin of error is rougly 100
divided by the square root of 235, or 6 or so.
(Of course, with a self-selected sample the
result is meaningless no matter how many people
are surveyed.)
4
Study 15 of N.Y. drivers 16-25 drive drunk at
least once a month.Minnesota commentator 15
of driving-age teenagers drive drunk at least
once a month.
Study 15 of N.Y. drivers 16-25 drive drunk at
least once a month.Minnesota commentator 15
of driving-age teenagers drive drunk at least
once a month.1. Generalizing across places and
timesmake clear that the numbers refer to the
N.Y. study, at the time the study was done.
Study 15 of N.Y. drivers 16-25 drive drunk at
least once a month.Minnesota commentator 15
of driving-age teenagers drive drunk at least
once a month.1. Generalizing across places and
timesmake clear that the numbers refer to the
N.Y. study, at the time the study was done.2.
Inferring from groups behavior to a subsets
behaviordo teenage drivers (16-18 or 16-19)
behave the same way as 18/19-25-year-olds?
Study 15 of N.Y. drivers 16-25 drive drunk at
least once a month.Minnesota commentator 15
of driving-age teenagers drive drunk at least
once a month.1. Generalizing across places and
timesmake clear that the numbers refer to the
N.Y. study, at the time the study was done.2.
Inferring from groups behavior to a subsets
behaviordo teenage drivers (16-18 or 16-19)
behave the same way as 18/19-25-year-olds?3.
Misreporting the studythe study focused on
fraction of drivers who drive drunk, not on
fraction of teenagers who drive drunk.
5
A a hand-gun brought into the home for the
pur-poses of self-protection is six times more
likely to kill a relative or acquaintance than to
repel a burglar
Article a handgun is six times more likely to
be used to kill a friend or relative than to
repel a burglar
B During 1958-73 in Cuyahoga County, only
23 burglars, robbers or intruders who were not
relatives or acquaintances were killed by guns in
the hands of persons who were protecting their
homes. During this same interval, six times as
many fatal firearm accidents occurred in the
home.
Article a handgun is six times more likely to
be used to kill a friend or relative than to
repel a burglar
A a hand-gun brought into the home for the
pur-poses of self-protection is six times more
likely to kill a relative or acquaintance than to
repel a burglar
(i) Small error friend is false synonym for
acquaintance.
6
Article a handgun is six times more likely to
be used to kill a friend or relative than to
repel a burglar
B During 1958-73 in Cuyahoga County, only
23 burglars, robbers or intruders who were not
relatives or acquaintances were killed by guns in
the hands of persons who were protecting their
homes. During this same interval, six times as
many fatal firearm accidents occurred in the
home.
B During 1958-73 in Cuyahoga County, only
23 burglars, robbers or intruders who were not
relatives or acquaintances were killed by guns in
the hands of persons who were protecting their
homes. During this same interval, six times as
many fatal firearm accidents occurred in the
home.
Article a handgun is six times more likely to
be used to kill a friend or relative than to
repel a burglar
B During 1958-73 in Cuyahoga County, only
23 burglars, robbers or intruders who were not
relatives or acquaintances were killed by guns in
the hands of persons who were protecting their
homes. During this same interval, six times as
many fatal firearm accidents occurred in the
home.
Article a handgun is six times more likely to
be used to kill a friend or relative than to
repel a burglar
Article a handgun is six times more likely to
be used to kill a friend or relative than to
repel a burglar
B During 1958-73 in Cuyahoga County, only
23 burglars, robbers or intruders who were not
relatives or acquaintances were killed by guns in
the hands of persons who were protecting their
homes. During this same interval, six times as
many fatal firearm accidents occurred in the
home.
Article a handgun is six times more likely to
be used to kill a friend or relative than to
repel a burglar
B During 1958-73 in Cuyahoga County, only
23 burglars, robbers or intruders who were not
relatives or acquaintances were killed by guns in
the hands of persons who were protecting their
homes. During this same interval, six times as
many fatal firearm accidents occurred in the
home.
Article a handgun is six times more likely to
be used to kill a friend or relative than to
repel a burglar
B During 1958-73 in Cuyahoga County, only
23 burglars, robbers or intruders who were not
relatives or acquaintances were killed by guns in
the hands of persons who were protecting their
homes. During this same interval, six times as
many fatal firearm accidents occurred in the
home.
(ii) Handgun is a false synonym for gun.
(ii) Handgun is a false synonym for
gun. (iii) Kill a friend or relative isnt
fatal firearm accident.
(ii) Handgun is a false synonym for
gun. (iii) Kill a friend or relative isnt
fatal firearm accident. (iv) Repel isnt
kill.
(ii) Handgun is a false synonym for
gun. (iii) Kill a friend or relative isnt
fatal firearm accident. (iv) Repel isnt
kill. (v) Burglar isnt burglar, robber or
intruder.
(ii) Handgun is a false synonym for
gun. (iii) Kill a friend or relative isnt
fatal firearm accident. (iv) Repel isnt
kill. (v) Burglar isnt burglar, robber or
intruder. (vi) Make clear when youre inferring
from a specific time and place to the whole
country at a different time.
7
Article a handgun is six times more likely to
be used to kill a friend or relative than to
repel a burglar
B During 1958-73 in Cuyahoga County, only
23 burglars, robbers or intruders who were not
relatives or acquaintances were killed by guns in
the hands of persons who were protecting their
homes. During this same interval, six times as
many fatal firearm accidents occurred in the
home.
(1) Watch for false synonyms.
(1) Watch for false synonyms. (2) Watch for
inferences from one context to another.
(1) Watch for false synonyms. (2) Watch for
inferences from one context to another. (3) Look
at the original source (B) and not just the
intermediate source (A).
(1) Watch for false synonyms. (2) Watch for
inferences from one context to another. (3) Look
at the original source (B) and not just the
intermediate source (A). (4) Be careful. Be
skeptical.
8
Article a person who uses a hand-gun in
self-defense is eight times more likely to be
killed than one who quietly acquiesces
A A survey of Chicago robberies in 1975
revealed that, of those victims taking no
resistance measures, the probability of death was
7.67 per 1000 robbery incidents, while the death
rate among those taking self-protection measures
was 64.29 per 1000 robbery incidents. The victim
was 8 times more likely to be killed when using a
self-protective measure than not!
Article a person who uses a hand-gun in
self-defense is eight times more likely to be
killed than one who quietly acquiesces
A A survey of Chicago robberies in 1975
revealed that, of those victims taking no
resistance measures, the probability of death was
7.67 per 1000 robbery incidents, while the death
rate among those taking self-protection measures
was 64.29 per 1000 robbery incidents. The victim
was 8 times more likely to be killed when using a
self-protective measure than not!
Article a person who uses a hand-gun in
self-defense is eight times more likely to be
killed than one who quietly acquiesces
A A survey of Chicago robberies in 1975
revealed that, of those victims taking no
resistance measures, the probability of death was
7.67 per 1000 robbery incidents, while the death
rate among those taking self-protection measures
was 64.29 per 1000 robbery incidents. The victim
was 8 times more likely to be killed when using a
self-protective measure than not!
(vi½) Silent generalization from Chicago
robberies in 1975 to all crimes at any time
anywhere.
(vi½) Silent generalization from Chicago
robberies in 1975 to all crimes at any time
anywhere. (vii) Silent inference from
self-protection measures generally to defensive
handgun use.
9
Heres the actual data on deaths associated with
various self-protection measures, from source C
The death rate among those taking
self-protection measures (64.29/100018/280)
says nothing about the death rate among those who
use a handgun.
10
Article a person who uses a hand-gun in
self-defense is eight times more likely to be
killed than one who quietly acquiesces
A A survey of Chicago robberies in 1975
revealed that, of those victims taking no
resistance measures, the probability of death was
7.67 per 1000 robbery incidents, while the death
rate among those taking self-protection measures
was 64.29 per 1000 robbery incidents. The victim
was 8 times more likely to be killed when using a
self-protective measure than not!
(1) Watch for false synonyms.
(1) Watch for false synonyms. (2) Check original
sources.
(1) Watch for false synonyms. (2) Check original
sources. (3) Avoid confusing languageby
surrounding the quoted text with discussion of
handguns, source A misled the reader into
thinking that the quoted text was talking about
handguns.