I think the term you're looking for is "population density," not "proximity." It's not a matter of how close your neighbor is but how many neighbors live within a mile of you. (My zip code: 13,000 people/sq mile.)
And yeah, there is pretty much no way to discuss that concept without dealing with the fact that people of color historically got shoved into tiny crowded areas of large cities, and since those are the areas with the most crime and violence, a whole lot of racist people think that's a function of race rather than population density and urban cultural stresses.
Potentially: change the dialogue from "population density" to "education." A great deal of the crowded urban areas are low-education... but so are a lot of rural areas. Argue for better training requirements for gun ownership, mandatory safety measures (gun locks etc), a demonstrated ability to describe the care, maintenance and usage features of the gun, a background check free of signs of violence or tendencies to misuse dangerous equipment (throw DUI in there)... the results would still come out "most inner-city residents shouldn't have guns" but they'd also say "a lot of rural people don't seem to be careful enough to be trusted with a gun, either."
I think the discussion could be shifted from demographic politics to personal responsibility by insisting that anyone who can't be bothered to stay sober while operating a two-ton 60MPH pile of metal in public, shouldn't be allowed to handle projectile weapons either.
no subject
And yeah, there is pretty much no way to discuss that concept without dealing with the fact that people of color historically got shoved into tiny crowded areas of large cities, and since those are the areas with the most crime and violence, a whole lot of racist people think that's a function of race rather than population density and urban cultural stresses.
Potentially: change the dialogue from "population density" to "education." A great deal of the crowded urban areas are low-education... but so are a lot of rural areas. Argue for better training requirements for gun ownership, mandatory safety measures (gun locks etc), a demonstrated ability to describe the care, maintenance and usage features of the gun, a background check free of signs of violence or tendencies to misuse dangerous equipment (throw DUI in there)... the results would still come out "most inner-city residents shouldn't have guns" but they'd also say "a lot of rural people don't seem to be careful enough to be trusted with a gun, either."
I think the discussion could be shifted from demographic politics to personal responsibility by insisting that anyone who can't be bothered to stay sober while operating a two-ton 60MPH pile of metal in public, shouldn't be allowed to handle projectile weapons either.