> No, the stat I am working from is "homicides", not "gun deaths"; I'm just inferring that guns drive those homicides.
If there's a huge, outlying number of homicides, but there's even more suicides by gun death, does that sound like a mental health system that's working? It's so weird that you'd think this strengthens your case somehow.
> our health care system has the same structure in basically all 50 states. But CVD outcomes vary wildly among states
As you would expect, because:
1. Not everyone in every state has equal access to coverage. States like Alabama and Mississippi have higher rates of uninsured people.
2. Wealthier states with better public health systems invest more in preventive care.
3. Poorer states may have fewer resources that discourage routine doctor visits. A hospital in Massachusetts might have state-of-the-art facilities and specialists, while rural hospitals in Alabama might lack funding or staff.
And, there's lots of other variations by state which could affect CVD outcomes; diet, smoking rates, pollution etc (which often lead back to healthcare, and access to it).
> No part of our life expectancy gap has anything to do with health insurance.
I urge you to reconsider this stance; not just because it's deeply wrong, but because it ignores and enables some really evil stuff. I've given you all the pieces you need to see that, because I know that you have all the intelligence necessary to put them together. I do hope you put them together.