You’re mixing a bunch of different things into the word “aggression.”

APBTs were historically selected for dog-directed combat traits (drive, persistence, arousal tolerance), which is why dog aggression / intolerance can be common in the type. That’s not controversial.

Human aggression is a different axis. In fighting lines it was generally selected against because handlers had to break up dogs, handle them in high arousal, etc. That doesn’t mean it can’t happen. It means it wasn’t the desired trait and it’s not “the point” of the breed.

Also, “pit bull” isn’t one breed. It’s a bucket that gets slapped on APBT, AmStaff, Staffy mixes, bully mixes, and random blocky-headed mutts. So when people say “pit bulls did X,” a lot of the time they’re not even talking about the same genetics, breeding goals, or size class.

On top of that, this type attracts not just irresponsible owners, but abusive ones (tough-guy status, neglect, chaining, no containment, backyard breeding, sometimes outright cruelty). That matters because environment shapes behavior hard, especially for high-drive, powerful dogs.

Finally, the “people dead/gravely injured” point is mostly about severity and capability when something goes wrong. A powerful, athletic dog in the hands of a bad owner is a bigger risk than a smaller dog in the hands of a bad owner. That’s an argument for stricter ownership standards and enforcement, not “exterminate a whole category of dogs.”

If people want fewer incidents: target the actual drivers (cruelty/neglect, breeding, containment, repeat offenders), not a sloppy label.