Curious Case of Guns in America: A Quantitative Analysis According to CNN, America’s POPULATION accounts to only 5% of the world population but owns 50% of the Guns on Earth. Let’s watch this video of President Obama, the handsome dude in America. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yca-uwxCsWg
This was delivered recently when there was another mass shooting in America.This made me look up on internet about figures when I saw his pensive face and felt bad. I reached Google and soon got all the facts. United States has a population of around 300 million and has roughly about the same number of weapons.
Deaths of Americans in War Revolutionary War War of 1812 Mexican War Civil War (Union and Confederate, estimate) Spanish-American War World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War Persian Gulf War Total (excluding war on terror) Afghanistan War Iraq War
4435 2260 13283 750000 2446 116516 405399 36574 58220 383 1389516 2363 4492
Other wars (includes Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Somalia and Haiti) Total death in war of terror
362 7217
Total Deaths in War
1396733
Deaths of Americans due to Guns 1968-2015 Years Firearm-related deaths 1968 to 1980 377000 1981 to 1998 620525 1999 to 2013 464033 2014(estimated based on rate from 20112013) 33183 2015 22122 Total 1516863 The data for Gun deaths incl. suicides is available from 1968 onwards
Total number of American Deaths more by guns = 1516863 – 1396733= 120130
120130 more American have died due to Guns since 1968 than by war..If we extrapolate data before 1968 then number might be in multiples of 10x or more. 7217 Americans died in War on Terror which includes WTC attack, a USD 2 trillion war which has killed or displaced more than 10,00,000 people in Asia. In 2013 according to CDC data, 63 percent of gun-related deaths were from suicides, 33 percent were from homicides, and roughly 1 percent each was from accidents, legal interventions and undetermined causes.
Source: http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2015/aug/27/nicholas-kristof/more-americans-killed-guns-1968-all-wars-says-colu/ Injury is the leading cause of death for persons aged 1-44 years in the United States. More than half (55%) of all injury-related deaths are caused by motor vehicles and firearms http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00023655.htm Source: Wikipedia for the graph below
Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Deaths by Terrorism 2689 25 35 74 56 28 19 33 9 15 17
Gun homicide deaths 11348 11829 11920 11624 12352 12791 12632 12179 11493 11078 11101
Total 14037 11854 11955 11698 12408 12819 12651 12212 11502 11093 11118
Gun lobby uses the second amendment to justify unregulated gun access in America. The 2nd Amendment states; “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Much has been written about it. The amendment was passed in bill of rights around 1791. At that point of time there was no police or state cover and with colonies far apart, civilians were prone to rogues creating havoc and turmoil in the system. Civilization was just taking its modern roots in America and therefore may then a right to arms was necessary. However today we have a well regulated police department for which Americans pay billions of dollars in taxes, the right to self defence is not applicable as there is no well regulated militia. It’s been more than 200 years since the amendment was passed and a lot has changed since then. A path of extremes only brings misery and it is advisable to follow the middle path. The fig. clearly shows that Guns cause more deaths between ages 15-24 which shows that during these years people are very impressionable and more prone to arguments. Therefore in fights which could settle by physical means are usually closed by guns Over 8,00,000 people die due to suicides every year..one death every 40 seconds. People argue that suicides will anyway happen regardless of guns. But look at Australia which implement very strict gun laws and brought down suicides drastically. “Tightened legislation in Australia after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre banned semi-automatic rifles and pump-action shotguns. Owners of firearms must provide a reason to obtain these. The country has had no mass shooting since the legislation went into effect. Most important, suicides by guns, which cause 60 percent of adult firearm deaths, declined in Australia after the legislation.” Refer The Big Melt by Philip Alpers on the transformation in Australia.
“Pesticides, hanging and fireman’s are the most common methods used for suicide used globally..WHO”
CANADA also in North America is a paragon of peace and harmony since it has tough gun control laws. “Canada requires third-party character references for gun ownership, and officials conduct interviews with an applicant’s spouse, partner, or next of kin before issuing a license. That’s
before the person is required to pass a firearm safety and law class and take a practical training course. Gun-owners are required to reapply and re-quality for their licenses every five years.� Source: https://nelsnewday.wordpress.com/2014/07/16/archie-andrews-one-of-2014-gunstatistics/infographics_2014 I will leave the rest to President Obama and Americans. The writing is there on the wall, nothing more has to be said or written and hope sense prevails.
Will President Obama cement his legacy in footsteps of great dude like Abraham Lincoln? Americans have to take into account that they are trend setter and therefore should also own accountability and responsibility for their actions. It’s time America innovated in the right spirit and direction. I had intended to write a big case on this but I guess so much has been written that it is pointless. Rest my case and hope everything turns out well for America and the world. http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/mass-shootings-investigationhttp http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/02/assault-weapons-high-capacity-magazines-mass-shootings-feinstein
Live in Peace & Harmony Metta & Loving Kindness The Quintessential Dude