Again, statistics don't necessarily paint a complete picture. If I were to tell you that the flu is estimated to kill 36,000 people a year in the US (CDC), would we be correct in assuming that the flu is more dangerous than a gun?
Vehicle accidents are the only non-disease/illness in the world's top 10 leading causes of death (WHO), and the leading cause of death in the world for people aged between 15-29 (WHO). It would also be pertinent to highlight that a vast majority of these deaths are accidents, whereas the majority of gun deaths are not. The fact that gun related deaths are even close to vehicle deaths, given how much time we spend in vehicles and the sheer amount of vehicles on the road, is alarming on its own.
The same sources where those above graphs come from also note that in 14 States gun related deaths outnumber vehicle deaths, and by 2015 it's projected that the overall number of gun deaths in the US will outnumber vehicle related deaths.
You are correct in that the statistics do not paint the whole picture. They do help to clarify some things. I was pointing out that the presentation of the media that gun deaths and gun sales were directly related, and that people are dying in record numbers is false.
There are many underlying issues that are not being addressed. Mental health, poor upbringings, lack of morals, a society that glorifies violence, and a general lack of respect and personal responsibility have created a societal paradigm that has put us where we are.
In my opinion the first step is to reinstate a level of responsibility for our own actions and respect for other people. If a person takes responsibility for their actions and thinks about how their actions will affect others, the world is a different place. If we, as a whole, could make that the norm... It's a whole new world.
On the topic of the police shootings. Master Samus. That is another tragedy. I have some very strong feelings on this topic, but will keep most of that quiet.
For what it is worth, I think there are people, both in the media and public figures, who are not helping this situation by continuing to stir the pot. There is some things going on that make me think that someone is using this for political gains, and a few who are using it for financial gains.
There is no reason in the world to murder a person. But to do it to someone because of their job... That makes even less sense.
I will leave that there.
Back to the wonderful world of statistics.
Cars kill more people than guns. It is just what it is. A car is a tool that gets me from point A to point B, or in some cases serves some other purpose. A gun is a tool just the same. Non of my guns have ever killed anyone. But they have ended violent situations without bloodshed, and have served to protect my family.
Case in point, and one of the reasons I will always be an advocate for gun ownership in the US, is this: I left for work one morning shortly after I got out of the military. On most mornings I had to cross the street to get to where I parked my car. On this particular morning as I was crossing the street I noticed some people in the street about a half block down. Watching the situation I realized that there were six guys stomping the crap out of someone in the middle of the street. It appeared to me that they were intent upon doing severe damage to the guy, and possibly could take it to the level of death.
I made the decision to approach and see if I could end the situation. When I was about 30-35 feet away (10 meters - ish) I shouted to get there attention and asked what was going on. Two guys continued to kick the guy on the ground and four turned towards me. Two of the four that began to approach me proceeded to pull out pocket knives.
I am not a tiny guy, but by no means am I some sort of giant, nor am I incapable of defending myself. In this situation though, I was severely out matched by the numbers and weaponry. I opted to draw my pistol and let them know that with no uncertainty I would defend myself. At this point they turned and ran.
As soon as they were going I called for police and medical and assisted the guy on the ground.
Looking at that scenario, without my gun I had two options.
Option one; call 911 and get the police in route. The average response time in my neighborhood at that time was just over 9 minutes. That is an eternity when you are getting stomped on the ground. I personally believe that this guy would not have been alive if I had waited for the police to arrive.
Option two; confront the attackers without a means to defend myself. Obviously hindsight is 20/20 and I have no doubts how that would have ended.
I would most likely not been willing to step in and do something without the ability and sense that I would be able to adequately defend myself. And I believe that in that scenario this guy would most likely be dead, or at least would have suffered injuries that would have stayed with him forever.
Again, I do not have the statistics in front of me, and it looks like I will be doing some statistic diving over the next couple of days, but for every crime committed with a gun, (not just homicides, but every crime) I think the number of crimes prevented is 2.5 in the US.
And as cliche as it may sound, the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun (and the ability to properly use it).
I am not saying that gun violence is not a problem, I am just of the belief that the gun is not where the problem lies. My guns have never done anything I have not made them do. It is a tool, and nothing more. It is the person who picks up that tool that can either use it for legal and intended purposes, or use it to do things that I would prefer not happen via any tool.
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