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How common are accidental firearms injuries?
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When it comes to guns, think first.
(Illustration courtesy of Wikipedia)
With tragic stories like the one below, it is tempting to believe that banning guns would make the world safer. But just as keeping the finger off the trigger and not pointing a gun at somebody would have saved this boy’s life, basing public policy on unsubstantiated, emotional reaction can create unintended consequences.
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) — Bartlesville police say a 17-year-old boy has been killed in what appears to be an accidental shooting…
A friend who was with the boy and called police said they were looking at a shotgun when it accidentally fired.
Between 1984 and 2006 (latest data available) the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recorded a 69.6% drop in the rate (per 100,000 population) of accidental firearms fatalities. During the same time period, the accidental non-firearms fatality rate increased 7.9%. Moreover, in 1984, accidental shootings accounted for 1.8% of all fatal accidents; by 2006, firearms comprised 0.5%, a 71.4% drop.
Most telling, between 1984 and 2006, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives estimates that a total of 112,235,449 firearms were sold to civilians: 50,051,152 handguns, 36,511,192 rifles, and 25,773,105 shotguns.
The CDC has only been tracking annual non-fatal injuries since 2001. Between 2001 and 2008, accidental firearms injuries declined 8.8%, while non-firearms injuries declined 5.2%. Accidental shootings dropped from 0.064% to 0.062% of all non-fatal injuries.
Between 2001 and 2007–latest data available–Americans bought an estimated 36,021,308 firearms: 14,592,831 handguns, 12,935,087 rifles, and 8,493,390 shotguns.* Considering that firearms purchasing background checks rose 13.7% in 2008 and about 6.3 million firearms were sold in 2007, it is safe to say that the civilian firearms inventory increased in 2008.
Meanwhile, fatal and non-fatal firearms accidents declined, in raw numbers, rate and in percent of all injuries.
More guns, fewer accidental shootings.
* Manufacturing and export data compiled from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States International Trade Commission, and National Shooting Sports Foundation.
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For in-depth analysis of the issues discussed here, read Howard’s book Four Hundred Years of Gun Control: Why Isn’t It Working?, which deconstructs the gun control agenda and motivates more people to support our civil right of self-defense. Autographed copies are available from the author.
Atlanta: Ed Stone | Austin: Howard Nemerov | Boston: Ron Bokleman | Charlotte: Paul Valone | Cheyenne: Anthony Bouchard | Chicago: Don Gwinn | Cleveland: Daniel White | DC: Mike Stollenwerk | Denver: Dan Bidstrup | Grand Rapids: Skip Coryel | Los Angeles: John Longenecker | Minneapolis: John Pierce | National: David Codrea | Phoenix: Douglas Little | Seattle: Dave Workman | St. Louis: Kurt Hofmann | Wisconsin: Gene German
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