General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I am 100% certain Nancy Lanza considered herself a RESPONSIBLE gun owner. [View all]HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)There's something like 180 million guns in private hands, owned by about 100 million people (about 1/3 the population). About 42% of population live in a household with a gun owner. So there's less than one gun per adult, although you aren't terribly far off.
There are a bit over 30,000 gun deaths per year, which is a statistically small fraction of the number of guns, or gun owners. More than half of gun deaths are suicides. There are quite a few accidental deaths. Justifiable homicides (usually by LEO, but occasionally private gun-owner) are fairly low numbers. Mass shootings, while horrifying, are also low in numbers. Most gun deaths by homicide are in the commission of other crimes. Most shooters have prior felony records (thus they own gun illegally, and would continue to in any gun ban or restriction), and so do most victims. Most victims know their killer. Most deaths are by handgun, rifles (of any type) much less frequent. Deaths by shotgun and automatic weapons almost non-existant. The number of gun deaths is in decline, even with the AWB expiring. I guess thats largely due to longer jail sentences to repeat offenders.
The NRA uses fear tactics to market guns...you need a gun to protect yourself. Non-owners pick up on this fear-mongering, as you apparently have. Sit down a moment and relax. If you aren't a felon, or hang out with felons, there's a low probability of being a victim of gunshot. And unless your neighborhood is filled with felons, whatever guns your neighbors own aren't a threat to you. You might as well worry about lightning, or gater attack, or slip and fall in bathtub as worry about being shot.