Firearm Related Deaths
Several days ago @fernowl13 posted Cell phone deaths on the rise, will they surpass gun deaths? comparing the rate of cell phone related deaths to the rate of firearm related deaths. In this article she used data from Gun Violence Archive (GVA). In this post I wanted to back up the number she used with data from the CDC.
The CDC has two different programs for obtaining data from their database. One is called CDC Wonder and the other is WISQARS. I found WISQARS much easier to use.
Here's the data from WISQARS on deaths related to firearms in 2016:
| Description | Number of Deaths | Rate per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 38658 | 11.96 |
Exactly the same number @fernowl13 had found. This is the number that is normally used in reporting gun violence and technically it's true, but @fernowl13 is correct when she says it is misleading. Breaking this down with data from WISQARS you get:
| Description | Number of Deaths | Rate per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| Suicide Firearm | 22938 | 7.10 |
| Homicide Firearm | 14415 | 4.46 |
| Legal Intervention Firearm | 510 | 0.16 |
| Unintentional Firearm | 495 | 0.15 |
| Undetermined Intent Firearm | 300 | 0.09 |
Now look at this data in a pie chart:
Clearly over half the deaths associated with firearms are suicides according to the CDC. In an earlier post Gun Control Measures I talked about the proposed solutions to gun control being ineffective, that criminals that want a gun will find a way to get that gun. Similarly, people that want to commit suicide will commit suicide, whether it's with a gun or some other method.
If we truly want to reduce the number of deaths associated with guns, the answer lies in attacking the largest portion of the pie, suicide. If we work on addressing the mental health issues associated with suicide and some violent behavior, these numbers could be used as a measure of success or failure.
By the way @fernowl13, I don't believe cell phones or guns should be taken away, just used in a more responsible manner. If you're driving a vehicle and using your cell phone, you are not being responsible.
Seems like common underlying trends of these situations stem from unhappiness, sadness, desperation.
I stick with the basics. It all starts at home. Family isn't emphasized nearly enough, lack of personal responsibility for yourself and selfishness are too prevalent.
Everyone wants to do something to help but it is a massive issue. It will require efforts on all levels from individuals to, yes, 'The Government' to make progress.
Thanks for keeping this in the spotlight. It is a cause for all to be aware of and concerned with. As you know, I have grandchildren and the suicide word is thrown around in their world much too often.
You made the point that it all starts at home, and it does. I don't know how many times I have been in a restaurant and I look over at a family of 4 and they are all playing on their phones. These parents need to put their phones down at dinner and talk to their kids. The parents need to let the kids know that they care about what is going on in their lives.
There are commercials recently about having dinner with no electronic devices, this is great. We have to get back to the point that we actually talk to each other.
By the way, you got my first $0.04 upvote. It's great having these little conversations with you.
Yes. Guess 'we' are what Steemit is sll about. I am enjoying our conversations and there are monetary benefits. Gee, what a novel idea.
I mentioned this before and not sure in the Steemit world if this is good but seem to get paid just as much on comments and replies as posts.
Figured out I am a chatty little thing...700 posts since January!
Of course the anti gun activists will only push the misleading facts to whip up sentiments by those easily misled. Thanks for digging this up.
And far too many are easily mislead.
Gun control has never been backed by data. It's pushed by momentum and the hope that news media can create a perception that isn't representative of reality.
So far the news media is doing a pretty good job of misrepresenting reality.
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