Republicans and the Gun Crowd Say We Don’t Have a Problem

Union and Confederate soldiers engaged in combat
during the attack of the Massachusetts 54th Infantry Regiment
on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, July 18, 1863,
by Currier & Ives. (Library of Congress)

“There have been 1,516,863 gun-related deaths since 1968, compared to 1,396,733 cumulative war deaths since the American Revolution. That’s 120,130 more gun deaths than war deaths -- about 9 percent more, or nearly four typical years’ worth of gun deaths. And that’s using the most generous scholarly estimate of Civil War deaths, the biggest component of American war deaths.

“These figures refer to all gunfire-related deaths, not just homicides. In fact, homicides represent a minority of gun deaths, with suicides comprising the biggest share. 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 were from accidents, legal interventions and undetermined causes.”

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson tweeted on November 9:

“3,400: Americans who died by Terrorism since 2001. 3,400: Americans who died by household Firearms since five weeks ago.

“400,000: Americans who died fighting in World War II. 400,000: Americans who died by household Firearms since 2001

“1.4 Million [1,396,733 actual]: Americans who died in all Wars fought since 1776. 1.4 Million: Americans who died via household Guns since 1968”

The National Rifle Association and others have a “well-run propaganda system” working hard to prevent effective gun legislation. The fear of gun violence is a profit maker for the makers and sellers of guns.

Don’t be fooled by the propaganda, the United States does have a significant gun problem. (a significant problem with capitalism as well)

Copyright © Horatio Green 2015
Source:

Nicholas Kristof, More Americans killed by guns since 1968 than in all U.S. wars, Politifact.Com