Everytown’s new report is more of the same from the gun ban lobby. (Photo: Everytown for Gun Safety Facebook)
Everytown for Gun Safety’s most recent report paints a stark picture of the “gun violence epidemic” in America. But like the gun-ban industry’s previous attempts at fearmongering, it includes every statistic but those that contradict its cause.
Breathlessly titled “A Nation of Survivors: The Toll of Gun Violence in America,” Everytown’s report argues that gun-related violence is a uniquely American problem.
“America is undeniably a nation of gun violence survivors,” it says. “America’s gun death rate is tragic and unique – 10 times higher than other high-income countries.”
As evidence, the report cites a study co-authored by well-known anti-gun researcher David Hemenway, who once said he was “worried” about President Trump’s support of gun rights and lauded California’s gun control policies.
Based on research from this totally unbiased and objective scholar, Everytown’s report obfuscates the data from the very first line. America’s “gun death rate” is not 10 times higher than all other developed countries. It’s ten times higher than some countries, but nowhere near as high compared to others. In fact, the gun-related suicide/homicide rate is less than ten times higher than the fourteen countries with the highest rates in these categories.
Source: Grinshteyn E, Hemenway D. Violent death rates: The U.S. compared with other high-income OECD countries, 2010. The American Journal of Medicine. 2016; 129(3): 266-273.
The only way the report can make its claim is by aggregating all other high-income countries, including tiny and relatively homogenous nations like South Korea, Japan, and the Netherlands. The report doesn’t make this distinction, however, before moving on to its next exaggeration.
By far the greatest percentage of gun-related deaths in the United States are suicides (about 66%), a fact the report covers in detail. But the authors fail to mention that the overall suicide rate in the U.S. is exceptionally lower than countries like Japan and South Korea and below average compared to all other high-income countries.
Ironically, this information is included in the Hemenway report that Everytown cites, but they neglect to explain how this fact might affect their anti-gun policy proposals.
SEE ALSO: Everytown Claims Victory in 2018 Over NRA ‘Cockroaches’
But wait! There’s more.
It has become commonplace in the gun-ban lobby to lump “children and teens” into the same category and hope folks don’t think about the implications of that decision. Everytown tries the same stunt here, claiming that guns are the second leading cause of death among children and teens behind motor vehicle accidents.
As we’ve reported, however, including 18 and 19-year-olds in these statistics nearly doubles the mortality rate. This makes sense, considering that gangs account for nearly half of all violent crime in America and about 40 percent of gang members are juveniles.
The death of a 19-year-old gang member is categorically different than a 13-year-old who is accidentally shot and killed, but, once again, Everytown fails to make this crucial distinction in their efforts to inflate their statistics. Their language focuses on the victims of gun-related violence when in reality many of the teens included in their data are likely the perpetrators of that violence.
SEE ALSO: Everytown: ‘Concealed Carry Reciprocity’ Forces States to Let Domestic Abusers Carry Guns
Strangely absent from Everytown’s report are data related to mass public shootings. That might be because, as recent research has discovered, these incidents are more frequent outside the United States and increasing much more quickly. It’s also true that good guys with guns stop active shooters at a much higher clip then has been reported in the media, and that guns are used for defensive purposes millions of times every year.
Everytown fails to mention these contradictory statistics, of course. Instead, the report’s authors recommend the same tired policies that have not been proven to reduce crime, including universal background checks, red flag laws, and gun confiscation. They even resurrect the frequently-debunked claim that the gun industry is “largely shielded from accountability.”
Everytown’s report is, in short, business as usual for the anti-gun lobby.
Over the past five years we have seen growing violence from the left, it is the left that has constantly attacked the right both physically and through the media doing their best to silence any conservative thought. The so-called oppressed are the big oppressors publicly shaming and canceling any opposing thought. With the help of big media, leftist news and so called civil rights activists the the right of free speech of the conservative is being crushed.
The lying main stream media does not report news! They write opinion pieces for the masses to believe in their agenda. It’s up to you to debunk those lies! Sadly most don’t posses the brain power to cook minute rice so, “they believe”!
Not mentioned is the biased media. They strive on sensational reporting, not the clear facts. Violence makes good press and airtime. Keep it honest and stick to the facts not an opinion
I am the recipient of a “Combat Action Medal” with two GOLD STARS which I EARNED, the hard way. I have observed first hand that it is NOT the GUN but the operator of the weapon that is charge of the situation. Civil legislation only concentrates on the Good operators and guns. It is much more difficult to address and manage the criminal element and guns or any weapon they choose. NO matter what law is on the books, it will NOT affect the criminal element hence, law makers just seem not to address this area with any meaningful effect. I have yet to understand people vs the NRA. The NRA promotes SAFE/LEGAL gun ownership and use. WTF, someone ‘splain this to me. Here is a thinker for legislators, driver-less vehicles, remote operated guns (1000+ rounds per minute), remote two way visual monitoring, and when it runs out of ammo, BOOOOOOM it detonates. What legal gun owner is going to be associated with that?????
It’s not gun violence, it’s people violence.
***
I’m a really big fan of gun control. If you can’t control your guns properly when shooting them–MORE RANGE TIME! can help improve your scores a bunch! As can a good scope, a red dot, or a laser.
***
None of that modern “spray and pray” stuff in my 1964 Army Basic Training. Just the old Army / Marine Corps ONE SHOT!–ONE KILL!! plan. With the ever popular double tap added if really necessary.
***
John Bibb
***
Like “Dirty Harry/ Clint Eastwood) said, “I’m all for gun control, as long as I’m the one controlling the gun”
This is news to us? It’s never going to change. You’re preaching to the choir.
Folks need to look at how many people die each year from medical mistakes, and how many people die each year from drug overdoses.
The people that write these artlicles are not about saving lives. They don’t like guns, so they don’t want you to have a gun.
It’s always the Governments that lie and send out propaganda to the people. To get the outcome of their agenda accomplished. When sheep don’t know any better, they follow willingly ?
Another “fact” not covered in this article is that virtually every mass shooting is a false flag orchestrated by the criminal element infesting our deep-state political leaders — 9/11… Sandy Hook… Boston Marathon… Las Vegas… Columbine… and then there’s the HRC series of over 100 “coincidental” deaths. Would more expensive ammo have prevented any of the resultant deaths?
It easy to feed the anti-gun crowd lies because they are already conditioned to receive it. True facts have a way of angering this closed-minded mob. Opposing views are censored and honest debate has no place among this leftist sector of society. Freespeech is no longer the cornerstone of defending anothers right to express arguments contrary to ones beliefs. Honest gun owners pose no theat to society however to this leftist group, only the law abiding can be controlled and they make no distinction between criminals and those who follow the laws when it comes to firearms.
Not to be an ass, but why are you telling us? We already know! Take this info to the public!!!
These studies are always debunked after they have done their damage, but by then its too late. the public has an attention span of a gnat.
And sadly, when a factual report is produced, most of the MSM either fail to report about it or bury the most important facts near the bottom of the obfuscating article!
My gun for self defense but my guns not for criminal use for robbery or kill good people !