I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to check out the new and improved, revamped NRA-ILA website but there are some great articles and editorials on there.
One recent example is an article titled, “Just Making Stuff Up, at Americans for Responsible Solutions.” Basically, in the piece, the NRA-ILA intelligently refutes claims made by Americans for Responsible Solutions, the pro-gun control organization founded by former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and, her husband, former Astronaut Mark Kelly.
From the article:
The gun control supporters at Americans for Responsible Solutions ought to rename their group Anti-Gunners for Irresponsible Statistics after the bogus claim they made this week about the number of firearm and car accident deaths among young people each year. The group claimed that there are more than 30,000 firearm-related deaths, plus more than 30,000 car accident deaths among young people each year.
The NRA-ILA then points out how Giffords’ group mangled the numbers to give one a false sense of the dangers firearms pose to young people.
According to the actual U.S. Department of Health and Human Services numbers, in the most recent year for which data was available, 2013, there were 3,487 motor vehicle traffic accident deaths and 124 firearm accident deaths among persons ages 0-19. As the NRA-ILA went on to say, “That means motor vehicle accidents account for 28 times as many deaths as firearm accidents among people of that age group.”
An infograhpic from Americans for Responsible Solutions.
There’s also another trick Americans for Responsible Solutions is playing, and that’s with respect to the total number of firearm-related deaths compared to the total number of motor vehicle accident deaths. The NRA-ILA was quick to expose that sleight of hand as well:
Of course, when gun control supporters compare cars to guns, they try to make guns look as bad as possible, by comparing the number of motor vehicle accident deaths to the grand total number of deaths due to a combination of firearm accidents, suicides, murders, self-defense homicides by private citizens, and homicides by law enforcement officers.
The numbers again show that “compared to the 3,487 motor vehicle accident deaths mentioned previously, there were 2,465 deaths involving firearms.”
The NRA-ILA went on to conclude that, “Trends in motor vehicle accidents among young people, which are often the result of alcohol, excessive speed and/or failure to drive defensively, have nothing to do with trends in firearm-related deaths, 95 percent of which are suicides, crime or defense against crime.”
The NRA’s infographic showcasing the true numbers.
The NRA-ILA is correct. But if I were to put a finer point on the discussion, I’d add that approximately two thirds of total gun deaths (33,000) are suicides, which means that about 11,000 are homicides and/or justifiable homicides. I don’t want to diminish the importance of suicide prevention but I think the real concern is what percent of that 11,000 are drug and/or gang-related? I ask that because I think drug and gang-related violence is a huge driving force for murder in America.
Throughout the rest of the world, especially Europe, we’re viewed as a violent society but the reality is that only certain pockets of this country are actually dangerous. By and large, America is a very safe place to live. Not only is crime low in most areas, but one also has the option to carry a firearm for self-defense which gives one agency in a life-threatening situation; meaning in America, one is not forced to be a victim. I digress. My point is, were we to solve the drug and gang dilemma, we’d pretty much eliminate our murder problem. I mean, we’d still have murders in this country because bad people will do bad things because they’re evil, but our gun-related homicide rate wouldn’t be so disproportionately high compared to the rest of the civilized world.
True – if we “solve the drug and gang dilemma”, our gun stats wouldn’t be so disproportionately high compared to the rest of the world. But if the rest of the world allowed citizens to have guns, their knife and bludgeoning murder rates wouldn’t be so disproportionately higher than ours!
Is this the area where I’m supposed to act surprised that a political group lied? 😐
Thanks for writing this article. I wouldn’t have seen this information otherwise. I just wish there was a more widely known media organization that could spread that message. Sadly, anyone listening here already knows that the anti-gun advocacy groups lie to further their agenda.
Your stats on number of deaths are correct and have been consistent for over 20 years, while gun ownership has quadrupled.
Of the remaining 11,000 you should also deduct the number of domestic violence deaths, (wifes and children) as another mental heath issue.
BTW, the highest murder cities are all in Blue States and if you tale out Chicago, New York, DC, New Orleans, and Detroit alone; you could reduce your final number by over 2,000.
Maybe with their logic, because somebody hit my car with theirs that all cars are bad and should be banned. Or, only governments should have cars not the citizens, their to scary and unpredictable.
Great article. These kind of articles to help we less articulate people refute the totally slanted and biased half-truths and lies the anti-gun people put out to support their goals helps us rejoin their arguments. Thanks.
And I absolutely agree with the drug related and gang murders. I live in the DC area, where there are lots of murders and I notice there is no follow up news reporting or reports from the DC Chief of Police, Kathy Lanier (sp) on why they believe some of these killings were made. Typical: ‘Young man (boy) shot dead while walking home from school. Good kid who gets good grades and there is no apparent reason for his death.’ My thought is gang related initiation. But what do I know. Nothing.
Now her and her husband both owned and were phographed with firearms and supported firearm ownership before some crazy SOB shot her in the head. Now guns are bad for everyone, So much for truth in advertising