What You Need to Know About Gun-Related Deaths in America

Every time a mass shooting takes place in the U.S., like the recent and horrific massacre in Las Vegas, the knee-jerk reaction by certain politicians and the mainstream media is to blame firearms and push for more government controls.

I’m all in favor of banning “bump stocks” (which I had never heard of until recently) and all other military-type automatic weapons. That’s common sense.

But the rush to ban all guns and suggest that gun violence is a major source of “innocent deaths” in our nation is a gigantic lie and misses the big picture.

Here are some much needed facts about gun-related deaths in the United States.

Though gun estimates are hard to quantity, most accept the figure of 300 million guns circulating in America today. That’s a lot of firepower in the world’s third most populous nation (324 million people). This phenomenon stands out from other nations on earth.

But there are reasons.

First, the United States began after a spiritual awakening swept the colonies instilling biblical values in the populace. One value was the right of self defense which led to the Revolutionary War against British tyranny and taught the early colonists that unjust governments must be stopped by the “People.”

The best resistance came through noble character and local militias and gun-owners. This truth was later enshrined in the 2nd Amendment of the Bills of Rights: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

By way of principles and practice, early Americans learned that the greatest threat to liberty was government power–which is why all would-be dictators try to confiscate guns. Even Armed Forces as powerful as the USA are no match for a gun in every home. You can’t nuke the cities and drop ICBM’s on all the towns–or you have nothing left to lead.

Armed citizens are the greatest hedge against government tyranny. Thus, we find guns in every home in Early America.

The second reason for the proliferation of guns came through settling the “West”–from sea to shining sea. The United States didn’t conquer civilized lands and simply settle in their cities. Most of the continent swarmed with savage tribes, wild animals, and dangers aplenty. As America’s Manifest Destiny moved westward toward the Pacific Ocean, settlers, of necessity, carried guns and rifles to protect themselves and provide for their families.

Guns became as American as apple pie.

Now you know why we possess 300 million firearms. Americans believe in self-defense, loathe government tyranny, and like to shoot, hunt and protect ourselves. Those things stand unique to the USA. They constitute our biblical heritage and practical history.

Yet, guns can be a problem in the wrong hands–as all murders testify. But how big a problem?

I received some statistics recently from my friend, Dan Martin, about gun-related deaths in America. Dan is a wise man and a patriot. Here are the facts he shared, coupled with my own analysis.

May they inform your mind and politics.

There are roughly 30,000 gun related deaths per year in the U.S. and this number is not disputed. Our national population stands at 325,148, 271 as of October 16, 2017.

Do the math: 0.0000922% of the population dies from gun-related actions each year.

Statistically speaking, this is insignificant. But all lives are precious.

What is rarely discussed is a breakdown of those 30,000 gun-related deaths as compared to other innocent or preventable tragedies–which is our main concern. We want to stop innocent people from dying, right? We want to prevent murders. That’s the goal if we’re being honest with our rhetoric.

First, let’s analyze gun-related deaths in America (2015 stats).

• 65% of those deaths were by suicide which would never be prevented by gun laws.
• 15% were by law enforcement in the line of duty and justified.
• 17% came through criminal activity, gang and drug related or mentally ill persons.
• and 3% happened through accidental discharge deaths.

So, technically, “gun violence” is not 30,000 annually, but closer to 5,010. Still too many? Well, first, how are those deaths spread across the nation? This is revealing:

• 480 homicides (9.4%) took place in Chicago.
• 344 homicides (6.7%) in Baltimore.
• 333 homicides (6.5%) in Detroit.
• 119 homicides (2.3%) occurred in Washington D.C. (a 54% increase over prior years).

Basically, 25% of all gun crimes happen in just 4 cities. All 4 of those cities have strict gun laws through Democrat Party control of city government.

So, gun laws aren’t apparently the root cause.

This leaves 3,825 gun-related deaths for the rest of the country–or about 75 deaths per state. That is an average because some states have much higher rates than others. For example, California had 1,169 and Alabama had 1.

Who has the strictest gun laws by far? California. So gun laws aren’t the problem. It’s the crime rate spawned by the number of criminals residing in those populous cities and states. So, if all cities and states are not created equal, there must be something other than the weapon causing the gun deaths.

Now let’s give perspective. Remember: our goal is to prevent innocent deaths. What about other forms of death in the United States each year?

• 40,000+ die from drug overdoses–i.e. personal life choices.
• 36,000 people die per year from the flu–far exceeding the criminal gun deaths.
• 34,000 people expire in traffic fatalities (exceeding gun deaths even if you include suicides).
• 200,000+ people die each year from preventable medical errors. You are safer in Chicago than when you are in a hospital.
• 710,000 people die per year from heart disease (due to bad DNA and/or lifestyle choices).
• And 782,000 die innocently when their parents end their life via abortion (I’ve averaged Guttmacher and CDC figures).

These tragedies total 1,802,000 deaths.

What should we Americans really give our attention to in order to stop innocent and preventable deaths? That’s pretty easy to figure out.

1. Outlaw abortion and instantly remove 43% of the innocent deaths of Americans. There are no unwanted children in America.

2. Focus on hospital care/hygiene and encourage healthier diets–saving possibly another 20,000 people (10% improvement).

3. Become better drivers and take our flu shots–helping another 7.000 people (10%).

4. Build the southern wall to stop the main source of drugs pouring into the country. (4000 lives saved?)

Now you know what real compassion looks like. It focuses on the true sources of preventable deaths in the United States (or your own nation) and rejects the nonsense about guns being the big problem.

In light of the above facts of preventing innocent deaths, why do some politicians and their media cohorts regularly bang the big drum of stricter gun laws instead of out-lawing abortion, building a border wall, and improving our hospitals and roads.

Ignorance? Deception? Refusal to accept the truth?

It’s pretty simple: Taking away guns gives control to governments.

The founders of our nation knew that regardless of the form of government, those in power may become corrupt and seek to rule as the British did by trying to disarm the populace .A disarmed people is a controlled nation. Thus, the second amendment was proudly and boldly included in the U.S. Constitution.

It must be preserved at all costs.

That’s easy for me to say. I don’t own a gun. Never have. But I’d love to have that right as I look at growing evil in our world, the reality of the Deep State, a denial of free speech and and what a future elections might bring.

The next time someone tells you that gun control is about saving lives, give them them the facts and remember these words from Noah Webster:

“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by [force] because the whole body of the people are armed and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be raised in the United States. A military force at the command of Congress can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they [the people] possess the power.”

Remember, that when it comes to “gun control,” the important word is “control,” not “gun.”

Free people never give it up.