statistics
Firearm Mortality by State, 2020. CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/firearm_mortality/firearm.htm
Total :
Number of Firearm Deaths (US, 2020) : 45,222
- 54% from suicide
- 43% from homicide
There has been a gradual trend of increasing rates of gun death.
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Unintentional Gun Fatalities:
Around 500 people die annually from unintentional gun incidents.
- 28.3% of cases is from playing with the gun
- 17.2% from believing the gun was not loaded and still using it
- 13.8% hunting injuries
These accidents are most often caused by improper storage of a gun, which allows for children or unauthorized individuals to access, not knowing how to tell if a gun is loaded, or negligence of proper safety techniques.
Recent Accidents
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On October 21st, 2021, on the set of Rust, one person was killed and another injured due to a gun 'discharging'. Alec Baldwin, the person who had the gun at the time, was told the firearm was unloaded. However, it evidently was loaded with a live bullet, and the gun misfired.
One of the basic safety rules is always treating a gun as if it were loaded, no matter what. Had the rule been followed, this accident could have been prevented.
Accidents at Home
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Since the pandemic and quarantine started, accidents involving children handling guns jumped by 31%. Millions of children live in households with guns. Children often cannot tell the difference between a real gun and a fake one, or are intrigued by what a gun is. Unintentional deaths from the child shooting a family member, a friend, or themselves happen almost daily. Knowing how to store a gun properly so that unauthorized individuals cannot access them is crucial.
