"Declining" Gun Violence [View all]

Second amendment absolutists and right-wing gun lobby enablers continuously claim that the gun violence rate has been declining for several years, and is at "acceptable" levels.

It is true that gun homicide rates have been declining, but overall gun violence has remained about the same and has actually been rising over recent years. In any case, what the gun nut crowd calls "acceptable" is anything but.

A few numbers:

Total number of people shot every year: 111,779

Total number of deaths from gun violence every year: 32,964

Total number of non-fatal gun injuries every year: 78,815

Extremist right-wing gunners imply that rising gun ownership rates account for the reduction in homicides. This is right up there with Louis Gohmert's big lie that concealed carry reduces crime where it is introduced. No, the reduction in fatal gun shot incidents is due to many more logical factors, among them are improved police presence and tactics, an overall reduction in violent crimes nationwide, and a better economy.

The slight-of-hand by the gun lobby is in claiming that gun violence is declining by using the reduction in homicide rates as concrete evidence. This is actually comparing apples to oranges, but then the NRA/ILA/ALEC right-wing gun lobby and their supporters are very good at misdirection and outright lies.

Yes, easy access to guns kills people, because that is what guns are designed to do and they are very, very good at it. No training or instructions required -- just pull the trigger and all of your problems are solved in the NRA's world.