FIREARM FACTS
Guns in the United States – Easy Access to Deadly Weapons
There are approximately 192 million privately owned firearms in the U.S. – 65 million of which are handguns.i
Currently, an estimated 39% of households have a gun, while 24% have a handgun.ii
In 1998 alone, licensed firearms dealers sold an estimated 4.4 million guns, 1.7 million of which were handguns.iii Additionally, it is estimated that 1 to 3 million guns change hands in the secondary market each year, and many of these sales are not regulated.iv
Gun Deaths and Injury – The United States Leads the World in Firearm Violence
In 1998, 30,708 people in the United States died from firearm-related deaths – 12,102 (39%) of those were murdered; 17,424 (57%) were suicides; 866 (3%) were accidents; and in 316 (1%) the intent was unknown.v In comparison, 33,651 Americans were killed in the Korean War and 58,193 Americans were killed in the Vietnam War.vi
For every firearm fatality in the United States, there are two non-fatal firearm injuries.vii
In 1996, handguns were used to murder 2 people in New Zealand, 15 in Japan, 30 in Great Britain, 106 in Canada and 9,390 in the United States.viii
In 1999, there were only 154 justifiable homicides by private citizens in the United States.ix
Gun Violence — Young Lives Cut Short
In 1998, more than 10 children and teenagers, ages 19 and under, were killed with guns everyday.x
In 1998, gunshot wounds were the second leading cause of injury death for men and women 10-24 years of age – second only to motor vehicle crashes.xi
In 1998, firearm homicide was the leading cause of death for black males ages 15-34.xii
From 1993 through 1997, an average of 1,409 children and teenagers took their own lives with guns each year.xiii
Each year during 1993 through 1997, an average of 1,621 murderers who had not reached their 18th birthdays took someone's life with a gun.xiv
Guns in the Home – A Greater Risk to Family and Friends
For every time a gun is used in a home in a legally-justifiable shooting [note that every self-defense is legally justifiable] there are 22 criminal, unintentional, and suicide-related shootings.xv
The presence of a gun in the home triples the risk of homicide in the home.xvi
The presence of a gun in the home increases the risk of suicide fivefold.xvii
The Economic Costs of Gun Violence — All Americans Pay a High Price
A study of all direct and indirect costs of gun violence including medical, lost wages, and security costs estimates that gun violence costs the nation $100 billion a year.xviii
The average total cost of one gun crime can be as high as $1.79 million, including medical treatment and the prosecution and imprisonment of the shooter.xix
At least 80 percent of the economic costs of treating firearm injuries are paid for by taxpayer dollars.xx,xxi
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