We live in a very heated climate right now when it comes to gun ownership and gun control. There are plenty of people who fall on either extreme end of the political spectrum where this issue is concerned, and many more who are somewhere in between. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but there are plenty of myths and misconceptions regarding guns and gun control that tend to come from people who don’t know much about weapons in the first place, and who have maybe never even used a gun in their lives.
With this in mind, here’s a look at some of the most common gun control myths you’re likely to encounter, from the experts at our gun shop in Olathe, KS.
Myth: Gun availability causes more crime
The availability of guns and the number of firearms owned by private citizens have both been increasing steadily since 1970. However, in that time the rate of homicides and suicides has not seen significant changes. This indicates little correlation between the availability or ownership of firearms and the rates of homicide and suicide as a whole in the United States.
Myth: Accidental gun deaths are a widespread problem in America
While accidental deaths do occur as a result of firearm misuse or lack of firearm safety, the number of these deaths is negligible. In fact, you are significantly more likely to drown, burn to death, be poisoned, fall to your death or get into a fatal automobile accident than to be accidentally killed by a firearm.
Myth: The portion of the population that owns guns is a small minority
The truth is that recent estimates indicate there are more than 65 million gun owners in the United States, more than half of whom own handguns. This estimate is typically considered low, because many people are reluctant to admit to pollsters that they own guns. Some estimates indicate there are anywhere between 41 and 49 percent of American households in which there resides a gun owner.
Myth: More than 30,000 people are killed with guns each year
While this 30,000 number is accurate, the way in which it is used is often misleading. Studies indicate more than 61 percent of these deaths are suicides. The number also includes justifiable (self-defense) homicides and accidents.
There have been plenty of studies performed that show the presence or absence of a firearm does not change the overall suicide rate.
Myth: Ownership of a weapon is ineffective at preventing crime
Some studies indicate people use guns to defend themselves against criminals 2.5 million times per year in the United States, which amounts to more than 6,500 people a day, or one person every 13 seconds. Of these people, 15.7 percent say the defensive use of firearms “almost definitely” saved their lives.
For more information about gun crime and gun control statistics and myths, we encourage you to contact the team at our gun shop in Olathe, KS and we’ll be happy to clear up any other misconceptions you’ve heard.