Ignoring reality: guns in America

Those liberals always seem to be spreading confusion and misinformation about guns. Wayne LaPierre isn’t the only one getting tired of it. All this business about changing laws is ridiculous when criminals have no intention of obeying the law. And what criminal is going to use a weapon obtained through legal methods? Everyone knows that guns don’t kill people. It’s always some criminal or emotionally disturbed character or a just plain nutcase. Liberals should look at the facts:

According to ATF reports, in 2010 there were 5,459,240 new firearms manufactured in the United States, nearly all (95 percent) for the U.S. market. An additional 3,252,404 firearms were imported to the United States.

In 2010, GUNS took the lives of 31,076 Americans in homicides, suicides and unintentional shootings. This is the equivalent of more than 85 deaths each day and more than three deaths each hour. Oh my, Wayne. Of course, guns don’t kill — just three deaths each hour in the United States by some unknown means or another.

73,505 Americans were treated in hospital emergency departments for non-fatal gunshot wounds in 2010.

Firearms were the third-leading cause of injury-related deaths nationwide in 2010, following poisoning and motor vehicle accidents.

Between 1955 and 1975, the Vietnam War killed more than 58,000 American soldiers — less than the number of civilians killed with guns in the U.S. in an average two-year period.

In the first seven years of the U.S.-Iraq War, more than 4,400 American soldiers were killed. Almost as many civilians are killed with guns in the U.S., however, every seven weeks.

Number of gun deaths since Sept.11 = 160,000.

Number of U.S. citizens killed by Islamic terrorists since Sept. 11 = 17.

Wayne! You’ve got to quit spreading personal opinions about the Second Amendment. We know you want to remain a honcho making profit for yourself and gun manufacturers as three deaths occur each hour in the U.S. — for some unknown reason or another. CV

Dr. John M. Hicks is resident of Des Moines and a professor emeritus at Drake University.