How bad is gun crime in the US? The latest data from the FBI's uniform crime reports is out and it provides a fascinating picture of the use of firearms in crimes across America.
At the beginning of the year the shooting spree in Tucson, Arizona, that targeted congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords left six dead, including a nine-year-old child. But since then, the issue has been given scant attention.
However, the figures themselves are astounding for Brits used to around 600 murders per year. In 2010 - the latest year for which detailed statistics are available - there were 12,996 murders in the US. Of those, 8,775 were caused by firearms.
The FBI crime statistics are based on reports to FBI bureau and local law enforcement. The figures are not complete - there are no stats for Florida on firearm murders and the data for Illinois is "incomplete". But even so it provides a detailed picture of attacks by state.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Gun Crime in the US
via The Guardian complete with interactive maps
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I admire your tenacity in writing about guns availability in USA and the resulting misuse of them. The only (small) minus I have is: can you talk about something else now and then? I mean... there are lots of other things that are not only wrong but downright completely fucked up, both in USA and elsewhere.
ReplyDeletePlease don't take this as a criticism, or rather take it as a constructive ciriticism; you see, as it is now, you are only preaching to the converted, so to speak, because ppl in favor of guns might accidentally stumble on your blog, but only to never come back again.
it might pay off to be more sneaky, so to speak, i.e. for instance, have a wide range of topics and regularly "sneak in" anecdotes related to the problems associated with guns availability.
Just a thought.
WhyNot, you don't come around here all that much, do you. A good three quarters at a minimum of the readers who comment here are in favor of gun rights. There's the occasional gun banner who drifts in from time to time, but for the most part, Mikeb is standing on the street corner, preaching to the world.
DeleteMikeb, why do you keep posting variations on the same piece of information? We've already shown you that these numbers aren't as radically different as you imply. We've shown you that gun laws and rates of murder don't match up the way you claim.
When the facts aren't on your side, bring on Sally Struthers and a starving child.
WhyNot, You mean like earlier today when I tried to suck in the Janis Joplin fans who like guns?
DeleteI wonder what percentage of gun lovers also appreciate Joplin and opera. I suspect that I'm a rara avis.
DeleteWhyNot, MikeB has made gun control his identity. It's the one thing that he has found that will get him the attention that he craves. Without it, do you think anyone would bother to visit this blog? So if you plan on sticking around, get used to the tired old unsubstantiated theories, the manipulated statistics, the blood dancing, and the ad hominem attacks. It's all he's got.
Delete