EFTA01114094.pdf

POLITICS One Nation Under The Gun: Thousands Of Gun Deaths Since Newtown • • t. • . vbet•htto • March 23,20B In the fast day since Newtown 37 children died as a result of gun violence. In the first week after the Newtown, Conn., massacre on Dec. 14, more than 100 people in the U.S. were killed by guns. In the first seven weeks, that number had risen to at least 1,285 gunshot killings and accidental deaths. A little more than three months after Newtown, there have been 2,243. The Huffington Post has recorded every gun-involved murder and accidental shooting death reported in U.S. news media since Newtown, revealing an epidemic that shows no signs of abating. The horrors cannot be contained behind yellow police tape or find resolution in a courtroom. For the victim's families, the grief deforms all it touches. There's the fear that the radio will play her favorite ballad. An airplane overhead, like the kind he flew, will strike panic. Home is not safe. One month, two months, two years, nine years since those fatal shots -- the grief never leaves. Much like when President Reagan and James Brady were shot 32 years ago, in the aftermath of Newtown there was much talk about enacting laws that might reduce this type of gun violence. People initial talked about banning assault weapons, extended ammunition magazine clips and enacting universal back ground check, to make it more difficult for felons, mental disturbed Page I 1 of 2 EFTA01114094 people and others in domestic violence situations. As of yesterday, more than 2443 young people died as a result of gun violence since the Newtown massacre 98 days ago. As Congress and legislatures across the country debate new gun legislation, pro-gun advocates respond by arguing that more restrictions do nothing to keep guns out of the wrong hands or to reduce gun violence. True, no law will stop all gun- related violence. However, research published online in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine shows that states with the most gun control laws generally had the lowest rates of death by firearms. The study compared gun laws in the 50 states against the number of suicides and homicides committed with firearms between 2007 through 2010. The researchers noted there were 73,702 suicides with firearms between 2007 and 2010, and 47,382 homicides. The overall firearm fatality rate was 9.9 for every 100,000 people per year. Louisiana, a state with few gun restrictions, had the highest firearm fatality rate, 17.9 per 100,000 population. Hawaii, a state with strict gun laws, had the lowest rate, 2.9 firearm deaths per 100,000 people. California, judged to have the second most restrictive firearm laws after Massachusetts during the study period, had eight firearm deaths — four suicides and four homicides — for every 100,000 population. Nevada, a state with few restrictions, had almost 15 firearm-related deaths for every 100,000 residents, including the fourth highest rate of suicide of any state. Arizona, another state with few restrictions, had 13.6 firearm deaths for every 100,000 people. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that the full Senate will soon begin considering a package of gun-related bills, including a proposal to expand background checks. (Under current law, gun sales that don't involve licensed dealers are exempt from checks.) This signaled that stronger gun control measures such as a ban on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, expanding the background check requirement, and stricter gun trafficking laws. Obviously watered-down gun control legislation is going to little if anything to reduce gun-violence death. We know from experience that when you don't allow passengers to bring weapons on airplanes, it reduces if not eliminates aircraft high-jacking. So if we were serious about reducing death by gun violence we have to enact serious gun control laws. And with more than 2500 deaths due to gun violence in less than 100 days since the Newtown massacre, there should be a moral outrage by each and every American and our politicians in both major political parties should be ashamed. Page I 2 of 2 EFTA01114095