Connect with us

General

Are Gun Accidents “Rare”?

Are Gun Accidents “Rare”?

Decades ago, it seemed the only gun incidents that happened were either intentional with a specific purpose or target in mind or an “accident”, such as a misfired gun while cleaning it or while hunting with friends.  The stories seemed cut and dry.  The shooter was a gun owner, the story matched up, and the rest acted as a lesson to learn from.  Today’s gun incidents are complex, as they are driven by instability, anger, and carelessness.

There is a fine, and perhaps blurred, line between an intentional incident and a firearm accident.  As we, as everyday citizens, become more privy to the grisly details of a gun incident, intentional or accidental, it becomes more personal and we react.  Whether or not we fall in the “deserved what they got” category or are brought to tears by another gun incident, guns are prevalent in our society and don’t seem to be going away any day soon.  Gun incidents are not new and maybe the incidents have been this convoluted all along.

Are Gun Accidents “Rare”?

What “The Pro” and “The Against” Say, Will They Ever Come to an Agreement?

When it comes to actual firearm related statistics, gun advocates and gun protestors shouldn’t argue the validity of a number, but they do.  They question the sources and often in their own reporting, they may skew their findings.  Disagreements aside, gun incidents, fatal and non-fatal, in our country are all too real and happening daily; all too tragically and always preventable.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately over 30,000 deaths occur in the U.S. due to homicides, suicides, and unintentional shootings.  If that number isn’t startling enough, break it down like this.  More than 85 deaths occur each day, which equals to more than 3 deaths each hour and all because of a firearm.  In 2010, 606 people were killed due to an accidental shooting, and in a five year period, over 3,5000 people died from unintentional shootings.

While the majority of gun-related deaths are a result of malicious intent, there is no clear explanation for the percentage of preventable, accidental firearm incidents.  Gun naysayers urge the removal of guns from homes, especially with young children.  Gun supporters argue that a home, and the young children in it, cannot be protected without the ownership of a gun.  It can be fair to assume, however, that both sides of the gun debate would and do agree that if guns are present in a home, gun safety must be practiced.

Decrease the Accident, Observe Safety

Obviously the easiest way to prevent a gun accident in your own home is to not own a gun in the first place, but hunting enthusiasts and Second Amendment supporters more than likely own a couple of firearms.  Despite the urgent desire for safety, the truth is that a gun present in the home increases the risk of accidental gun incidents, as well as homicides and suicides.  Children, who live in homes with loaded and unlocked guns, are more likely to be injured or killed by that same gun.  According to the Children’s Defense Fund, 22% of children with gun-owning parents handled guns in their homes without their parents’ knowledge.  In a study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, one third of 8 to 12 year old boys, who came across a handgun, pulled the trigger (not knowing if the gun was loaded or unloaded).  Because children are curious and at highest risk of becoming both the victim and perpetrator of a firearm accident, parents and/or authorities must make gun safety discussion a priority.  Failure to have the potentially life-saving discussion could result in a tragic mistake.

If guns are present in the home, they must be locked up.  A gun stored in an unlocked safe protects no one.  According to the American Journal of Public Health, 43% of homes with guns and kids have at least one unlocked firearm.  Many parents feel like if they try to “outsmart” their child by simply hiding a gun, but they may as well keep the gun out in the open, as children are pretty good at finding things (think “Hide-n-Seek”).  Children should be taught, at any early age, that guns are dangerous and if they see a gun they should never touch the gun, but rather leave the area and tell a grown-up right away. If parents decide that they’d like introduce firearms into their child’s life, such as hunting, gun safety should be the number one priority.  Remember, firearm accidents can happen to even the skilled marksmen.

Gun deaths are a problem in the United States.  While some civilians want to revert back to the old gun slingin’ days, others want guns banished for good.  Many argue that guns are not the problem, but rather the people who own them.  While there is some truth to that statement, how do we explain the inexperienced and unintentional hands that guns find their way to?  When gun advocates argue that firearm accidents are rare, one may think “rare” as in infrequent or every so often, but does over 600 deaths sound “rare”?

Continue Reading

Recent Posts

Business6 days ago

The Invisible Hands: Unveiling How Food Distributors Influence the Quality of Our Foods

Ever found yourself wondering why the tomatoes in your salad taste particularly fresh or why your preferred brand of coffee...

Marketing6 days ago

Webflow CMS: A Comprehensive Guide

Webflow is a powerful tool that allows you to create and manage dynamic websites without needing to code. It’s a...

Business6 days ago

The Three Most Important Benefits You Should Offer To Your Employees

Offering your employees a range of benefits on top of regular salary increases will really help to show that you...

Business4 weeks ago

Business Tips For Protecting Your Finances During A Recession

In 2024, taking the necessary steps to protect your finances for your business is now more important than ever. The...

Green & Energy1 month ago

Air Conditioning Installation: What You Need to Know

When it comes to getting an air conditioning unit installed, can significantly improve your comfort and home environment, especially during...

Marketing1 month ago

Marketing Tips For A Gym Wear Brand

When starting a gym wear brand, there are a few things you need to do and one of them is...

General2 months ago

Social Media Marketing: What Are All The Types?

Social media marketing is a tool that is a must-have in today’s digital age. it’s very rare that businesses can...

Business2 months ago

How To Become A Property Developer

There are several reasons why an individual will want to become a property developer. One of the main reasons for...

Business2 months ago

Remote Delivery Innovations: Case Studies from Leading E-commerce Brands

People have gone through much change in the past few years when it comes to online shopping. Nowadays, when delivery...

Business3 months ago

Why are Brits turning to online-only banks?

For years, large, conventional banks held all the aces when it comes to citizens’ finances in the UK. HSBC, Lloyds...

5 Important Web Design Considerations to Make For Better SEO 5 Important Web Design Considerations to Make For Better SEO
Tech3 months ago

5 Important Web Design Considerations to Make For Better SEO

Ever since the birth of search engines, practices in optimising websites for better search rankings have changed considerably. Where it...

SEO4 months ago

The Importance of Local SEO for Small Businesses

There are many different types of businesses and all of them will require online marketing however, with a small business,...

General4 months ago

Understanding The Unsung Heroes: Cool Rooms And The Importance Of Regular Repairs

Everybody loves a breath of fresh air when entering a superstore! But have you ever wondered who’s working backstage to...

Home Improvement7 months ago

How To Add More Value To Your Home

If you have some spare cash in the bank, it is likely you would like to spend it on your...

Lifestyle7 months ago

What is a Deep Plane Facelift

Cosmetic surgery is a choice that needs a lot of research and when it comes to thinking about a facelift...

Categories

Archives

Trending