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Yesterday was the first time the House held a hearing on gun violence in almost a decade. On one hand, it's an encouraging step forward. On the other, we have a long way to go. This look at gun numbers in the US shows why: 1/ wired.trib.al/qqNoxdZ
Typically, countries that see high rates of gun violence are economically depressed—the US is the exception. The US' death rate from guns remains far ahead of EVERY single European nation and nearly every Asian one 2/ wired.trib.al/qqNoxdZ
Rich countries tend to lose very few residents to gunfire. The US, again, stands alone for having a relatively high GDP per capita (number 8 worldwide) but also a high level of gun violence (number 12 worldwide) 3/ wired.trib.al/qqNoxdZ
Domestic firearm manufacturing increased dramatically during President Obama's first term, in part because of fears that a pro-gun-control president would take away weapons. The result? The US now boasts more firearms than residents 4/ wired.trib.al/qqNoxdZ
For comparison: Canada has 1 firearm per 3 three citizens but the country's death rate from gun violence is ~one-tenth that of the US. Gun buyers must pass a reference check, background check, & a gun-safety course before receiving a firearm license 5/ wired.trib.al/qqNoxdZ
Would stronger gun laws help? It appears so. The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence gives the states of Alaska and Louisiana a failing grade for their gun-safety laws; they also hold the nation's highest per capita rate of deaths from firearms 6/ wired.trib.al/qqNoxdZ
