Gun Control (Doesn't Work)

Guns and homicide by population (click on image to enlarge)

The topic of gun control has reared its vicious head in American politics yet again. In the interest of full disclosure, I would like to explain that much of my professional career has been spent working in the firearms industry. I worked for the National Rifle Association (in an event planning position), and for a firearms manufacturer (in a marketing and events position). That being said, I am very well-informed when it comes to firearms regulations across the country. However, in spite of what my professional background may appear to be, and my political affiliations, I am not a staunch defender of the Second Amendment. I am not passionate about the subject, but I am better informed on both sides of the argument than your average person.

After the topic began to resurface on Saturday after the tragic shooting in Colorado, I saw an internet meme go across Facebook that was just plain and simple wrong. (I didn't think to save it at the time, and the original poster has deleted since then.) It motivated me to dig up the real numbers about gun control around the world. The countries I used were the ones in the original meme.

Comparing the populations, number of homicides, number of guns, number of homicides, and number of guns used in homicides side-by-side is the best way to really understand what the problem in the United States is. It isn't the guns. It is the number of homicides!!!

Look at the differences between Finland, England/Wales, and the US.

In Finland, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is 2.3.
In Finland the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is 0.41.

In the United States, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is 4.6.
In the United States, the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is 2.98.

In England & Wales, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is 1.1.
In England & Wales, the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is 0.1.

Do you see the difference? Guns aren't the problem. The problem is that AMERICANS ARE KILLING EACH OTHER!

Look at the chart this way-

Click on image to enlarge

That yellow line is the number of homicides. There are other ways I could make this chart more dramatic, but I like it straight-forward.

If there was ever an argument for the cliched and overused expression, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people," it is the facts right here. Other countries have plenty of guns as well. (Even the countries that Americans mistakenly believe don't allow guns, have plenty of guns.)

The problem is with our culture. Other "First World" countries do not have homicide rates close to the United States. The fact that Americans are resolving disputes and conflicts by killing each other is the real problem.  The solution is not to take away the gun (42% of homicides didn't use a gun), but to stop the culture of violence. The death penalty and/or life in prison is not enough of a deterrent to stop the killing. Already strict gun controls have not stopped the killing. The problem is with the culture, and that needs to be addressed.


Source for all facts: GunPolicy.org (a pro-gun control organization)