Guns & Gun Violence in America

It’s a contentious issue whether the proliferation of small arms is the main cause for more gun violence and gun related deaths. The National Rifle Association (NRA) which began its Annual Meetings 2018 in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday argues that “guns don’t kill people, people do”. More critical observers add that people with guns kill people, and people with legally obtained semi-automatic rifles kill a lot of people in less time. For gun rights proponents the 2nd amendment which gives the people the right to keep and bear arms (adopted in 1791) seems to have the quality of a divine law that shall and cannot be amended to suit the time and age.

The below infographic contains selected data on different aspects of guns and gun violence in America. We look at mass shootings and shootings at schools. The number of firearm-related deaths has surpassed the number of U.S. war dead in all armed conflict since the War of Independence in 1775. One of the underreported consequences of having many guns in private hands is the high count of gun suicides, which are more common than gun homicides. Background checks for gun purchases have dropped under the current president, who has vowed not to touch gun rights. And we have a look at the money spent by gun lobby groups, such as the NRA, to influence politicians in favor of liberal gun laws.