'Handguns Killed 10,728...' Image Goes Viral

Pic compares US gun death rate to other countries

The image above has gone viral on social media, with over 15,000 shares on Facebook and thousands of retweets. It's presumably being shared by gun control advocates, many of whom have been moved to outrage by Friday's mass shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school.

The poster was created in 1980 by Rick Boyko after John Lennon's assassination. It compares America's handgun deaths to other Western nations, including some with relatively high rates of gun ownership, like Canada and Switzerland. The vastly larger death toll in the US is startling, but the numbers aren't quite so shocking once you control for population size. America has ten times as many people as Canada - so controlling for population, the US saw something like 20 times more handgun deaths than Canada - not 200 times more, as this image suggests.

But since the other countries with low gun death rates have extremely different gun policies to one another, the takeaway on gun control is debatable.

The difference between the US and Canada could be partly accounted for by very different rates of handgun ownership. Less than 3% of Canadians own handguns, compared to over 12% of Americans.

Via Facebook and WaPo.

Why do you think America has a high rate of handgun deaths?

[CATTLEPROD]

Thug criminals will alwways have guns. They also kill each other making up a good part of that statistic. I want mine to be my equalizer in case of home invasion by whoever is stupid enough to come in unwelcomed.

[srs606791163]

Even those of us that are opposed to guns know that we aren't going to be able to get your guns. There are however steps to take to try and minimize these crimes. We need every law abiding citizen with a gun to declare it. If a gun is stolen it should have to be reported. I think that there should be RFID chips in guns. Limit magazine size. Finally, and perhaps the most important, we need to reinstate the assault weapons ban. Everyone was saying when this massacre happened that it was 2 handguns. Now, they say most of the kids were killed with an assault rifle. If we let you keep your handguns, hunting rifles, shotguns, and muzzle loaders, then would you be willing to keep militarized weapons off the streets of America?

[DrNickels]

@srs606791163
Register them all huh? Why so the government can just come to my house with a list when they are ready to take them or they could use the new signed by Obama to just round up any citizen at any time and detain them for any period of time without trial. Lets see who would the government come get first those with guns and proficiency in their use or sheep like yourself who blindly give up their rights to guns?

Your ideas make me think of one scene from a movie. Ever see the original red dawn? Remember the part where the commander tells his soldiers to go to the courthouse and pull paperwork that lists every registered firearm to every citizen and then they to and collect those citizens and their firearms? That's what your plan would lead to only it wouldn't be a foreign government doing this act, it would be our own.

[woodtick57]

@DrNickels

Who in our gov't has ever threatened to take all the guns away?

If they are registered, people could be held responsible for the guns they own. I have to register my kayaks for pete's sake, but not a gun....

[UnCommonBoston]

@srs606791163 I think these are great ideas, really, but the NRA would go ballistic. One of the problems we have is the big, well funded groups. I think the ACLU, AARP and other groups do not always represent the views of their members. Some of conservation groups do not understand the idea of coexistence. I am a big time tree hugger but can still see how unrealistic some of their actions are.

Any idea that NRA could represent as limiting firearm ownership will be shoot down. Imagine if we had similar groups for cars, we readily accept safety changes to our cars. Some people choose to ignore them, but for the most we follow along.

[srs606791163]

@DrNickels Why should someone this paranoid be allowed to own weapons. Seriously, if Obama did do that what would you do when the police come knocking? Would you let them have the guns, or would you stand your ground?

[UScentral]

We (USA) will never be a truly enlightened country until we collectively agree that guns have no place in our society. It would probably take us 40-60 years once we make that determination.
The second ammendment was written at a time when it took 2 days to ride to the next county and we were still defending ourselves against other countries on our own land. It is obsolete and needs to be stricken.
There is no other way to kill 30 people in 5 minutes except with a gun. At the very least guns should cost more than a tank of gas and bullets should cost more than a fast food meal.
Anyone that says we need to do something about gun violence while standing by the second ammendment is a hypocrite.
There are more and greater tragedies like this coming.

[Real4WheelDrv]

Sure, we can agree that guns don't have a place in society...too bad criminals don't.

[srs606791163]

I am sick of the Republican rhetoric. Every tragedy we hear the same thing over and over. When are they going to realize that this tragedy is the turning point. Americans are sick of gun violence. They keep saying we can't stop crazy people from doing these things. Shouldn't we try? These gun nuts are about as anti-American as they come.

[Thunderchicken]

"We (USA) will never be a truly enlightened country until we collectively agree that guns have no place in our society"

Tell that to the armed criminals and watch them laugh. As long as there are armed criminals they will have a place. And as long as I may have to deal with them I'll have a gun.

"The second ammendment was written at a time when it took 2 days to ride to the next county and we were still defending ourselves against other countries on our own land. It is obsolete and needs to be stricken."

Ever been to East St. Louis. Even the devil doesn't go there after dark.

"There is no other way to kill 30 people in 5 minutes except with a gun. "

Oklahoma City...

"At the very least guns should cost more than a tank of gas and bullets should cost more than a fast food meal."

I expect you've never bought either a gun or a box of ammunition. Or you've got a big tank and an appetite to match.

[Thunderchicken]

@srs606791163

When did we stop trying?

[stepped_in_it]

Ok...agreed....BUT, can we first convince judges/politicians/etc "mandatory sentencing" means mandatory. And, while we're at it, can we also convince "bleeding hearts" that prisons are NOT a vacation and the use of inhuman treatment is way overused. Also, why not have prisoners WORK for their wanton disregard to a civil society to pay back their debts.
If you can get these minor "requests" accomplished and make me and other law abiding citizens feel safer to walk the streets and live in their homes, then maybe we wouldn't tell you "you'll have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands"!

[Wally2]

When is someone going to talk about the real reason tragedies like this continue to happen? It could not have anything to do with taking GOD out of the classroom could it???
Could not have anything to do with not teaching our kids it is wrong to kill others?
Could not have anything to do with Dr. Spock proclaiming it detrimental to discipline our children by spanking them or we might corrupt their precious little minds?
Could not be because so many parents now treat the schools as babysitters but not allow them to discipline our children in any manner lest they might be slapped with a lawsuit?
Could not be because our more liberal brethren who have out cried for decades we cannot punish violent offenders with similar treatment but rather just slap them on the hand and them give them early release?
More and more of these tragedies’ are being committed by children and I believe a lot of it is because so many parents buy them these damn video games that are all about killing in some form or fashion that teach kids that killing is ok but of course the parent could not be part of the problem because they are too well educated to allow something like that to happen.
Come on people look in the mirror and you will see the problem and it is not a piece of hardware but the fool looking back at you.
Guns do not kill people, people kill people and everywhere the guns have been severely restricted or outlawed the crime rate has soared. Just look at Australia after they outlawed guns, their violent crime soared because those who will not obey the law to start with then had little to fear from their victims and knew all law abiding citizens were easy pickings.
Those who believe that outlawing guns will solve the problem are disillusioned and will discover the hard way unfortunately at the behest of the rest of us if they get their way that they will only become the victim when gun controls are enacted.

[Dan_Tien]

Muslim theocracies teach God in the classroom. David Koresh and Reverend Jim Jones taught about God in the classroom. Shall we teach children that violence is wrong by beating them?

[woodtick57]

No, it didn't have anything to do with following our constitution and taking god out of the classroom.

[Wally2]

@Dan_Tien NO ONE SAID A WORD ABOUT BEATING THEM there is a differance Dan, the point I was trying to make is they are not disciplined anymore but allowed to do as they please and they know if you try to do anything about it you will be the one in jail.

[Speedieg]

I really don't believe God is required for a sense of morality. Many atheist are moral and non violent.

[Dan_Tien]

@Wally2 What is the difference between beating and spanking?

[Rocker]

Automotive transportation may have killed more than that.

[PoliticalSpice]

Indeed he drove to the school, and used a rifle, not a hand gun. The ad is powerful, but irrelevent to this debate.

[marine1]

Stupid azz headline, hand guns can not kill squat. People kill and ignorant reporters fuel the controversy by slanted headline.

[Rocker]

@marine1 - Yeah, I thought the numbers skewed and very general. I asked a question once about gun related crimes: How many of the firearms used were stolen or unregistered?
Never got an answer. Apparently that's not a part of the tracked statistical data.

[Rocker]

@PoliticalSpice - Try to put it into context by how many firearms are in the US now that are not being used in crime.

[PoliticalSpice]

@Rocker why?

[Real4WheelDrv]

We also have a higher non-firearm murder rate than the TOTAL murder rate of many other nations. If people want to kill somebody, they will find a way to do it. I'm not that comfortable with guns because I am blind in one eye which affects my depth perception....something I realize could be compensated for with practice, so I'm a blade man myself, but a gun is a more definitive way to immobilize someone at a distance. The vast majority of this anti-handgun BS statistic is because thugs can easily shove em in their pants when they go to cause trouble...and guess what...those same thugs will CONTINUE to get handguns even if you take them away from regular citizens.

[Sonny]

We are a nation that makes it clear that "we don't give a damn about anybody or anything but putting money in our own individual pockets"...Now since that is so firmly ingrained into our national mindset...to many people---nothing else matters. We are a nation that makes it clear that we "look out for number 1"...So the hell with you...I've got mine, and it doesn't matter if you don't...We are a nation where the mentality is that---citizens prey upon other citizens each and every day of the week....And if I can find a way to separate you from your money---I will do it...legally or otherwise...That is America...And that's why we are so violent...The "bottom-line"...is all that matters in this society...And with that kind of national mindset.....How could anyone be surprised that this nation kills more people than the next 10 nations combined, each year!?!?

[Real4WheelDrv]

@Sonny No question the overall mentality of the U.S. seems to have gotten sicker over time. That's why I'm so paranoid about my safety. If I'm in a high crime area, or if I even ask the wrong person to help me with something I can't reach etc...I could be in trouble because a guy in a wheelchair screams "opportunity"...even moreso if I'm out with my girlfriend. She won't let me teach her self-defense because she doesn't like hurting people...but I carry a weapon with me quite frankly because even if I don't injure an attacker badly enough to cause serious harm, they won't expect ME to put up a fight. And I'll admit, maybe a little of MY mentality is wanting to compensate for my physical limitations, I NEED that equalizer, be it bullet or blade...I just shy away from bullet because I don't want my blindness to cause me to hit a bystander (including my gf) by mistake.

[Real4WheelDrv]

@Sonny I will say though, that I was pleased with how many genuinely nice people ARE still left in the world. In November I traveled by bus to visit my girlfriend's family. 36 hour trip there, 48 back because of a broken wheelchair lift. Everywhere I went were nice folks, including a homeless man who snuck in to use one of the bus station bathrooms and offered to help me get where I needed to go in the terminal. I bought him and his wife some food as a thank you and left wishing I could have done more. There are still some diamonds in the rough, it's just hard not to become cynical while looking for them.

[UnCommonBoston]

We do have problems with our firearms. I think it is cultural. Our movies and video games promote wild shooting sprees; bad guys seem to die more often then good. Guns are dangerous and we need to enforce many of the good gun laws already in place, plus look at requiring gun owners to learn commonsense gun safety.

We can start with, weapons should be locked, especially if someone with mental illness or children would have access.

[PoliticalSpice]

This case, involved a rifle, not a handgun. The ad, although it is effective propaganda, powerful from a pr standpoint, really has nothing to do with this shooting.

[UnCommonBoston]

@PoliticalSpice I agree! It misrepresents the facts, as the article says, it doesn't take population into consideration, so the numbers are not being compared in a rational manner. We have the largest population of the group, will probably have the nighest number of deaths regardless. Also, this ad is very, very old. The numbers themselves are wrong

But boy it makes a statement!

[PoliticalSpice]

@UnCommonBoston No question, excellent pr.

[Dan_Tien]

Last year 32,310 people died on the nation's highways, the lowest number since 1949. God Bless Detroit.

[Dan_Tien]

Only 58 people in Israel were killed last year by handguns. How many people in the United States were killed last year by rocket attacks?

[DogLady_1]

How many of those gun deaths were caused by law enforcement? How many were hunting accidents? This story is designed to incite people... it is lacking in context.

[DogLady_1]

ok, I found some numbers to share... Half of gun deaths were suicides. One in ten were hunting accidents. One-third are homicides. Of the homicides, 1% are deaths of LEA's, 2% are people killed by LEA's, 1% were personal/home protection. (SOURCES: CDC, BJS, Resrach by Univ. of Utah School of Medicine)

[CanisCanemEdit]

@DogLady_1 - LOL! Politix Mary is at it again. Too bad she can't just be honest.

[PoliticalSpice]

@DogLady_1 Lea's is this law enforcement? How many deaths are caused by cops shooting unarmed people? Thats what i want to know. In several cities i am aware that type of thing happens several times a year, and it seems to be increasing...

[ProCCW]

@DogLady_1 please forgive my ignorance... what is a LEA? BTW I love your stats.

[CanisCanemEdit]

@ProCCW - LEA = Law Enforcement Agency shootings resulting in death.

[Big-R]

I think the American culture of having no specific culture has a lot to do with it. When excuses are created so everyone can be equal, there is no true pride in yourself. Without pride or Respect for yourself, your race,or your religion, you will never respect others. The first thing the media did with this shooting was to marginalize the shooter, and blame the gun. One of the first reports was the shooter was "Autistic", and he used a high powered "Assault Rifle". Really? Really? But that is what it has come to, blame everyone and everything, except what is truly to blame.

[TeresaJ]

"I think the American culture of having no specific culture has a lot to do with it."

I think you have a point. However, I also think America does have a culture. It's just that there are those who want to tear it apart, and because we are all immigrants in some way, shape, or form with the exception of the Indians, they have grounds to do so.

[Big-R]

@TeresaJ I think America HAD a culture. The ever pressing politically correct society has removed individual pride. Everyone has to be a winner, so there are no losers. This guy was a loser, and should have been treated as such. Tip toeing around these people, whether it be by doctors, or the public needs to stop. We need to call a spade a spade, not an ace. As far as the Assault Rifle goes, sure it is a military weapon. There is not one firearm on earth that was not originally devised as a military weapon. An AR15 is not more high powered than a 100 year old Springfield 30-06. But it has a higher magazine capacity. Which doesn't do anything other than lessen the reload time. Which would not have changed this shooting in any way. He could have done the same destruction with one pistol, and five magazines.

[PoliticalSpice]

What is truley to blane here is his idiot mother who kept guns available despite the fact her mentally unbalanced son, who had been denied a gun permit, could get at them. Perhaps the fix is that to buy a firearm you must first have a firearm safe...

[Big-R]

@PoliticalSpice excellent point, I guess she got what she deserved. To bad dozens of families have been so devastated by her negligence.

[PoliticalSpice]

@Big-R Exactly my feeling.

[David944]

Propaganda, try to look at the whole picture. http://libertyfirearmstraining.com/gun_facts....

[David944]

http://gunowners.org/sk0703.htm

[DrNickels]

And how many of those 10,728 deaths were at the hands of law abiding citizens shooting someone who was not in the process of conducting a criminal act?

How many of these killings were performed by people who were not legally able to have a handgun? My guess is the majority of them. That's not mentioned though because then it proves that gun control does nothing to stop criminals from getting guns.

[Thunderchicken]

And now the rest of the story.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_wit...

[Thunderchicken]

West Germany??? How old is this?

[jmann88]

More people die from obesity in the USA. More people die in car wrecks. Guns are just a tool. Like a wrech is just a tool. Guns don't kill people. People kill people.

[dolywern2]

"Guns don't kill people ?"

... I think they help !

[jmann88]

@dolywern2 like I said they are tools. Take the person to pull the trigger. You don't aim a gun and it automatically fire itself.

[Politicskid]

It's because gun laws are stricter here...a lot of these countries with low rates have less strict gun laws, so people can defend themselves. That's what we need here.

[Russell797]

So you disagree with the OP article which states that compared to other nations the U.S. already has very lax gun regulation?

[Politicskid]

@Russell797 In some cases, yes. Also, Connecticut has some of the toughest gone laws in th country.

[Russell797]

@Politicskid I think most of us agree that tougher gun laws will not prevent the type of nightmare which just occurred in Connecticut any time soon. The guns are already out there. Hopefully creative ways to solve this problem can be found which will satisfy nearly everyone, but it can't happen absent some degree of compromise.

[Russell797]

Absolute freedom is dangerous. With freedom comes responsibility. We are a society of greedy, self centered individuals who care less about their fellow citizens. The need people feel for weaponry is merely symptomatic of a relativistic anarchical mindset. The abuse of weaponry derives from a mindset which places ones self as more deserving than everyone else.

[WMCOL]

>>>The abuse of weaponry derives from a mindset which places ones self as more deserving than everyone else. <<<

Good thing there is very little abuse.

The need people feel for opposing weaponry is merely symptomatic of a relativistic bondage mindset.

[EnemyCombatant]

I see the argument here over and over is "laws won't stop criminals" I say bull. How do you think they get the guns? Mostly from legal purchases. Criminals don't knock off gun stores to get their guns they are purchased legally. Straw purchases, gun show loop holes and private sales are how guns get into criminal hands. Every gun purchase should be recorded and held under a microscope. More paperwork in the private sale of a car than a gun. Wise up stickter gun laws will stop more guns in hands of criminals.

[WMCOL]

That display makes it seem people are only killed by guns. Contrary to some beliefs people are killed by means other than guns. Without showing total killings from all means, listing gun deaths in U.S. in comparison to other countries is meaningless.

Countries have different resources that contribute to death rates, but it is guaranteed one is just as dead from whatever cause as from death by gun.

How many of those killed by guns in the U.S. deserved killing, self-defense, enforcing the law, justifiable and excuseable homicide?

[Cheenoguy]

We murder (not any other firearm deaths) more people with guns per capita then any other developed nation murders total per capita.
The average for Western Europe is less then 2 homicides per 100,000 people. We average around 3 gun homocides per 100,000 people.

[WMCOL]

@Cheenoguy
The point is of course our murders are mostly with guns while other countries with harsh restrictions on guns have most of their murders from other means.

Then there are the homicide rates which are not the same as murder rates. When looking at the U.S. some list homicide as murder and it is not.

[Cheenoguy]

@WMCOL
No the point is that we murder a higher number of our fellow countrymen then any other developed nation with firearms per capita then they murder their fellow countrymen by any means.
We have a violent culture in this country and this is highlighted most by our obsession with firearms.

[WMCOL]

@Cheenoguy
Maybe, if you count homicides as murder which they are not, and count all self-defense and justified and excuseable homicides done with a gun.

[Cheenoguy]

@WMCOL
So you're going to use the Fox News defense of "the facts aren't really the facts"?

I have to come up with a way to move my family to Europe. Too many violent people in this country.

[Cheenoguy]

Where is the "all of the above" option?

[WMCOL]

55,000 killed by stomach cancer in Japan, 13,000 in U.S. 43 per 100,000 in Japan compared to 4 per 100,000 in U.S.

6500 killed by drowning in Japan, 3000 in U.S. 5 per 100,000 in Japan compared to .9 per 1000,000 in U.S.

125,000 killed by pneumonia in Japan, 60,000 in U.S. 98 per 100,000 in Japan compared to 19 per 100,000 in U.S.

Thanks but no thanks. I'll keep our 2nd Amendment and Constitutional rights and take the USA gun rate of 3.1 per 100,000 and going down each year.

[Grubby]

I agree with gun control for all Obama-supporting democrats. All good conservative Americans will keep our guns thank you...and you can't take them away from us. Arm the principals and key personnel at the schools....the real answer to school shootings.

[MikeC]

Grow Up!