What is your take on this statistic?

Question

Okay, I know some of you may find this surprising, others won't. I just want to know what you think, I don't care if it surprises you or not.

In 2004 11,624 people were murdered by firearms. Yes, this is strictly firearms and does not consider suicides, accidental shootings, etc...

Since the start of the War in Iraq, there have been 3842 casualties.

I'd love to hear some conversation on this!

The first statistic is in the U.S. only by the way...

More info on this question:
I realize the misconceptions of this statistic.
Ex. there are over 300 million people in the U.S. and much fewer fighting in the war, so the mortality rate in the war is probably higher.

If I were to answer this question, I would point out that though this war kills people (including more than just Americans) there are still problems facing this country. True, the mortality rate in Iraq is probably much higher, but that's war. In the States, this is peacetime...so why 11,000+ gun deaths? I can't remember the numbers, but I know that most developed countries don't come anywhere close to this number. I think the closest one is some European country in the 300-400 range. I realize this answer doesn't have any sources, but I have calc test to study...so I'm making it quick :)

Answer 1

Drunk drivers kill considerably more people with cars.

Firearms don't kill. It's the person using the firearm that society needs to deal with.

Here are some figures for discussion in deaths and other casualties since the American Revolution.

American Revolution (1775–1783)
Total servicemembers 217,000
Battle deaths 4,435
Nonmortal woundings 6,188

War of 1812 (1812–1815)
Total servicemembers 286,730
Battle deaths 2,260
Nonmortal woundings 4,505
Indian Wars (approx. 1817–1898)
Total servicemembers 106,0001
Battle deaths 1,0001

Mexican War (1846–1848)
Total servicemembers 78,718
Battle deaths 1,733
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 11,550
Nonmortal woundings 4,152

Civil War (1861–1865)
Total servicemembers (Union) 2,213,363
Battle deaths (Union) 140,414
Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Union) 224,097
Nonmortal woundings (Union) 281,881
Total servicemembers (Conf.) 1,050,000
Battle deaths (Conf.) 74,524
Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Conf.) 59,2972
Nonmortal woundings (Conf.) unknown

Spanish-American War (1898–1902)
Total servicemembers 306,760
Battle deaths 385
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 2,061
Nonmortal woundings 1,662

World War I (1917–1918)3
Total servicemembers 4,734,991
Battle deaths 53,402
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 63,114
Nonmortal woundings 204,002
Living veterans fewer than 251

World War II (1940–1945)3
Total servicemembers 16,112,566
Battle deaths 291,557
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 113,842
Nonmortal woundings 671,846
Living veterans 3,242,0001
Total deaths (civilian an military) world wide - 70 million plus

Korean War (1950–1953)
Total servicemembers 5,720,000
Serving in-theater 1,789,000
Battle deaths 33,741
Other deaths in service (theater) 2,833
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 17,672
Nonmortal woundings 103,284
Living veterans 3,086,4001

Vietnam War (1964–1975)
Total servicemembers 8,744,000
Serving in-theater 3,403,000
Battle deaths 47,424
Other deaths in service (theater) 10,785
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 32,000
Nonmortal woundings 153,303
Living veterans 7,286,5001

Gulf War (1990–1991)
Total servicemembers 2,225,000
Serving in-theater 665,476
Battle deaths 147
Other deaths in service (theater) 382
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 1,565
Nonmortal woundings 467
Living veterans 1,852,0001

America's Wars Total
Military service during war 43,185,893
Battle deaths 653,708
Other deaths in service (theater) 14,560
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 525,930
Nonmortal woundings 1,447,281
Living war veterans 17,835,0004
Living veterans 23,976,000

Global War on Terror (as of Sept. 30, 2006)5
Total Servicemembers (Worldwide) 1,384,968
Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan 165,000
Battle Deaths 2,333 (as of 9/6/2006)
Other Deaths (In Theater) 707
Non-mortal Woundings 21,649
Living Veterans 588,923

Answer 2

What a thought provoking question! Honestly? No. Not once. Not even. Know why? Because she is exercised, disciplined and loved. She is very socialized with people and other animals outside our home. I have watched her 'fight' with my 6 year old Dachshund. Out of all my dogs he is the only one that challenges. But there is never any blood. She could have killed him dozen of times if she had it in her. My 17 lb Shih Tzu mix can alpha roll her. She absolutely loves people. She would go with anyone. She is crazy for kids and wiggles all over when she sees a kid. She wiggles all over when she sees the cats. No, I have no doubt in my mind this American Pit Bull Terrier that I adopted will ever become another 'statistic'. I would bet my life on it. And I forgot to say just one last thing. They are the most gorgeous dogs I have ever seen. I love the APBT.

Answer 3

For all you people saying "guns don't kill people, people kill people", think about this. If guns were banned or gun laws were stricter, would the numbers be so high? No, didn't think so.

I stay in Scotland, and apart from the very occasional idiot, gun crime is practically non existent. If guns were easier to come by, obviously gun crime would be higher.

Answer 4

You are mixing apples and oranges.
11,624 were killed in the US by firearms; mostly Americans.
3842 Americans were killed in Iraq by firearms, bombs and other methods. + hundreds of thousands of Iraq citizens and foreigners were killed in Iraq since the start of the war.

So what is the comparison.

Answer 5

There were more US deaths by firearms in Washington DC last year than in Iraq.

Moral of the story?

Lets pull out of Washington DC!

Answer 6

I'm not surprised. Of course, automobiles still kill more, and it's harder to prove it wasn't an accident. Guns and cars aren't the problem, people are, so if you don't like the stats, let's outlaw people.

Answer 7

No surprise that the US has more people encarcerated than another other country in the world...

Answer 8

Um....





Uh.....









Ummm....












Uh...........












Guns don't kill people, I kill people. Someone once said that, not sure who though.

Regards,

Brandon