The WSJ did a study of FBI data from 2000 to 2010 on "Murder in America". Just had to share these statistics. After years of living in fear that an intruder would break into my townhouse and throw me out of my 3rd floor window, I can finally sleep easier tonight (or can I? - see the statistics below.
Weapon Firearm |
111,289 |
Knife |
20,503 |
Other |
11,364 |
Personal weapons |
10,079 |
Blunt object |
7,049 |
Fire |
1,342 |
Asphyxiation |
1,225 |
Drugs |
638 |
Drowning |
239 |
Poison |
130 |
Explosives |
53 |
Pushed/thrown out window |
35 |
Source: Wall Street Journal - Murder in America
If you add all the other weapons of choice used during this 10 year period they don't even account for half, they still do not equal half the deaths by guns.
I guess you can argue that there are a lot of violent people in America, and stricter gun control laws will only cause our insatiable blood lust to seek other outlets.
Yet, as real as the fear of being pushed out a window seems to me - and I know it was a popular thing back in Prague, oh, what, 500 years ago - I can't really imagine defenestrations more than, maybe doubling, with stricter gun control laws.
Love to hear what violent, untimely demises, other DKOS members fear more than death by gun!