America Is a Violent Country
The terrible events in
Colorado this morning prompted me to update a post about comparative death
rates from assault across different societies. The following figures are from
the OECD for deaths due to assault per 100,000 population from 1960 to the
present. As before, the most striking features of the data are (1) how much more
violent the U.S. is than other OECD countries (except possibly Estonia and
Mexico, not shown here), and (2) the degree of change—and recently,
decline—there has been in the U.S. time series considered by itself. Note that
“assault” as a cause of death does not distinguish the mechanism of death
(gunshot, stabbing, etc.). If anyone knows of a similar time series for
homicides specifically, let me know.
Peter’s
Comment
The difference is guns. America has one of the easiest accesses
to guns laws in the world.
Americans buy guns for protection but it rarely works out
that way.
A typical ratio of gun murders to total murders in most countries
is less than 50% involving guns. The USA has a similar rate of non-gun murders.
However, because of easy access to guns the statistics show that the higher
overall murder rate is attributed entirely to guns.
Think about the countless mass shootings. What other murder
means could render such horrendous statistics? Strangulation, stabbing,
bashing? Could any of those means take a toll of dozens of lives in minutes the
way shooting can?
America has a high murder rate because too many people buy
guns for protection and others buy guns because they a military nutters.
Here in New Zealand our murder rate is low and getting
lower. We have laws which impose very tight controls on sporting weapons and it
is virtually impossible to get a firearm for any other purpose. Even our police
don’t carry guns except in special circumstances.
America, get rid of your guns and your country will be
safer.
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