Per the Center for Disease Control, latest figures (2005) show 30,694 firearm deaths (all races, all ages, both sexes) in the United States.
NOTE: Since a firearm is an inanimate object, it can not be the sole creator/ root cause of a death as it must be handled by a person in order to be fired. So, let's break it down.
A more accurate description is approximately 16,000 suicides using a firearm
Approximately 12,252 murders by firearms 80% of which are caused by felons/career criminals/gang member activities. (USDOJ National Gang Threat Assessment annual report 2009)
In other words, only 2450 murders by firearms were committed by people in 2009 that were like this jerk in Aurora, Colorado. Government stats reveal that approximately 52 million American households have at least one firearm. Sounds to me like the vast vast majority of gun owners are responsible with them.
Approximately 600 justifiable defensive shootings by both police and citizens.
The remainder in accidental firearms discharges.
Now, let's compare:
Car Crash Stats: There were nearly 6,420,000 auto accidents in the United States in 2005. The financial cost of these crashes is more than 230 Billion dollars. 2.9 million people were injured and 42,636 people killed. About 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States -- one death every 13 minutes.
In 2003 there were 6,328,000 car accidents in the US. There were 2.9 million injuries and 42,643 people were killed in auto accidents.
In 2002, there were an estimated 6,316,000 car accidents in the USA. There were about 2.9 million injuries and 42,815 people were killed in auto accidents in 2002.
There were an estimated 6,356,000 car accidents in the US in 2000. There were about 3.2 million injuries and 41,821 people were killed in auto accidents in 2000 based on data collected by the Federal Highway Administration.
2009 Latest Stats on other related causes of death in the US:
Drug Induced Deaths: (Legal and Illicit) 37,485
Accidental Poisoning: 30,504
Alcohol Induced: 23,199
Actual homicides by use of a firearm in 2009 were, I repeat from above, 12,252.
Give or take a few hundred, we have 30,384 more car related deaths than firearm homicides every year.
Give or take, we have 25,233 more deaths by drugs than by guns every year.
Give or take, we have 18, 252 more poisonings than by guns every year.
Give or take, we have 10,947 more alcohol related deaths than by guns every year.
So, we need to outlaw cars, all drugs, poisonous materials, and alcohol at the same time we outlaw guns.
People, life is a dangerous business. When we step into our bathtub, we take a risk. In 2000, 341 people died by slipping and falling in the bathtub.567 died in their swimming pools. 3,187 people died by choking on food.
In 1992 two burglars started breaking into my house in broad daylight. I was not able to run, because my daughter was there and she was confined to a wheelchair. Just the threat of me having a firearm was enough to send them on their way. I don't want to shoot anybody, and gave them a warning that allowed them to choose life over certain death. I have been handling guns since I was eight years old. I respect them and was trained on how to use them. I, along with millions of other Americans, am a responsible gun owner. I'm glad I have the right to own guns...with bullets. I am sorry for people who become victims of idiots and evil people. In the culture in which we live, it is a risk we take...but less than the one we take when we get in our car. What we all should do is keep things in perspective. Life is dangerous. Always has been; always will be. According to the Bible, only two people haven't died. That's a pretty exclusive club, and I think our chances of getting in are slim to none. Let us pray for all the victims out there, from whatever reason they have become one. And remember, there is no solution to these ills. It's just life.