Death by gun: top 20 states with highest rates

[azurnoir]

Guns are expected to surpass car crashes for the number of American deaths caused in 2015. In 2013, there were 33,636 Americans killed by guns versus 33, 782 fatal crashes. The most recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics released in 2013 shows the number of gun deaths by state - whether it was homicide, accidental discharge, or intentional self-harm.

Which state has the fewest firearm-related deaths? With a rate of 2.6 deaths per 100,000 population, it's Hawaii. Seven of the top ten states for gun violence also had higher than the normal homicide rate nationally. Which states had the most firearm-related deaths? Keep clicking to see the top 20 states.

http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/death-by-gun-top-20-states-with-highest-rates/?ftag=ACQ449302a&vndid

Most of them are Red States

[TeddyR]

1. Some interesting stats

Especially when compared to the CBS News story on most heavily armed states. For example, Wyoming was most heavily armed but was 6th in deaths by gun violence. The vast majority of all firearms deaths are suicides, and I believe Wyoming's rate of suicide by firearms is even higher than the national average.

[Rex]

2. I see a pattern, no permit = higher gun fatalities.

So would that fall under the need for stricter control over the sale of firearms?

[beevul]

5. Higher rates perhaps, but not higher gun fatalities.

Low population plays as much part in higher rates, as high population does in hiding huge numbers of gun deaths in comfortably misleading rates.

See CA and AK for examples.

[Rex]

6. True did not think about that, good point.

[LittleBlue]

3. That includes suicides. Here is the real list

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence_in_the_United_States_by_state

Washington DC had the highest murder rate by a huge distance.

So it is deceptive to imply this is rural. Gun violence is urban, and a lot of it gang and drug related.

The urban areas with the most strict gun laws, like DC, have the highest murder rates. Hence Maryland is among the highest (mainly Baltimore, another urban area dominated by gangs)

[smirkymonkey]

4. Interesting, New England has relative low rates of gun ownership.

No wonder I don't know of anyone who owns a gun and why gun culture is so foreign to me. It's relatively rare around here. Maine and Vermont have higher rates, but I expect that the owners are mainly rural and hunters.