Majority of Americans overstate level of gun violence, Pew finds

[NickB79]

Source: Bloomberg News

The rate of gun-related murders has dropped by almost half since the early 1990s, even though more than eight of 10 Americans wrongly say otherwise, according to a study by the Pew Research Center.

The report, released amid a nationwide debate over whether to enact new measures to curb firearms violence, shows that gun-related deaths peaked in 1993 at seven deaths per 100,000 Americans before descending rapidly to 3.8 deaths per 100,000 by 2000. By 2010, Pew found, the rate had fallen to 3.6 deaths per 100,000 people.

Yet 56 percent of Americans say gun crime is higher than it was in 1993, while 26 percent said it’s the same, according to the survey released Tuesday by the Washington-based group. Just 12 percent told Pew the rate was lower.

“Despite national attention to the issue of firearm violence, most Americans are unaware that gun crime is lower today than it was two decades ago,” the study said.

Read more: http://www.concordmonitor.com/news/nation/world/6113552-95/majority-of-americans-overstate-level-of-gun-violence-pew-finds

---

Not an excuse not to try to do more with regard to gun laws, but it is very good news to hear just how much gun-related crime has dropped over the years.

[mainer]

1. But gun-suicides are way up

"The decrease in gun-related homicides has been partially offset by suicides involving firearms. The number of gun-related suicides has outstripped the number of killings with firearms since 1981. There were 19,392 gun-related suicides in 2010."

With gun homicides dropping, it makes less and less sense to own a gun for self-protection. Because you're far more likely to use it against yourself.

And I don't see figures for rate of gun accidents.

[spin]

2. Many people in our nation take anti-depressive drugs prescribed by doctors to treat ...

minor depression and sleep disorders. Unfortunately these drugs sometimes have a nasty side effect of causing suicidal thoughts.

I was recently talking to an individual who had a sleep disorder problem as he was working hours that prevented him from establishing a regular sleep schedule.

He stated that at the doctor's office he was given a test and it determined that he should be prescribed a drug called Lexapro. He started taking this drug and had been taking for about a month. He was driving a vehicle on the freeway when he was hit by an absolutely overwhelming feeling of hopelessness. He had a strong desire to run his vehicle into a bridge abutment which he found difficult to resist.

This individual was not depressed. He was merely have problems sleeping due to his work schedule.

He also told me that in his opinion there was no way to complete the test he took at the doctor's office and not end up with a prescription.

The combination of this drug and the availability of a firearm could easily result in a tragedy in some people. Therefore I would advise anyone who is taking drugs such as Lexapro to unload their firearms and even disassemble them to allow them time to overcome the potential attack of suicidal thoughts.

[tblue]

14. Scary!

I have a relative who was a Ambien Zombie. He was not suicidal, I don't think. But his behavior was bizarre and reckless. He could have hurt someone by driving unconsciously. Scary stuff! You don't even know you're doing it!

http://www.marieclaire.com/_mobile/world-reports/while-you-were-sleeping

[spin]

15. I would like to see more studies on suicide and anti depression drugs ...

but I fear the drug industry would be strongly opposed.

[Bay Boy]

16. Do the drug companies think...

...that suicide cures depression?

[spin]

19. Good question. ...

There are a lot of questions dealing with the use of antidepressent drugs for minor symptoms of depression and just how effective they actually are.

Antidepressants (Depression Medication)
What You Need to Know About Medications for Depression

Antidepressant medication, used under the guidance of a mental health professional, may relieve some of your depression symptoms. But antidepressants also come with significant side effects and dangers. What’s more, recent studies have raised questions about their effectiveness. At the very least, it’s clear that medication alone isn’t enough—you also need to make changes in your lifestyle. Learning the facts about antidepressants and weighing the benefits against the risks can help you make an informed and personal decision about what’s right for you.

***snip***

Antidepressant medication and suicide risk

For some people, antidepressant treatment causes an increase, rather than a decrease, in depression—and with it, an increased risk of suicide. While this is particularly true of children and young adults on antidepressant medication, anyone taking antidepressants should be closely watched for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The suicide risk is greatest during the first one to two months of antidepressant treatment.

Monitoring is especially important if this is the person’s first time on depression medication or if the dose has recently been changed. Signs that medication is making things worse include anxiety, insomnia, hostility, and extreme agitation—particularly if the symptoms appear suddenly or rapidly deteriorate. If you spot the warning signs in yourself or a loved one, contact a doctor or therapist immediately.

If you are concerned that a friend or family member is contemplating suicide, see Understanding and Helping a Suicidal Person.
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/medications_depression.htm

In recent years I have talked to a number of people who have been prescribed these drugs for minor problems such as sleep disorders by their primary care physicians. Most of these people have told me that they feel these meds helped but have admitted that they have grown dependent on them.

I may be wrong but I fear many physicians are passing out these drugs like candy. There is absolutely no doubt that the drug industry makes a large profit from the sale of these drugs.

Overall these drugs are probably beneficial but the fact that an extremely large number of people are now using them may help explain at least some of the increase in the suicide rate in our nation.

[awoke_in_2003]

7. A crappy economy and guns don't mix. nt

[NickB79]

13. We need to do far more to address mental health in this country

Hopefully with the full implementation of the ACA in the next year, more people will be able to see psychiatrists and get help for their depression.

[billh58]

3. And in other news...

In 2010, guns took the lives of 31,076 Americans in homicides, suicides and unintentional shootings. This is the equivalent of more than 85 deaths each day and more than three deaths each hour.

73,505 Americans were treated in hospital emergency departments for non-fatal gunshot wounds in 2010.

Firearms were the third-leading cause of injury-related deaths nationwide in 2010, following poisoning and motor vehicle accidents.

Between 1955 and 1975, the Vietnam War killed over 58,000 American soldiers – less than the number of civilians killed with guns in the U.S. in an average two-year period.

http://smartgunlaws.org/gun-deaths-and-injuries-statistics/

Citations and sources at website.

[msongs]

5. to gun owners that's just collateral damage, totally acceptable nt

[billh58]

6. And although they

Last edited Thu May 9, 2013, 09:40 PM - Edit history (1)

pretend to be concerned about the use of guns in suicides, they are adamantly against doctors being allowed to ask about guns in the home. Just another example of hypocrisy on the part of the "cold dead hands" NRA apologists.

[bowens43]

4. 30000 gun deaths a year.

[otohara]

8. Compaired to Other Countries

our gun deaths are off the charts.

Love how they are trying to minimize our gun death problem.

[NickB79]

9. Clearly, we still have a serious problem

But let's not minimize the fact we have cut gun violence almost in half in 25 years per the latest Justice Department report. I don't see this as "trying to minimize our gun death problem", but rather that this is an amazing accomplishment we should all be happy to hear about, and should motivate us to keep working to improve upon.

[Maeve]

10. It's hard to get people to believe the truth when so many folks' pay depends on the lie

Sure, the right is claiming the left wants people scared of guns to increase the chance of anti-gun legislation (yeah, I know, but I've seen that argument in the LTEs in the local paper). BUT--so do the gun manufacturers, so folks will buy MORE guns for "protection". So do the security companies--more fear, more business. And that includes metal detector companies, alarm companies, rent-a-cop companies...

[brett_jv]

11. I think a big part of the drop in rates ...

Is that the crack epidemic/gang warfare over turf has calmed down significantly since the 'height' of the problem in the early 90's. When the stuff hit the street, with it's extremely quick addiction rate, nasty withdrawals, and huge profit margins, there was a 'mad dash' amongst criminals/dealers to carve out their 'piece of the pie', and they did it through gun violence.

Nowadays I'd imagine that the usage of crack has gone down (esp. on a per capita basis), and that the 'turf lines' are probably for the most part 'settled', and when they aren't, the criminals have developed 'ways' of settling the disputes w/o resorting to open warfare on the city streets like they were doing in the 90's.

I also think that there was a large influx of high-powered weapons that 'hit the streets' right around that time. I'd imagine someone else here recalls the 'why' of that situation ... if I was to guess, maybe it was because of the end of the first gulf war, and the excess/unneeded weapons were ending up sold to whoever wanted 'em?

Anyways, I'm pretty sure the introduction of 'crack' coincided with large numbers of cheap, highly powerful weapons becoming suddenly readily available, and twas the co-incidence of the two that led to that 'era' being the high point for overall gun violence in our country.

And iirc, there are some folks who remain convinced that, in fact, what happened at that time was actually NO 'coincidence'. If you know what I'm sayin' ...

[Spitfire of ATJ]

12. Muggings are way down from the early 90s because of ATM cards...

People don't carry cash like they used to since merchants let you pay with a swipe.

[PD Turk]

17. This poll is from Pew

....not Pew Pew Pew!

[marble falls]

18. I think that the over estimation of crime is a cause for a lot of folks arming themselves.