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The mauling and killing of US Citizens by pit bulls is
going to stop,,,
One way or the other...

Cool ...could you do something about the carnage caused by drunk drivers while you're at it?
I don't drink. People can't be trusted to be responsible.
Lots of other drinks just as tasty and safe too. Alcohol should be banned.

But seriously...Let's assume your figures are correct....

"Pit bull type dogs were responsible for 61%"

Couple of problems here...1. The vagueness of the term "pit bull type". There are a number of breeds that get lumped into the "pit bull type" and
2. A percentage should not guide public policy. If pitbulls were magically to disappear, lo and behold some other breed/type would become the new ~61% dog.
To illustrate, here is list of fatal dog attacks in 1974...

It changes with breed popularity/population.

Pit bulls make up approximately 2-9% of the US dog population

K...I've seen higher estimates from Freepers that work in shelters so I'm going to go for 9%
An estimate in 2000 put the dog population of the US at +60 million.
9% of 60 million is 5.4 million dogs.
Given the reported number of deaths linked to "pit bulls"...11...
about 2 "pit bulls" out of a million "pit bulls" are responsible for fatalities.
While any fatal attack is unacceptable, looking at the numbers calls into question the "inherently bad/vicious" argument that some put forth.
While I could quibble about your source I do like that they at least make an attempt to gather information, analysis it and extract the salient factors.

"1. The vagueness of the term "pit bull type". There are a number of breeds that get lumped into the "pit bull type" and 2. A percentage should not guide public policy. If pitbulls were magically to disappear, lo and behold some other breed/type would become the new ~61% dog."

I had a puppy described as a lab/mastiff mix by the previous owner. As he grew, he looked a little more like a lab/pit mix. He was cared for well, taught good manners around the house, very securely fenced and very polite with people--even the mailman. He was a "pit bull type." One day, at about 2 years old, he acted aggressively toward kids outside the fence. He was a liability dog. I put him down.

"Given the reported number of deaths linked to "pit bulls"..."

Include mauling incidents. Pit bulls perpetrate a far greater percentage of maulings and deaths for their total number than other dogs. The ban against pit bull type dogs (several similar breeds) in the UK greatly lowered the number of serious attacks.

The problem will be taken care of one way or the other in the States. You folks up north will continue to make your own choices on feeding defenseless people to dogs and bears as you wish. People--especially children--shouldn't be required to try to defend themselves against vicious animals with pocketknives or less. And no one should be caused any fear by any coward's animal while walking by a house on a public road.