[marktwain]

You do not see up to date figures on accidental firearms deaths in the media anymore. What you see are figures from the 1990's, when the totals were about 1,500. I have not been able to find any data more recent than 2007, even though I would have expected that the 2008 data would have been available by now.

[MCCC]

In 2002, the largest total number of accidental firearm deaths made up 0.0003% of the population. If driving an automobile was only this safe. (@ 41000 auto accidents per year the number is 0.01% of the population)

[WOBBLY BOB]

BFL...

[Psalm 144]

Good catch, Marktwain. Interesting too, that the -lowest- number of accidental deaths is after the -highest- spike of private gun sales in our nation’s history. I have wondered who was buying them. Looks like they are going into the right hands. May also reflect more thorough training and general information as a by product of the spread of conceal carry jurisdictions in the US.

[deadrock]

In before the obligatory...

"Bush's fault.'

[arderkrag]

Fabulous catch. Added to profile.

[MCCC]

There is also a difference between the proximate cause of death, the gun shot, and the actual cause of death. Which before penicillin was most probably infection.

[Jack Hammer]

You have to check around, but I believe (don’t quote me on this) that the number of firearms related fatalities is lower than bicycle accidents, drownings, and electrocutions. Lower than deaths from mismanaged surgeries, and waaaaaay lower than traffic accidents.

It’s way, way down there in the basement.

Of course, you’ll never hear that from the media.

[Emperor Palpatine]

[thefactor]

Do these numbers include Glocks or not?

[Publius6961]

The problem with presenting these figures in isolation is that it allows the under-50 IQ crowd to say, "SEE? ONE ACCIDENTAL FIREARM DEATH IS TOO MANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

How many accidental deaths have there been from swimming pools? Exploding propane tanks? River Rafting? Spectating at motor car events? Eating chicken? Running with scissors? Using BB guns?

See where I'm going with this?

Context and perspective are everything.
The anti-gun crowd in an advanced society is the most helpless, clueless, irrational, self-centered, despotic, delusional group that must be tolerated. Fortunately, the first to die off from sundry causes when TSHTF.

Force them to spend a week without electricity. That will make their heards explode, but would teach them both perspective and humility.

[upsdriver]

Accidental Gun Deaths 2002-2007

That's a lot of gun deaths. I get sad whenever a gun dies, whether by accident or not.

[fireforeffect]

I wonder if this reflects improved safety or a change in reporting. If the LEO's are reporting more “accidental” firearm deaths as homicides (negligent or otherwise), the “accidental” numbers would go down.

[Uncle Miltie]

For comparison:

“An average of about 240 children under 5 years old drown in swimming pools nationwide each year. But CPSC also has reports of about 110 children under 5 who have drowned in other products in and around the home each year. These products include bathtubs, hot tubs, spas, buckets and other containers.”

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/consumerawareness/a/homedrowning.htm

[deoetdoctrinae]

Thanks, MT. You do good work, getting this type of info in front of the rest of us. Now if only you could teach the libs to read and understand it too. (I know, I ask too much!)

[smokingfrog]

Firearms Deaths (from Politifact - known to have a liberal bias)

• Suicides: 102,002 between 2002 and 2007
• Homicides: 73,148 between 2002 and 2007
• Accidental: 4,185 between 2002 and 2007
• Legal shootings: 1,999 between 2002 and 2007
• Undetermined: 1,427 between 2002 and 2007