Gun suicide and homicide: statistics shaped by race

Washington Post ^ | March 22, 2013 | Dan Keating

[Lorianne]

Gun deaths are shaped by race in America. Whites are far more likely to shoot themselves, and African Americans are far more likely to be shot by someone else.

The statistical difference is dramatic, according to a Washington Post analysis of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A white person is five times as likely to commit suicide with a gun as to be shot with a gun; for each African American who uses a gun to commit suicide, five are killed by other people with guns.

[Lorianne]

Translation.

Black more likely to kill other blacks. Whites more likely to kill themselves.

[SkyPilot]

Michael Moore: 90% Of Guns Owned By “Scared White People”

Then why are most gun crimes committed by blacks?

[tired&retired]

Top 15 Causes of Death
1. Heart Disease
2. Cancer
3. Stroke
4. Chronic Lung Disease
5. Accidents
6. Alzheimer’s
7. Diabetes
8. Influenza and Pneumonia
9. Nephritis/Kidney Disease
10. Blood Poisoning
11. Suicide
12. Liver Disease
13. Hypertension/Renal
14. Parkinson’s Disease
15. Homicide

[rlmorel]

That was exactly what I got out of it.

[Robert357]

It is surprising and good that the WP is posting stories like this. When people look closely at the graph and understand that suicide is a major cause of death by guns and other means and that limiting magazines from 30 rounds to 10 rounds or even 7 rounds will not make one bit of difference in the suicide rate, we might be able to actually address gun violence as opposed to “feel good” gun control laws. Please see the chart below.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/feature/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2013/03/inlinecharts4.jpg

What is interesting is that overall suicide rates if guns are banned don't change much. See study comparing Vancouver BC (no handguns) to Seattle WA lots of handguns used for suicide.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199002083220605

That doesn't mean that waiting periods and safes don't reduce firearm related suicides.

[Robert357]

It sort of looks like 10 to 12 states are the source of most of the criminal gun violence in this country. Maybe that should mean that federal gun control legislation isn't needed.

[GoldwaterCountry]

Dear Michael Moore:

Please do us a favor and choke on a ham sandwich.

[Salamander]

I want to see him prance through downtown Baltimore unarmed and alone after dark.

If he does that, I’ll believe every other thing he ever says, without question.

[Sooth2222]

Between 100,000 and 400,000 Americans die every year because of obesity. AFAIK, there is no constitutional right to gluttony. Why not food control? Moore should be required to step on a scale before he can be seated at a restaurant or allowed to purchase food at a market.[/sarcasm]

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=192032