One in five Americans have had a family member killed by guns: survey

One in five American adults have a family member who was killed by a gun -- including by suicide -- and a similar percentage said they've been threatened with one, according to a survey released Tuesday.

I personally know dozens of people in the USA that haven't had a family members life ended by a gun.

A total fallacy of logical response. Does the author realize this? Doubt it.

Apt that a red herring is not called a blue herring. LOL!

Its really disheartening and quite frankly shocking that some people still trot out this tired old chestnut without giving or incapable of giving I t a minutes thought.

Well, the one thing they've proven is Orwell was right. If a faction lies and keeps lying, there becomes two truths. A false one and a real one. They've created their double think, and follow the cherry picked narrative which doesn't include full truths, so that's that. They lie with abandon and believe their lie as the truth, and it's incredibly sad to see right winged, conservative people in America incapable of even wanting to critical think.

Now, it's impossible for them to do so.

why do I need a gun?

because there are some people who think they are more entitled to the things I own than I am.

these people have no problem to break into my home with a weapon and try to take what is mine, and threaten me and my family with harm.

And law enforcement and can do nothing to take guns out of these criminals hands due to the lack of will of the judicial to prosecute, the lack of will of the legislative to pass anti crime laws and the lack of will of identity politics infested society to incarcerate entire groups of certain exempted people.

Words mean things.

Nobody is killed by a gun.

They are killed by a person.

Its really disheartening and quite frankly shocking that some people still trot out this tired old chestnut without giving or incapable of giving I t a minutes thought.

Nuclear weapons don’t kill people, let’s give them to everyone including North Korea.

Arsenic doesn’t kill people, let’s stock supermarket shelves with it.

Same ‘logic’.

Words mean things.

Nobody is killed by a gun.

They are killed by a person.

And given that the vast majority of the deaths being discussed here are suicides, we can safely say that this is a case of vastly overblowing -- and falsely blaming -- the "gun problem."

Guns do not cause suicide. If they did, Japan would have almost no suicides.

Neither would South Korea, which has one of the highest suicide rates anywhere in the world. But few guns.

Tragically, someone who's fully set on ending their own life, if there's no gun available to them, will find some other way to do it.

So, exploiting suicides in America to craft this "scary guns" narrative is actually pretty opportunistic. Tells me that the media don't really care about suicide victims -- but only about how they can use their plight to their political and social-agenda benefit.

Not minimizing it just never met anyone that lost their life through a firearm.

For once we agree. I too have never met anyone that lost their life through a firearm.

Who you gonna call?

Not minimizing it just never met anyone that lost their life through a firearm.

LOL. dude, you likely wouldn't admit to the problems of guns and bullets, even if you or your family was affected by a death by bullets.

Huge percentage, absolutely.

It's even higher than I imagined. But it doesn't surprise. With the attitudes shown on this forum from gun supporters, of course it won't go down.

They actually say there's nothing to be done when gun killings occur, and then dismiss those who say there should be something done. See Tennessee.

They do so, gleefully, and then watch as more gun deaths occur, the next day. The next. The next, etc.

They value guns and bullets argument over death by bullets. The lack of empathy and care shows how truly out of touch with humanity these people are.

Arguing with conservative gun lovers is an exercise in insanity trying to have discourse with the insane.

Not minimizing it just never met anyone that lost their life through a firearm.

where and how do you think you could even meet them? ROFL

lol. He’s got you there.

I thought it would be higher rate given the frequency of incidents.

bass4funk

Not minimizing it just never met anyone that lost their life through a firearm.

where and how do you think you could even meet them? ROFL

One in five Americans have had a family member killed by guns: survey

This headline is so absurdly dishonest and misleading that it is practically comedy.

The way this reads, it makes it sound like an estimated 66.4 million Americans have been killed by guns. In reality, this title is abusing repetitive data amongst extended families for the sake of creating clickbait. Really classy stuff from our friends at 「今日の日本」.

It’s easy and only a question of education. Teach them first, that they have to value life, own and that of others. Teach them second, that there are guns out there and they should only use it for collecting, sports or defense purposes. That’s all to it and that works. But now the obstacle, you really have to teach it, again and again and in doubt by beating it into their amoeba brains until they have completely understood.

People should have the right to defend themselves until the real problems are addressed. It seems like the US government is focusing on disarming law-abiding citizens while not being concerned with criminality ... while providing guns to drug cartels (Operation Fast and Furious).

Don't get it at all - by the rational of more guns - would the world be safer if more countries had nuclear weapons?...to me it's the same argument

Was at a Gun Show in American before the pandemic. You can buy guns on the spot. It was like a swap meet for gun owners.

One guy was selling used guns but in excellent condition. He laughed when he said, it's been dropped a couple of times. The previous owner doesn't need it anymore.

I walked away.

Thanks, Roy, for your elucidation of the finer points of statistics. The world - and public opinion - is much the poorer for the general ignorance of this subject. "Ah, but you can say anything with statistics," will be the retort.

So, try another way. Assume the average extended family has 11 adults.

Not sure, but it seems there was no definition of "family" in the survey. Respondents simply answered the question "Do you have a family member who has ever been killed by a gun, including death by suicide?" (link below) I imagine a death by shooting of even a distant family member (e.g. my wife's mum's second husband's sister's son) would stick in your mind, so the potential family is probably far more than 11.

https://www.kff.org/other/poll-finding/americans-experiences-with-gun-related-violence-injuries-and-deaths/

Also, and for more fundamentally, you haven't considered the fundamental causes of why poverty and violence is so much higher among racial minorities, especially blacks.

It almost feels like everyone keeps coming with the very same excuses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miINTEHNMPs

Your answer is on 3:30.

Gun deaths are shockingly high in the US and a shame on the nation. But the headline of this survey should be looked at carefully. There were 50,000 deaths by shooting in 2021 in a population of 330,000,000. That is one for every 6,600 people. About 3/4 of the population are adults, so that equates to one death for every 4,950 adults. Even when accumulated over time, this seems a long way from the headline 1 in 5. So, try another way. Assume the average extended family has 11 adults. Each gun death then creates 10 adults who have a family member killed. With 50,000 deaths a year that gives 500,000 adults a year with a family member who died because of guns. Still nowhere near 1 in 5 for a population of 330m even if people are looking back 20 or 30 years. Even if the extended family has 20 adults the number still do not get anywhere close to 1 in 5. The US has a nightmare situation with gun violence but, unless I am missing something, is fortunately far from the situation depicted by this survey.

If I had a gun, I know I would accidentally shoot myself in the foot or something. Very clumsy.

About 260 million adults in the USA.

20% (52,000,000) have had a family member killed by guns.

Righhhhttttt.

USNinJapan2Today  02:11 pm JST

That's a ridiculously small poll sample for a population of over 332 million. I call BS on this survey.

I'm with you 100% on this.

Unequivocal evidence that the problem is very serious, unfortunately part of this problem is that a lot of the public refuse to recognize it as a problem. The "right" to being in the position of killing other human beings ranks too high in their priorities to see the negative sides of that right greatly overcome the benefits.

In the U.S. there is always talk of gun control after every gun killing. And, there is a deadly merry-go-round until the next which, could be the next day! I think that gun control should start with banning toy guns which is how American children are taught how to kill with a gun.

・In an all­-white Chicago, murder would decline 90 percent, rape by 81 percent, and robbery by 90 percent.

For those interested in the data, approximately 70% of murders by black people, 20% by Hispanics and 10% by white people.

But what you haven't aligned for is the poverty rates of the underlying populations.

Also, and for more fundamentally, you haven't considered the fundamental causes of why poverty and violence is so much higher among racial minorities, especially blacks.

Otherwise your point just looks like lazy racism.

Black and Hispanic Americans reported far more experiences knowing someone who was shot, and generally feeling threatened by gun violence

I'm guessing that if the survey results were broken down by economic status, you'd find similar results for people in poorer neighborhoods, regardless of race. That's generally the same anywhere - rates of violence are higher in poorer areas.

Why would law-abiding folks need to feel the right to defend themselves?

Because there are large numbers of people who are not law-abiding and the law enforcement in those cities have their hands tied.

Why would law-abiding folks need to feel the right to defend themselves?

Because there are large numbers of people who do are not law-abiding and the law enforcement in those cities have their hands tied.

Black and Hispanic Americans reported far more experiences shooting someone.

Fixed for you.

Poorly written article insinuates blacks and natives (non-white mexicans, etc) are being hunted by white cops in the streets or something like that.

Well, that is the most critical part that no one is focusing on. If you take the black and Hispanic high crime out of this mathematical equation that number drops very significantly.

Why would law-abiding folks need to feel the right to defend themselves?

An 'insurmountable problem' that affects no other developed nation.

Everyone does not live in a developed nation. Gun control advocates throw out crime figures of tiny Scandinavian countries to prove their point.

For folks living in the real world with real problems, the US will always be a model nation which does not oppress its own citizens by depriving them of the most fundamental human right - the right to bear arms.

84 percent of U.S. adults say they have taken precautions to protect themselves and their families from the danger of being shot

yep, that’s why I will own multiple guns...

Don't blame you, you never know when one of the kids or maybe the wife might "lose it" and take out the AR15 and mow the whole family down...

Best everyone concealed carry and have their piece ready at all times...

MAGA family values...

yep, that’s why I will own multiple guns until criminals don’t.

So who or what is to give me a guarantee that "law-abiding citizens" don't eventually turn into criminals as well?

Why should law abiding folks be denied the right to defend themselves?

Why would law-abiding folks need to feel the right to defend themselves?

An 'insurmountable problem' that affects no other developed nation.

84 percent of U.S. adults say they have taken precautions to protect themselves and their families from the danger of being shot

yep, that’s why I will own multiple guns until criminals don’t.

whether having more guns in circulation is a good thing

Of course it is. Why should law abiding folks be denied the right to defend themselves?

One in five American adults have a family member who was killed by a gun -- including by suicide

Suicides are two-thirds of annual gun deaths in the US, but gun control folks include it to show artificially inflated figures of gun violence to try to prove a point.

One in five American adults have a family member who was killed by a gun

And how many have family members saved by guns?

@finally rich

Just to check, can you give us a source for those stats?

I know you are a fan of American Renaissance. Is it from there?

I wonder in what neighborhood the survey was performed:

KFF's data was based on a survey of 1,271 adults taken during mid-March.

KFF's data was based on a survey of 1,271 adults taken during mid-March.

That's a ridiculously small poll sample for a population of over 332 million. I call BS on this survey.

Well, that's the American freedom for you.

I don't see what the alternatives are anymore.

Black and Hispanic Americans reported far more experiences knowing someone who was shot, and generally feeling threatened by gun violence, than white Americans did.

Three out of 10 Black adults had personally seen someone being shot, the survey said, more than twice the rate for white adults.

Thank you for the insightful info but I have the feeling the article left out very important stats that would help the readers to understand the problem with guns in America.

Yes. I'm not an flat earther to believe today's America wouldnt be a better place without guns readily available to the populace.

・If New York City were all white, the murder rate would drop by 91 percent, the robbery rate by 81 percent, and the shootings rate by 97 percent.

・In an all­-white Chicago, murder would decline 90 percent, rape by 81 percent, and robbery by 90 percent.

Americans seem to like killing each other. But I wonder if, including each other, foreigners, natives, slaves and animals, Americans have been responsible for the most death during their history, from guns or not. It's a death cult.

Black and Hispanic Americans reported far more experiences knowing someone who was shot, and generally feeling threatened by gun violence, than white Americans did.

Black and Hispanic Americans reported far more experiences shooting someone.

Fixed for you.

Poorly written article insinuates blacks and natives (non-white mexicans, etc) are being hunted by white cops in the streets or something like that.

When I read these articles I feel lucky that I was born and risen in a peaceful western northern European country,for sure America has so many social problems and this one is a major one.

Their weapon lobbies are the main problem there but I see hard to eradicate such a business.

One in five Americans have had a family member killed by guns: survey

Wrong.

One question I find gun-owning advocates get a bit uncomfortable with is whether having more guns in circulation is a good thing. You usually get an answer along the lines of ‘if people want them, they have the right’. True for the most part, but doesn’t really answer the question.

Because there is something wrong with the question.

I would like to see a pretty radical change in gun control in the US. That said, this survey doesn't pass the sniff test and I wouldn't be surprised if there are follow up to this. I looked at the methodology which shows they surveyed 1271 people - small for such a statement and geography and other factors matter. The same survey says that 38% of peope have either been threatened with a gun or have seen someone harmed by a gun. Like, no. Something is wrong with the sampling or methodology.

As seen in the article, the vicious circle of carrying guns to protect one's-self from others carrying guns is escalating

One question I find gun-owning advocates get a bit uncomfortable with is whether having more guns in circulation is a good thing. You usually get an answer along the lines of ‘if people want them, they have the right’. True for the most part, but doesn’t really answer the question.

There is a reason why America is called the HOME of the BRAVE!

The cult of the gun....the worshiping of firearms above even their own children - that is what the Repub Party is all about these days...

Even common sense gun control like red-flag laws to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally disturbed are off-limits...

They want guns all the time, everywhere....well, unless it's at an NRA conference or a Trump rally...then gun control is fine...

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/25/1101181842/nra-trump-speech-guns-banned-houston#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20NRA%2C%20the,also%20won't%20be%20allowed.

I personally don't know or had anyone in my family use guns irresponsibly or been killed by one. Not minimizing it just never met anyone that lost their life through a firearm.

I am not in the least surprised, the USA has spent over 240yrs, since its inception, fighting wars across the world. I would be surprise to find even one family which did NOT have a gun in their home.

I'm one of them. My cousin was playing around and accidentally shot himself.

The 2nd Amendment (right to keep and bear arms) is so deeply ingrained into American society that it will be next to impossible for things to improve. As seen in the article, the vicious circle of carrying guns to protect one's-self from others carrying guns is escalating. A bleak future indeed.

S