BaltACD The Trace First, let’s start by looking at the number of guns. While there is no official (read: government) count of how many guns Americans own, the Small Arms Survey, a research project at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, provides one of the best available numbers. The organization’s most recent report, released in 2018, estimates that there are upward of 393 million civilian guns in circulation in the U.S. An additional 4.5 million guns are held by the military, and law enforcement agencies have another 1.2 million, for a total of 398.7 million guns. That accounts for nearly half the world’s firearms, and makes America the most armed country on Earth. The group derives its tally from gun registration figures, law enforcement and manufacturing data, published studies, and academic surveys of gun owners. (The count does not include ghost guns, which have no serial numbers and, because they’re homemade, aren’t reflected in gun industry manufacturing totals.) While they may be no more 'abailable' than in 1960 - there certainly appear to many more of them - and more of them also mean more of them fall into 'unqualified' hands. Guns in the USA are a absolute mess.
The Trace First, let’s start by looking at the number of guns. While there is no official (read: government) count of how many guns Americans own, the Small Arms Survey, a research project at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, provides one of the best available numbers. The organization’s most recent report, released in 2018, estimates that there are upward of 393 million civilian guns in circulation in the U.S. An additional 4.5 million guns are held by the military, and law enforcement agencies have another 1.2 million, for a total of 398.7 million guns. That accounts for nearly half the world’s firearms, and makes America the most armed country on Earth. The group derives its tally from gun registration figures, law enforcement and manufacturing data, published studies, and academic surveys of gun owners. (The count does not include ghost guns, which have no serial numbers and, because they’re homemade, aren’t reflected in gun industry manufacturing totals.)
That accounts for nearly half the world’s firearms, and makes America the most armed country on Earth. The group derives its tally from gun registration figures, law enforcement and manufacturing data, published studies, and academic surveys of gun owners. (The count does not include ghost guns, which have no serial numbers and, because they’re homemade, aren’t reflected in gun industry manufacturing totals.)
While they may be no more 'abailable' than in 1960 - there certainly appear to many more of them - and more of them also mean more of them fall into 'unqualified' hands. Guns in the USA are a absolute mess.
The huge number of firearms in circulation make them more easily obtained, legally or illegally.
Yes, male suicide rates are 3.7 times that of females.
The TraceFirst, let’s start by looking at the number of guns. While there is no official (read: government) count of how many guns Americans own, the Small Arms Survey, a research project at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, provides one of the best available numbers. The organization’s most recent report, released in 2018, estimates that there are upward of 393 million civilian guns in circulation in the U.S. An additional 4.5 million guns are held by the military, and law enforcement agencies have another 1.2 million, for a total of 398.7 million guns. That accounts for nearly half the world’s firearms, and makes America the most armed country on Earth. The group derives its tally from gun registration figures, law enforcement and manufacturing data, published studies, and academic surveys of gun owners. (The count does not include ghost guns, which have no serial numbers and, because they’re homemade, aren’t reflected in gun industry manufacturing totals.)
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BackshopThere really isn't increased availability of firearms.
Firearms are no more available now than they were in 1960. Back then in addition to specialized gun shops you could buy firearms in department stores, sporting goods stores, general stores, or any retailer who felt like carrying them. You could even mail-order them from Sears-Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, or others.
All of the above depended on juristiction of course but Backshop's also correct when he says firearms laws are much stricter now than they were 62 years ago.
An interesting fact with firearms sucides though is the major majority of suicides who use a gun to kill themselves are men, women tend to use other means.
It's truly sad anyway you look at it, especially since help is so much more available now. But as the saying goes "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."
And if the CDC is correct, and I don't see why not, and suicides have increased 30% in the past 20 years the real question is why?
Maybe there is no answer. Not every question has an answer.
There really isn't increased availability of firearms. Purchase laws are stricter now than they were a few decades ago. If someone intent on committing suicide can't find a gun, they'll do it another way...train, OD, jumping, etc. I am aware of three suicides by gun. What was interesting is that none used their own gun. They all rented a gun at a range. IMO, the first one had a reason, the other two I could never figure out.
You are correct:
"On average, adjusted for age, the annual U.S. suicide rate increased 30% between 2000 and 2020, from 10.4 to 13.5 suicides per 100,000 people. In 2018, 14.2 people per 100,000 died by suicide, the highest rate recorded in more than 30 years." - CDC
Increased availability of firearms is a factor, as in over 50% of cases a firearm is used.
zugmann BaltACD For whatever the reasons, suicide has become much more prevalent in out 21st Century society than previously.' Are they becoming more prevalent or are we (as a society) being more honest and open about when they happen? The whole "he was cleaning his gun" thing and all.
BaltACD For whatever the reasons, suicide has become much more prevalent in out 21st Century society than previously.'
Are they becoming more prevalent or are we (as a society) being more honest and open about when they happen?
The whole "he was cleaning his gun" thing and all.
I tend to think both are happening - suicide is more prevalent than in the past and more of the suicides are being factually reported.
While the pain may be over for those who committed suicide - the pain is just starting for those they left behind.
BaltACDFor whatever the reasons, suicide has become much more prevalent in out 21st Century society than previously.'
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
BackshopAlmost all of trespassing fatalities seem to be suicides.
For whatever the reasons, suicide has become much more prevalent in out 21st Century society than previously.'
We are hearing of many suicides from the military and police forces. Saw a article about a 21 YO athletic and acedemic stand out that took her own life. In my own favored hobby a under 40, 7 time National Champion with a thriving race preparation business decided to end it all. Neither of these party's use the railroad as their 'weapon' but they ended their lives never the less.
I don't have any answers, just the single question - Why?
Almost all of trespassing fatalities seem to be suicides.
It's hard to say just what the TV news people consider newsworthy or not.
I check the northern New Jersey on-line news sites daily just to see what's going on with the home folks and if a NJ Transit, Amtrak, CSX or NS train hits a tresspasser it's reported, usually without fail. It happens on average at least once a month. It's sad all right.
But again, these are on-line sights, not TV.
For what it's worth, I was on Amtrak 11, Southbound Coast Starlight tonight. I took a day trip to Santa Barbara for my birthday. We were essentially on time through Oxnard, Simi Valley and Van Nuys. We went into emergency about a quarter mile short of Burbank Airport. Tresspasser, as the conductor called it, was hit. We waited 3 hours for the coroner to arrive, and finally moved again 3 hours 10 min. late.
I walked into my home about half an hour ago, and see nothing on the local news. So, go figure. If it had happened in the daytime rush hour, it would have been all over the tv.
Very likely a homeless, but you never know. Sad all around.
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