USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Maps
  • State Guides
    • A-E
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
    • F-J
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
    • K-M
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
    • N-O
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
    • P-U
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
    • V-Z
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Maps
  • State Guides
    • A-E
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
    • F-J
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
    • K-M
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
    • N-O
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
    • P-U
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
    • V-Z
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • DAILY GUNS & AMMO DEALS – CLICK HERE!
Home Articles

The Truth About Gun Violence: New Data from the CDC

Michael Jenkins by Michael Jenkins
March 31, 2016
in Articles, General Firearm
Reading Time: 3 mins read
The Truth About Gun Violence: New Data from the CDC
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Truth About Gun Violence: New Data from the CDC

On February 16, 2016, the Center for Disease Control released a report entitled “Deaths: Final Data for 2013” as part of its National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol 64, Number 2. As the title might suggest:

“This report presents final 2013 data on the U.S. deaths, death rates, life expectancy, infant mortality, and trends, by selected characteristics such as age, sex, Hispanic origins, race, state of residence, and cause of death.”

It’s a fairly detailed piece of research, and some of it does relate to firearms. In brief: there were 33,169 firearms related deaths in the U.S. in 2013 (Table 10, pp 41-42). They break down as follows:

  • Accidental discharge of firearms: 505
  • Intentional self-harm (suicide) by discharge of firearms: 21,175
  • Assault (homicide) by discharge of firearms: 11,208
  • Discharge of firearms, undetermined intent: 281

These numbers are interesting—nearly 2/3 of the intentional deaths by firearms were suicides. The ethics and legality of suicide are beyond the scope of this article, but ultimately suicide is a very different animal than homicide/murder or assault—undeniably criminal usage of firearms.

But is the assault (homicide rate) as reported by the CDC an accurate reflection of the murder rate? Apparently not, as becomes clear when one compares the CDC numbers to the FBI’s reporting for the same time frame. Here’s how the Bureau reports murder by firearms over a multi-year timeframe:

You’ll note that these numbers are quite a bit lower, suggesting that the CDC reports—as do many European nations—a homicide rate: how many times one human being intentionally uses a firearm to cause the death of another. This would include self-defense and possible even law enforcement shootings, explaining the larger numbers.  Also interesting to note is the FBI’s overall downward trend in both homicide by firearm and homicide in total. So much for the notion that our nation gets more dangerous every year.

Some readers have noticed that firearms-related homicides do still account for nearly 2/3 of the homicide rate annually in the US. But is the availability of firearms behind that figure? I would suggest not, and there’s a lot of evidence to support me. As many studies, researchers, and pundits have pointed out, the War on Drugs is quite probably the overwhelming driving factor in American violence, particularly gun related violence. A multi-billion dollar industry, America’s war on itself creates a permanent economic underclass, erodes the growth of inner cities, and hampers the ability of the police to prevent and solve crimes. Some estimates suggest that homicides relating to the drug trade and the War on Drugs account for nearly 1,100 deaths a year—not including the indirect carnage caused the the ripple effects of social destabilization and urban decay.

Like most responsible gun owners, I want to make America a safer, more law abiding nation. However, rather than attacking the rights and liberties of free people, focusing on the root causes of crime is a more effective approach to creating a better future for us all.

 

Tags: cdcfbigun violence
Michael Jenkins

Michael Jenkins

Michael Jenkins is a writer and editor based in Wilmington, North Carolina. He is a lifelong reader, gardener, shooter, and musician. You can reach him at [email protected].

Next Post
Manual Safety For Pistols -- Good Or Bad For Concealed Carry?

Manual Safety For Pistols -- Good Or Bad For Concealed Carry?

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Connect with
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Please login to comment
4 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Previous Post

Gun Store Owner Prevents a Possible Mass Shooting

Next Post

Manual Safety For Pistols — Good Or Bad For Concealed Carry?

Related Posts

Louisiana Man Shoots Co-Worker in Self-Defense After Co-Worker Repeatedly Strikes Him in the Head
Defensive Gun Uses

Louisiana Man Shoots Co-Worker in Self-Defense After Co-Worker Repeatedly Strikes Him in the Head

July 2, 2025
Homeowner Shoots Armed Intruder After Suspect's Gun Misfires During Alleged Attack
Defensive Gun Uses

Homeowner Shoots Armed Intruder After Suspect’s Gun Misfires During Alleged Attack

July 2, 2025
NFA Tax Removed but Fight Continues as ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Heads Back to House
Firearm Laws & Litigation

NFA Tax Removed but Fight Continues as ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Heads Back to House

July 2, 2025
Does North Dakota Accept Non-Resident Carry Permits? Here’s What We Found Out
Firearm Laws & Litigation

Does North Dakota Accept Non-Resident Carry Permits? Here’s What We Found Out

July 1, 2025

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

Navigate Site

  • State Guides
  • Maps
  • Articles
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Giveaway
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
  • Concealed Carry Permit Guides By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • American Samoa
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Guam
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Northern Marianas
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Puerto Rico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virgin Islands
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Daily Deals
  • Contact

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
  • Concealed Carry Permit Guides By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • American Samoa
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Guam
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Northern Marianas
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Puerto Rico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virgin Islands
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Daily Deals
  • Contact

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

wpDiscuz
4
0
Join the conversation, please comment.x
()
x
| Reply
You are going to send email to

Move Comment
Gun Deals
Gun.Deals