New York’s Gun-Related Death Trends Downward While The Nation’s Remains High
It’s no surprise, but America has more guns than any industrial nation — globally. Along with more weapons comes more gun deaths.
Two New York City heart doctors administered a study and discovered America has 88 guns per 100 people and ten gun-connected fatalities per 100,000 people. Those figures are higher than any of the 27 high-developed countries they reviewed.
Japan, by comparison, had just over one-half gun per 100 people and .06 gun-linked fatalities per 100,000 people. Japan is also the nation with the fewest guns and the least gun-connected fatalities.
Physicians Sripal Bangalore and Franz Messerli reviewed the data concerning guns per capita and gun deaths. Using information available openly from the World Health Organization the pair put together the listing.
They conducted the study because of the apparently baseless claims on both sides of the gun control debate.
“I believe we need more evidence-based discussion and less of what persons are pulling out of their hats,” Bangalore said.
The study’s conclusion? More guns don’t make people safer.
“That should be a surprise to people,” David Hemenway, a Harvard professor said.
Here’s the full list:
Country Guns per 100 Total Firearm-related Deaths per 100,000
| United States | 88.8 | 10.2 |
| Switzerland | 45.7 | 3.84 |
| Finland | 45.3 | 3.64 |
| Sweden | 31.6 | 1.47 |
| Norway | 31.3 | 1.78 |
| France | 31.2 | 3 |
| Canada | 30.8 | 2.44 |
| Austria | 30.4 | 2.94 |
| Iceland | 30.3 | 1.25 |
| Germany | 30.3 | 1.1 |
| New Zealand | 22.6 | 2.66 |
| Greece | 22.5 | 1.5 |
| Belgium | 17.2 | 2.43 |
| Luxembourg | 15.3 | 1.81 |
| Australia | 15 | 1.04 |
| South Africa | 12.7 | 9.41 |
| Turkey | 12.5 | 0.72 |
| Denmark | 12 | 1.45 |
| Malta | 11.9 | 2.16 |
| Italy | 11.9 | 1.28 |
| Spain | 10.4 | 0.63 |
| Ireland | 8.6 | 1.03 |
| Portugal | 8.5 | 1.77 |
| Israel | 7.3 | 1.86 |
| United Kingdom | 6.2 | 0.25 |
| Netherlands | 3.9 | 0.46 |
| Japan | 0.6 | 0.06 |
New York City Sees Low Numbers
Within the context of America, New York City witnesses historically low numbers last year.
The city wrapped up 2016 with just under 1,000 shootings. The year ended with 140 fewer shooting incidents than the year before according to the city’s law enforcement officials.
Murders were also down for the year with 17 fewer occurring in 2015 than in 2016 — overall a drop of 5-percent.
The NYPD pointed to new precision policing for the reduction. In precision policing, detectives focus on people who have a demonstrated pattern of committing crimes.
Instead of stop and frisk, a widely criticized tactics formerly used, police are targeting street crews and recidivists.
As well as the surgical-like approach to stopping criminals, beat cops are giving out their department-issued cell numbers permitting residents to call immediately and directly.
“It’s a tiny percentage of New York’s population,” said James O’Neill, the city’s Police Commissioner. “If the same officers are there each day they get to know the people and will have a genuine effect on what happens in the neighborhoods.”
With the almost-monthly mass-shootings in the USA, it is plain the country is not dealing with the “elephant in the room.”
Increased gun control and fewer gun-related deaths will not happen merely by throwing more money at the problem.
Are Americans seeking to make people act right while watching the current White House administration.
