Keep it simple stupid: Here are six things you need to know about guns in the USA, with sources:
- There are 310 million guns in private hands in the US, almost one for every American. (Congressional Research Service)
- NRA gave $11.7 million to candidates in the 2012 election. (Sunlight)
- U.S. companies manufactured 5.5 million guns in 2010, a 86 percent increase in one decade (ATF)
- 30,000 firearm fatalities occur in the U.S. each year, or about 82 deaths per day. (FBI)
- 8,775 murders, 128,793 robberies and 138, 403 assaults with firearms occurred in 2010. (FBI)
- Just 0.01 percent of background checks for firearms, or about 1 out of every 8,000, found mental health records and denied gun purchases in 2011. (GAO)
The Facts on guns at Face The Facts USA.
Sandy Johnson is a journalist and a gardener, equally passionate about both. She lives in Alexandria, VA. Visit her on her blog, Grassroots & Gardening.