In light of horrific events such as Virginia Tech and the slough of events that preceded it, the gun control debate is once again rearing its ugly head. Amidst the arguments and rhetoric, photographer Kyle Cassidy is releasing Armed America: Portraits of Gun Owners in Their Homes, a book that, like any unbiased journalism, portrays gun owners of all types. The conclusion being-not all gun owners are psycho. ((do you really think that is the conclusion? Is he pro-firearms? Anti-firearms? Or might he be saying how sad it is that people live in such fear in their own homes, in their own country that is supposed to be one of the best places in the world to be? Or is it a form of art, that is meant to evoke emotion whether from the pro or anti side? )) Nevertheless, below are some real facts surrounding the issue.
“The “gun vote” in the US can sway a federal election”
“The National Rifle Association (NRA), the country’s largest pro-gun lobbying group, quotes the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE)’s estimate that in 1999 there were about 215,000,000 guns in America and at least one gun in about half of the households in the country”.
“The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (the nation’s leading anti-gun coalition) estimates there are 192,000,000 guns in America, owned by 39% of the population”.
“Whether it’s 39% or 50% of Americans” the country is filled with guns.
“In one year, more children and teens died from gunfire than from cancer, pneumonia, influenza, asthma, and HIV/AIDS combined”. (Children’s Defense Fund)
“The rate of firearm deaths among kids under age 15 is almost 12 times higher in the United States than in 25 other industrialized countries combined”. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
“American kids are 16 times more likely to be murdered with a gun, 11 times more likely to commit suicide with a gun, and nine times more likely to die from a firearm accident than children in 25 other industrialized countries combined”. (Centers for Disease Control)
Perhaps it’s time to put the Gatz down!
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i totally agree, guns are so stupid, theyre good for nothing but murder. i feel that alot of movies and music and video games influence people to buys these stupid things. the media makes it sound like its the coolest thing to own a gun. even the discovery channel shows the latest guns invented.. after people watch that, theyre lik “what did u see that gun on discovery today, that was sick” and they talk like its cool shit. it bothers me