Gun Ownership: A Risk-Return Analysis

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Gun violence in our nation is at an all-time high and still many citizens in our country want to purchase firearms. Most America’s gun owners purchase firearms for self-defense, whereas research as shown that the gun owners are 22 times more likely to be involved in accidental shootings, homicides, and suicide attempts. It is estimated that for every one time a gun owner uses his or her firearm to protect themselves, there were 4 unintentional shootings, 7 criminal assaults or homicides, and 11 attempted or completed suicides. It is easy to see there are many disadvantages of owning firearms, but with the rising threats of domestic and foreign terrorism against our homeland many people ask the question if our right to own guns are revoked …show more content…

This may or may not seem very important to you, however imagine your family member was among the individuals who tragically lost their lives to an accidental or intentional firearm incident. Research has proven that states whom citizens with large gun ownership levels had 9 times the frequency of unintentional firearms deaths compared to states with the lower numbers of gun ownership. Studies have been conducted by government agencies on the causes of an unintentional shooting, found that 8 percent of such accidents resulted from shots fired by children under the age of six. This research reviled in many of the unintentional shooting was those who were largely involved were individuals under the age of 25. The rate of mortality for ages 5 to 14 was 14 times higher in high gun ownership states. Shockingly infants and toddlers, age 0 to 4, the mortality rate is 17 times higher in high gun ownership state as well. Guns are used in most homicides and represents 11,101 deaths, about 70 percent of total homicides. Take for instance the year 2011 one of our nation’s worst years for gun violence more than 15,953 innocent people fell victim to gun violence. A report conducted by “The Washington Post” reported that since 1982 there have been a total of 61 mass killings that involved the use of a gun. There was no conclusive evidence that assault rifle was used, but it is safe to say when assault rifles are used many people

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