Gun violence lands US lowest life expectancy among rich nations

Widespread gun ownership and lax firearms controls were deemed major reasons for the US topping a list of violent deaths in wealthy nations. The study comes amid a fiery gun control debate, triggered by the fatal school shooting at Sandy Elementary.

(*)The 378-page survey by a panel of experts from the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, listed unintentional injuries, quite often caused by guns, among reasons why people in America die young more often than in other countries.

“The prevalence of firearms in the United States looms large as an explanation for higher death rates from violence, suicidal impulses, and accidental shootings,” read the recent study, based on a broad review of mortality and health studies and statistic.

The blame placed on firearms – that in the US are often being stored unlocked at home –comes amid an increasingly divided battle over American gun regulation. Fiery debate on the issue was triggered anew by the deadly shooting in a Newtown school. The massacre on December 14 claimed lives of 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Conn. – 20 of whom were children.

The study highlights “dramatic” numbers of arms possessions in the US.

For example, the United States has the highest rate of firearm ownership among peer countries — 89 civilian-owned firearms for every 100 Americans, and the US is home to about 35 to 50 per cent of the world's civilian-owned firearms, the report noted.

“One behavior that probably explains the excess lethality of violence and unintentional injuries in the United States is the widespread possession of firearms and the common practice of storing them (often unlocked) at home,” said the survey.

The United States has about six violent deaths per 100,000 residents, says the report, that also reviewed Canada, Japan, Australia and much of Western Europe. None of the 16 other countries examined in the study came anywhere close to that figure. Finland, which is said to have slightly more than two violent deaths per 100,000 residents, was closest to the US in the table. (Finland??)

“Although US youth may be no more violent than those in other countries, they are more likely to carry a firearm. In a survey of high school students in Boston, 5 percent reported carrying a firearm,” showed the study.

The researches listed homicide as the second leading cause of death among people aged 15-24, adding that the large majority of those homicides often involve firearms.

“The presence of a firearm in the home is a risk factor for suicide: fully 52 percent of all US suicides involve a firearm,” researchers found out.

The survey revealed that the life expectancy for men in the United States ranked the lowest among the 17 countries reviewed, at 75.6 years, while women ranked second lowest at 80.7 years.

To explain this, the researchers examined three categories: the US health care system, harmful behaviors and social and economic conditions.

Thus, in addition to the impact of gun violence, Americans consume the most calories among peer countries and are involved in more accidents involving alcohol and drug use. AIDS and infant mortality have been also listed among reasons of lower life expectancy.

“With lives and dollars at stake, the United States cannot afford to ignore this problem,” the report said.

(*)

Gun control debate reloaded

(*)The horrific Newtown shooting has once again sparked debates over the nation's gun laws. Many politicians and public figures called for new restrictions, whilst gun rights defenders claim the ban on arms violates the second Amendment and will not stop shooters, because the “real problem is the criminal”.

Vice- President Joe Biden, whose leading a panel on the issue, formed after 20 schoolchildren and six adults were killed on December 14, kicked off a series of meetings on gun violence Wednesday. It will negotiate with gun-control advocates and gun-rights supporters.

His group is expected to recommend to Congress the reinstatement of an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.

President Obama has vowed to make gun control his priority as soon as he begins his second term on January 20.

The president said he believes that most Americans would support the reinstatement of a ban on the sale of military-style assault weapons as well as background checks on buyers before all gun purchases.


http://rt.com/usa/news/guns-report-739/

Come on.

Who can possibly object to a back ground check for this, if you are a responsible person..?

 

Guns in the Home:

For most contemporary Americans, scientific studies indicate that the health risk of a gun in the home is greater than the benefit. The evidence is overwhelming for the fact that a gun in the home is a risk factor for completed suicide and that gun accidents are most likely to occur in homes with guns. Hemenway, David, PhD. “Risks and Benefits of a Gun in the Home.” (American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. May 5, 201).

There is no credible evidence of a deterrent effect of firearms or that a gun in the home reduces the likelihood or severity of injury during an altercation or break-in. Hemenway, David, PhD. “Risks and Benefits of a Gun in the Home.” (American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. May 5, 2011)

Americans have more private guns per capita, and particularly more handguns, than citizens of other developed countries. Currently, more than one third of households in the United States contain a working firearm. Hemenway, David, PhD. “Risks and Benefits of a Gun in the Home.” (American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. May 5, 2011)

From 2003 to 2007, in 18 states, two thirds of accidental shooting deaths occurred in someone’s home, about half of the victims were younger than 25 years. Hemenway, David, PhD. “Risks and Benefits of a Gun in the Home.” (American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. May 5, 2011)

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The family home is safer WITHOUT guns.

....

 

The family home is safer without alot of things.

 

Obama says he is going to make the gun thing his primary issue, when he resumes office, on Jan 20th.

I don't think v much will happen, to be honest. Lots of bluster and hysteria beforehand, typical to the nature of the average American. In reality, Obama will probably just dust off some dormant legislation, which, at most, may restrict ownership of certain types of guns. And there will be background checks. And that is about it. Nothing else will change. The hysteria will die down again. Everyone will feel relatively happy at the outcome. Until the next time..

 

Actually, I'd argue what lowers our life expectancy has more to do with our lifestyle.

The typical American diet isn't very healthy, and most Americans don't get enough exercise.

Obesity has a greater effect on the American lifespan than guns.

The only group heavily affected by gun violence overall is black males. The majority of murders in America happen between them.

 

Looks like you have'nt much choice - its either over eat / eat yourselves to death or shoot yourselves .

As a matter of interest, where do you think those Blacks get their guns from ?

Do you have separate stats figures for Blacks and Whites violence in america , is is it just what you choose to believe. ?

...

 

To be fair, violence and obesity are pretty high in your country as well.

Some are legally purchased, some aren't.

http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/homicide/race.cfm

I was mistaken in one respect. Whites form the majority of victims in some cases and sometimes amongst offenders, but as far as per capita rates go, it's considerably higher for blacks.

 

America spends more on health than any other rich country, but it gets lousy value, because it insists on making it a private business, run for profit, so lots of poor people get almost no help, and the very rich pay through the nose for nonsense. The NHS gives us hugely better value, which is why it is so disturbing that our quisling government is trying to replace it with the same silly shambles as you suffer from. And before someone attacks me, yes, I know there are other factors affecting this issue, but as with the gun thing, it is sad to see people brainwashed against seeing the obvious.

 

Perhaps so , frankly I've not had cause to research it. However , off the cuff , I'd be surprised if its anywhwere close to yours - per capita .

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Brainwashing goes both ways.

Here, people are brainwashed to think the market can handle everything.

Over in Europe, people are brainwashed to think guns are as dangerous as nuclear weapons.

 

So.

If the guns and the burgers are leading to low life expectancy of wealthy Americans, how many burgers and guns would I need to buy John Hagee for him to top himself, or die of a coronary?

- - - Updated - - -

More dangerous man, more dangerous..

 

Obesity is, actually.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_obe-health-obesity

America sits at 30%, whereas the UK is 23%. That puts the UK as the 3rd fattest country in the OECD.

 

Why do you think Finland randomly got on to the list..???

 

Good question, and one that I'd also like to know the answer for.

 

I'd place my bet on the certainty - Europe.

imo - whether you're killed by a gun or nuclear weapon the end result is the same. DUH!.

....

 

Because I am willing to chip in, to like a fund..

 

The violence is about a quarter of yours (see last week's Economist). Obesity is far too high, but not at your level (Economist about three issues back). Our difficulty is a government that believes, against all the evidence, that it can turn us into an American colony to avoid being part of Europe, and is happy to destroy anything that makes us British to do so.

 

The same could apply to cars.

In America, you're far more likely to die of a car wreck than from a gun.

 

Resumes office? What's he doing now, having a wank?

 

The USA does NOT spend more on health. MOST countries with govt health care spend a higher percentage of household income for health than the USA.
http://www.oecd.org/els/healthpoliciesanddata/oecdhealthdata2012-frequentlyrequesteddata.htm

The USA spends 11.8% of income out of pocket for health care. The world average is 19.5%.

Since there is now NO government program that is more efficient or cost effective than the private sector, nor has there ever been one, nor will there ever be one. Private health care is as inexpensive as it will ever be. Govt health care has always and will always cost more.

 

PLease excuse me - we've been over that crap argument - many times before now.

Tell you what - Go sit in a car , brakes off, press pedal and Car moves , - right ?

THen go Sit on Gun - catch off - press trigger - and see what happens

I sincerely hope you've got the message.

G'nite


....

 

I need my Glock semi-automatic. I never know when I might run in to British tourists.

 

We've established what the problem is then. You don't know how to properly use a gun.

 

As far as I can tell, you've got most of our problems, but very few of our benefits.

Good luck.

 

It would have made top tv if Piers Morgan had taken out a shotgun, and just blew Alex Jones away.

Imagine the ratings..