The Cost of Gun Deaths and Injuries in the US is Staggering.

[Electro Rock]

Realized I misworded that. What it was supposed to read is military grade ASSAULT weaponry. No one needs an assault weapon to hunt with...what are you hunting, Mastodon?

[Wetcoaster]

as

I'm not a hunter, but as I understand they are excellent for hunting smaller game like coyotes, groundhogs and the like, where a lot more shooting is done than in what most people think of ad hunting such as deer or moose hunting.

I'll also say that assault rifles are actually far less powerful than traditional rifles, basically being halfway between a pistol round and a "real" rifle round in power.

Another reason they're popular today is that unlike traditional type rifles, they're designed with modern construction methods in mind, most of the traditional type guns being made today are garbage because it would cost thousands to produce that kind of gun as well as the days when skilled "touch" labor, machined steel and high quality wood were dirt cheap.

[Electro Rock]

A full power rifle round will do a lot more damage than a .223/5.56 round, bullet design being equal.

In the military context, the various full power rifle caliber rounds often have the limitation of using much older bullet designs that don't yaw or fragment readily, but get a better bullet design in there and it'll do more damage than an assault rifle round as you'd expect of something with at least twice the kinetic energy and bullet mass.

[key2thecup]

Anyway, take out the gang related deaths, the self defense killings by civilians and police, the suicides, and its a different story.

[Wetcoaster]

A full power rifle round will do a lot more damage than a .223/5.56 round, bullet design being equal.

In the military context, the various full power rifle caliber rounds often have the limitation of using much older bullet designs that don't yaw or fragment readily, but get a better bullet design in there and it'll do more damage than an assault rifle round as you'd expect of something with at least twice the kinetic energy and bullet mass.

[Electro Rock]

Your statement is contradictory, fragmentation is an aspect of bullet design, and in the case of the. 223/5.56, an unintended one originally.

Consider this, if the .223 and 5.56 were so awesomely deadly, why are they only generally used (and in many cases allowed by law) to hunt small critters like groundhogs and coyotes with?

[Tearloch7]

Don't our American cousins use assault rifles on squirrels and chipmunks too?? .. it's hard to hit them little buggers when they are running .. /sarcasm alert

[Wetcoaster]

Your statement is contradictory, fragmentation is an aspect of bullet design, and in the case of the. 223/5.56, an unintended one originally.

Consider this, if the .223 and 5.56 were so awesomely deadly, why are they only generally used (and in many cases allowed by law) to hunt small critters like groundhogs and coyotes with?

[Electro Rock]

Generals are political puppet creatures, it's either do and say as they're told or kiss their 30+ year military careers (and attendant lavish lifestyle) goodbye.

Anyways, if they manage to ban or confiscate the "assault" rifles, its only a matter of time before they start trying to demonize the other types of guns and their owners.

[Bertuzzi Babe]

Generals are political puppet creatures, it's either do and say as they're told or kiss their 30+ year military careers (and attendant lavish lifestyle) goodbye.

Anyways, if they manage to ban or confiscate the "assault" rifles, its only a matter of time before they start trying to demonize the other types of guns and their owners.

[Wetcoaster]

Generals are political puppet creatures, it's either do and say as they're told or kiss their 30+ year military careers (and attendant lavish lifestyle) goodbye.

Anyways, if they manage to ban or confiscate the "assault" rifles, its only a matter of time before they start trying to demonize the other types of guns and their owners.

[Wetcoaster]

It's really all or nothing with the pro-automatic/assault weapons crowd, isn't it? Doesn't the paranoia get to be too much sometimes?

[Wetcoaster]

The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research which is one of the research units at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health which investigates the cause and prevention of gun injuries and fatalities published a study in Ocober 2012 titled "The Case for Gun Policy Reforms in America".

It is a well researched argument for increased gun control laws and it sets out the costs and burden of gun violence in the US clearly and concisely. It also puts paid the the NRA talking points that try to minimize the damage done by guns. As set out in the introduction (footnotes can be found in the link to the study).

The Burden of Gun Violence in the United States

More than 31,000 people a year in the United States die from gunshot wounds.

1

Because victims are disproportionately young, gun violence is one of the leading causes of premature mortality in the U.S. In addition to these deaths, in 2010, there were an estimated 337,960 non­fatal violent crimes committed with guns,

2

and 73,505 persons treated in hospital emergency departments for non-fatal gunshot wounds.

1,3

Gun violence in the United States is unusually high for a nation of such wealth. Although there is little difference in the overall crime rates between the United States and other high-income countries, the homicide rate in the U.S. is seven times higher than the combined homicide rate of 22 other high-income countries.

4

This is because the

firearm

homicide rate in the U.S. is twenty times greater than in these other high-income countries. The higher prevalence of gun ownership and much less restrictive gun laws are important reasons why violent crime in the U.S. is so much more lethal than in countries of similar income levels.

There are enormous economic costs associated with gun violence in the U.S. Firearm-related deaths and injuries resulted in medical and lost productivity expenses of about $32 billion in 2005.

1

But the overall cost of gun violence goes well beyond these figures. When lost quality of life, psychological and emotional trauma, decline in property values, and other legal and societal consequences are included, the cost of gun violence in the U.S. was estimated to be about $100 billion annually in 1998.

5

A new study has examined the direct and indirect costs of violent crime in eight geographically-diverse U.S. cities, and estimated the average annual cost of violent crime was more than $1,300 for every adult and child. Because much of these costs are due to lowering residential property values, violent crime greatly reduces tax revenues that local governments need to address a broad array of citizens’ needs. The direct annual cost of violent crime to all levels of government was estimated to be $325 per resident.

6

http://www.jhsph.edu...102512_CGPR.pdf

Johns Hopkins researchers contend that tighter gun control laws will save lives and reduce violence, particularly if "high-risk" people such as alcoholics and youths under age 21 are barred from buying or having firearms. The report calls for broadening current state and federal prohibitions on who can own guns while also closing loopholes in the regulation of gun sales.

"When you deny high-risk people access to guns, the evidence shows that saves lives," said Daniel W. Webster, director of Hopkins' Center for Gun Policy and Research and the report's lead author. "And when you regulate all gun sales, fewer guns get diverted to criminals."

The report argues for extending prohibitions already in effect against those convicted of crimes. It also recommends regulating gun designs to make them safer and less likely to be used in a crime or shooting spree — by, for instance, limiting ammunition capacity to 10 rounds.

This report came out before the Sandy Hook massacre and it seems that the caution then sounded by Director Webster who acknowledged that the report was unlikely to get much traction in this election season. Too often, he said, the issue of gun safety bogs down in what he called a "cultural debate" dividing camps into those in favor or opposed to guns or hunting. That seems to have changed.

As a result on January 14 - 15, 2013 Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research convened a panel of more than 20 experts to make specific recommendations as to what changes need to be made to deal with the public health crisis of gun violence. This was a multi-pronged solutions approach and here are the recommendations:

Information for Media

JANUARY 15, 2013

GUN POLICY SUMMIT RECOMMENDATIONS

A Summit of more than 20 of the world’s leading gun policy experts has identified several research-based policies to reduce gun violence in the United States. The policy recommendations were the result of a two-day Summit on gun violence convened by The Johns Hopkins University on January 14 and 15, The Summit on Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy with Evidence and Analysis.

During the Summit, experts presented and analyzed research-based approaches to reducing gun violence. Collectively, the Summit participants recommend* the following:

Background Checks

Fix the background check system by:

• Establishing a universal background check system, which would require a background check for all persons purchasing a firearm (inheritance exception).

• All sales would be facilitated through a federally licensed gun dealer. This would have the effect of mandating the same record keeping for all firearm transfers.

• Increase the maximum amount of time for the FBI to complete a background check from 3 to 10 business days.

• Require all firearm owners to report the theft or loss of their firearm within 72 hours of becoming aware of its loss.

• Persons who have a license to carry a firearm, permit to purchase, or other firearm permit must still be subject to a background check when purchasing a firearm.

Prohibiting High-Risk Individuals from Purchasing Guns: Expand the conditions for firearm purchase to include:

• Persons convicted of a violent misdemeanor would be prohibited from firearm purchase for a period of 15 years.

• Persons who committed a violent crime as a juvenile would be prohibited from firearm purchase until age 30.

• Persons convicted of 2 or more crimes involving drugs or alcohol within a three-year period would be prohibited from firearm purchase for a period of 10 years.

• Persons convicted of a single drug-trafficking offense would be prohibited from gun purchase.

• Persons determined by a judge to be a gang member would be prohibited from gun purchase.

• Establish a minimum age of 21 years for handgun purchase or possession.

• Persons who have violated a restraining order issued due to the threat of violence (including permanent, temporary and emergency) are prohibited from purchasing firearms.

• Persons with temporary restraining orders filed against them for violence or threats of violence are prohibited from purchasing firearms.

• Persons who have been convicted of misdemeanor stalking are prohibited from purchasing firearms.

Mental Health

• Federal restrictions of gun purchase for persons with serious mental illness should be focused on the dangerousness of the individual.

• Fully fund federal incentives for states to provide information about disqualifying mental health conditions to the National Instant Check System for gun buyers.

Trafficking and Dealer Licensing

• A permanent director for the ATF should be appointed and confirmed.

• ATF should be required to provide adequate resources to inspect and otherwise engage in oversight of federally licensed gun dealers.

• Restrictions imposed under the Firearm Owners Protections Act limiting ATF to one routine inspection of gun dealers per year should be repealed.

• Provisions of the Firearm Owners Protection Act raising the evidentiary standard for prosecuting dealers who make unlawful sales should be repealed.

• ATF should be granted authority to develop a range of sanctions for gun dealers who violate gun sales or other laws.

• The Protection of Lawful Commerce In Arms Act, providing gun dealers and manufacturers protection from tort liability, should be repealed.

• Federal restrictions on access to firearms trace data, other than for ongoing criminal investigations, should be repealed.

• Federal law mandating reporting of multiple sales of handguns should be expanded to include long guns.

• Adequate penalties are needed for violations of the above provisions.

Personalized Guns

• Congress should provide financial incentives to states to mandate childproof or personalized guns.

• The Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission should be granted authority to regulate the safety of firearms and ammunition as consumer products.

Assault Weapons

• Ban the future sale of assault weapons, incorporating a more carefully crafted definition to reduce the risk—compared with the 1994 ban—that the law can be easily evaded.

High Capacity Magazines

• Ban the future sale and possession of large capacity (greater than 10 rounds) ammunition magazines.

Research Funding

• The federal government should provide funds to CDC, NIH and NIJ adequate to understand the causes and solutions of gun violence, commensurate with its impact on the public’s health and safety.

• The Surgeon General should produce a regular report on the state of the problem of gun violence in America and progress towards solutions.

“The purpose of putting forth these recommendations is to provide a research-based framework for reducing the staggering toll of gun violence in America,” said Summit organizer Daniel Webster, ScD, MPH, director of the Center for Gun Policy and Research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Importantly, most recommended policies have broad public support and would not violate constitutional rights.”

New national public opinion polling data presented during the Summit from Johns Hopkins researchers showed the majority of Americans—including gun owners—support a universal background check system, more oversight on gun dealers, restricting access to guns among high-risk individuals such as those with previous criminal convictions, and banning the sale of large-capacity ammunition clips or magazines that allow some guns to shoot more than 20 bullets.

Presentations included research findings from experts at Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Yale, Duke, Rutgers, Michigan State, George Mason and Howard universities, the universities of Chicago, Connecticut and California-Davis, and insights from former federal law enforcement officials. Experts from Great Britain, Australia and Brazil presented evaluations of gun policy reforms in their nations.

“This has been an important two days,” said Ronald J. Daniels, president of The Johns Hopkins University. “We knew that a critical outcome of this Summit would be a set of research-based recommendations designed to inform the current debate. These will help lawmakers and opinion leaders identify the policy changes that are most likely to reduce gun violence in the United States.”

Last month’s shootings in Newtown, Conn., opened the door to new federal action to reduce gun violence in the United States. Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Gun Policy and Research believes that any action should be based on the best available research.

“The research-informed measures address not only mass shootings but also the less publicized U.S. gun violence that takes an average of 30 lives every day,” said Summit organizer Jon Vernick, JD, MPH, co-director of the Center for Gun Policy and Research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We can reduce this number through implementation of such measures as expanding conditions which would prohibit high-risk individuals from possessing guns, strengthening the background check system by covering all firearm sales, and ensuring that necessary records for prohibited individuals are available.”

The Summit convened by the University, its Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Center for Gun Policy and Research is believed to be the most extensive summit meeting ever of gun policy researchers to discuss the evidence and make specific action recommendations.

“Gun violence is an urgent public health problem facing our country. I’m proud of our faculty for their contributions to the prevention of gun violence and for their leadership in this important summit,” said Michael J. Klag, dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Efforts like this Summit showcase what we do best, providing the science and evidence to solve the major challenges to our health.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, guns kill more than 31,000 people each year in the U.S., including more than 11,000 homicides. The U.S. homicide rate is seven times the average of other high-income countries.

Within weeks of the Summit, the Johns Hopkins University Press will publish the book, Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy with Evidence and Analysis. Collected for the first time in one volume, this reliable, empirical research and legal analysis will inform the policy debate by helping lawmakers and opinion leaders identify the policy changes that are most likely to reduce gun violence in the U.S. The book will be available in late January. Copies of the book will be delivered to policymakers from across the country, including members of Congress and the Administration.

* These recommendations represent the consensus of the experts presenting at the Johns Hopkins Gun Policy Summit.

However, it may not be the case that every expert endorsed every specific recommendation.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Restricting High-Risk Individuals from Owning Guns Saves Lives

In October 2012, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health produced a reportexamining policies and initiatives for reducing gun violence in the U.S. by reforming current gun policies.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MULTIMEDIA

Follow the Summit and gun policy research conversation on social media.

ABOUT

The Johns Hopkins University


The Johns Hopkins University, founded in Baltimore in 1876 by philanthropist Johns Hopkins, was America's first research university and today is a leader in higher education across more than 250 major fields of study, conferring both graduate and undergraduate degrees at campuses throughout the Baltimore-Washington area and in Italy and China. The University comprises schools of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Advanced International Studies, Medicine, Music, Nursing and Public Health, and the Applied Physics Laboratory, a research-only division. For decades, Johns Hopkins has won more federal research-and-development funding than any other U.S. university. For more about how The Johns Hopkins University is working to advance humanity in service to our world, see www.jhu.edu.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

As a leading international authority on public health, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is dedicated to protecting health and saving lives. Every day, the Bloomberg School works to keep millions safe from illness and injury by pioneering new research, deploying its knowledge and expertise in the field, and educating tomorrow's scientists and practitioners in the global defense of human life. Founded in 1916 as part of the Johns Hopkins University, the Bloomberg School of Public Health is the world’s oldest and largest independent school of public health. More information: www.jhsph.edu.

Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research

The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research is dedicated to reducing gun-related injuries and deaths through the application of strong research methods and public health principles. Its faculty have pioneered innovative strategies for reducing gun violence, and achieved a national reputation for high-quality, policy-relevant research. The Center examines the public health effects of guns in society and serves as an objective resource for policy makers, the media, advocacy groups, and the general public. For the past two decades its faculty has helped shape the public agenda in the search for solutions to gun violence. Graduates of the School’s academic programs hold leadership positions in the field of gun violence prevention worldwide. More information: www.jhsph.edu/gunpolicy

CONTACTS

Tim Parsons

Director, Public Affairs

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

615 N. Wolfe Street/E2132

Baltimore, MD 21205-2179

410-955-7619

tmparson@jhsph.edu

Dennis O’Shea

Executive Director Communications & Public Affairs

Office of Communications

The Johns Hopkins University

901 S. Bond Ste 540

Baltimore, MD 21231

443-287-9960

dro@jhu.edu

http://www.jhsph.edu...tion-for-media/

[Buddhas Hand]

The basic philosophy/approach of pro-automatic/assault weapons crowd seems to be:

"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you" as writer Joseph Heller noted in his novel Catch 22.

"Hey, dey are takin' our gubs (NOTE Woody Allen nod from Take the Money and Run)" so they can oppress us and we cannot fight back.

As Colin Powell says - “The Second Amendment was written to protect the people from the government, but the reality is the government isn’t coming after you and the Second Amendment is intact."

Reality does not seem much of a touchstone for the pro-automatic/assault weapons crowd and a concept they seem unfamiliar with. (And yes I know I dangled that participle).

[thepedestrian]

I can't believe the opinions that are coming from the anti-gun nuts. They're such extremists.

The slippery slope is not a fear tactic. It is reality. Just because you want to try and label people that are worried about it as ferar mongers doesn't mean they aren't correct.

What happens if they ban Semi-Automatic weapons and then they start having school shootings every month with hand-guns?? What if the fatalities are as bad or even worse than what has happened with semi-automatic weapons. Then we're going to realize hand-guns are the problem and institute a ban on them! If you can't see that potential scenario then you're simply being ignorant.

Most pro-gun people aren't paranoid. They are cautious. (They are some fringe people that are... and you anti-gunners love them to lump them in with the rest of em)

[Tearloch7]

Catch-22 .. the favored book of my youth .. mandatory reading at an early age if one ever hopes to develop a refined sense of ironic sarcasm ..

[Wetcoaster]

I can't believe the opinions that are coming from the anti-gun nuts. They're such extremists.

The slippery slope is not a fear tactic. It is reality. Just because you want to try and label people that are worried about it as ferar mongers doesn't mean they aren't correct.

What happens if they ban Semi-Automatic weapons and then they start having school shootings every month with hand-guns?? What if the fatalities are as bad or even worse than what has happened with semi-automatic weapons. Then we're going to realize hand-guns are the problem and institute a ban on them! If you can't see that potential scenario then you're simply being ignorant.

Most pro-gun people aren't paranoid. They are cautious. (They are some fringe people that are... and you anti-gunners love them to lump them in with the rest of em)

[Electro Rock]

[Mr. Ambien]

thepedestrian, some of us are cautious for good reason, we (unlike some of our fellow Canadians) know American politics enough to know that these restrictions (along with not working in preventing gun deaths) are step one for the gun control lobby -- to reiterate my post from the first page:

And if you wonder why second amendment advocates don't want to compromise much on gun control, besides the non-existent foundation it has in proving that guns cause people to kill others, is prominent gun control movements that have already helped mold gun policy (the Brady Law) have more than openly espoused their give-a-mouse-a-cookie crap:

http://articles.balt...-brady-campaign

[inane]