Gun Statistics in the United States

I found these statistics for Gun Violence in the United States from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence:

Guns in the United States - Easy Access to Deadly Weapons

• There are approximately 192 million privately owned firearms in the U.S. - 65 million of which are handguns.
• Currently, an estimated 39% of households have a gun, while 24% have a handgun.
• In 1998 alone, licensed firearms dealers sold an estimated 4.4 million guns, 1.7 million of which were handguns. Additionally, it is estimated that 1 to 3 million guns change hands in the secondary market each year, and many of these sales are not regulated.

Gun Deaths and Injury - The United States Leads the World in Firearm Violence

• In 2004, 29,569 people in the United States died from firearm-related deaths – 11,624 (39%) of those were murdered; 16,750 (57%) were suicides; 649 (2.2%) were accidents; and in 235 (.8%) the intent was unknown. In comparison, 33,651 Americans were killed in the Korean War and 58,193 Americans were killed in the Vietnam War.
• For every firearm fatality in the United States in 2005, there were estimated to be more than two non-fatal firearm injuries.
• In 2001, firearms were used to murder 6 people in New Zealand, 56 in Japan, 96 in Great Britain, 168 in Canada, and 331 in Germany. In comparison, firearms were used to murder 11,348 in the United States.
• In 2005, there were only 143 justifiable homicides by private citizens using handguns in the United States.

Gun Violence - Young Lives Cut Short

• In 2004, nearly 8 children and teenagers, ages 19 and under, were killed with guns everyday.
• In 2004, firearm homicide was the second leading cause of injury death for men and women 10-24 years of age - second only to motor vehicle crashes.
• In 2004, firearm homicide was the leading cause of death for black males ages 15-34.
• From 1999 through 2004, an average of 916 children and teenagers took their own lives with guns each year.
• Each year during 1993 through 1997, an average of 1,621 murderers who had not reached their 18th birthdays took someone's life with a gun.

Guns in the Home - A Greater Risk to Family and Friends

• For every time a gun is used in a home in a legally-justifiable shooting there are 22 criminal, unintentional, and suicide-related shootings.
• The presence of a gun in the home triples the risk of homicide in the home.
• The presence of a gun in the home increases the risk of suicide fivefold.

The Economic Costs of Gun Violence - All Americans Pay a High Price

• A study of all direct and indirect costs of gun violence including medical, lost wages, and security costs estimates that gun violence costs the nation $100 billion a year.
• The average total cost of one gun crime can be as high as $1.79 million, including medical treatment and the prosecution and imprisonment of the shooter.
• At least 80 percent of the economic costs of treating firearm injuries are paid for by taxpayer dollars.