Facts, data show that gun control saves lives

I am writing in response to Robert McGregor's misstatement of facts. Gun deaths in 2020 ( the most recent year available) exceeded traffic accidents by 6,398 according to the CDC and U.S. Department of Transportation. Cars are necessary to our day-to-day lives while guns are not (45,222 deaths from guns vs. 38,824 from cars).

The states with the strictest gun laws (HI,NJ,NY,CT,NY,MA, RI,CA,NE,IA,MN) have a death rate by guns of 3.4-11.2/100,000 population and those states with the least restrictive laws (WY,LA,MS,AL,NM,MO) have death rates from guns ranging from 20.9-28.6/100,000 population (CDC).

The average rate of gun related deaths in this country is 124/day and the average rate of death from motor vehicle accidents is 110/day. (Johns Hopkins).

Gun violence is the leading cause of death under the age of 25 and the biggest risk for dying by gun is having one in your home (53% of gun deaths are suicide).

While much of the data listed is from the CDC, it is important to note that the federal government blocked funding to the CDC for research on gun violence by passing the Dickey amendment in 1996 (supported by the NRA and sponsored by Republican Jay Dickey). No funding was subsequently provided for research until 2020 through an omnibus funding bill.

These facts are available for anyone who cares enough to do the research. Let's stop spouting opinion and start looking at the evidence. Let's protect those we love. Do you have to wait until this happens to someone you love?

— Mary L Roberts, MD, Pacific Grove