The INDsider -> Leslie Turk TUE, MAY 12 4:21AM by Leslie Turk

La. has highest gun death rate

First is Louisiana, then Alabama, Alaska and Mississippi (tie), and Nevada. Each of these five states has a per capita gun death rate that far exceeds the national rate of 10.32 per 100,000 for 2006 — the most recent year available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Louisiana’s per capita gun death rate is 19.5.

Why us? Some say the evidence points to high gun ownership rates in Louisiana and other top-ranking states.

The Violence Policy Center, a Washington D.C.-based gun-control advocacy group, maintains that states with higher gun ownership rates and weak gun laws have the highest rates of gun death. By contrast, it claims states with strong gun laws and low rates of gun ownership had far lower rates.

Hawaii, with its strong gun laws, has the lowest gun death rate in the nation. Only 9.7 percent of Hawaii households own guns, and the islands had a per capita gun death rate of 2.58 per 100,000 people in 2006 - all of which appears to support VPC's claims.

Not so fast, James L. Moses, president of the Alabama State Rifle and Pistol Association, tells Mobile’s Press-Register. Read more on the debate here.

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written by PlumpyBoy , May 12, 2009 - 04:34 pm

I believe the problem in Louisiana is that some people who are getting guns. Are either mentally ill or mentally incompetent. People who buy assault weapons should go through some kind of psychological exam. Also, most law abiding citizens don't go around shooting people..

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written by Phil , May 12, 2009 - 09:27 pm

How many swimming pool drownings and auto accidents for comparison. Or better yet, how many crack and crystal meth related gun deaths. You filter out drug deal gone bad gun deaths, then compare.

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written by Rocky Raccoon , May 13, 2009 - 03:27 am

I love statistics. You can easily connect one cause to any effect you wish. For example, Switzerland has high gun ownership levels but low crime rates, so gun ownership is not a direct correlation. Perhaps the reason for high gun death rates is more complex.

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written by Phil , May 13, 2009 - 01:25 pm

You're so right, Rocky. What this article is getting at, is that we should all move to Switzerland.

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