The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is a champion for firearm and hunting rights as well as preserving hunting lands for the public. As more and more depressing, controversial, and appalling news swirls in the media related to crime and firearms the NSSF is here to set the record straight.
Since the early 1990s, homicides, other crimes, and accidents involving firearms have decreased dramatically– a trend that a majority of Americans say they are unaware of.
In the last 2 weeks multiple horrifying deaths and tragedies have occurred throughout the US as well as several violent protests and demonstrations. This is not something I am here to directly talk about, but the NSSF would like to remind everybody that firearms are not the problem.
Homicides are down significantly in the US since 1991. As it was eluded to earlier, most people are not aware of the decline in crime, but it is actually pretty significant. Other crimes committed with a firearm are down even more. To go from approximately 1.6 Million crimes involving firearms to roughly 500,000 is a phenomenal step in the right direction.A statistic that a lot of people are aware of is the spike in gun sales. Firearm sales continue to grow every year dispute crime decreasing. Must be some sort of correlation… just maybe.
We as a nation are also getting safer with our use of firearms. To see a drop in unintentional firearm fatalities of 82% is staggering in the best way possible!
It is also a surprising statistic that every 2 in 5 homes now have a firearm, or more precisely, 41% of American homeowners.
We probably do not have to tell you that the media likes to report crime. The only topics viewed more important are the weather and your daily commute.
If some of these stats seem too impressive, the NSSF can back it up. In the last infographic they show where they gathered their sources for the data.
My advice to all of our readers out there as the media reports more tragic and sad news: be proficient with your firearms and share the shooting sports. Teach others who are willing to learn. Be knowledgeable and skilled with the firearms you own. It will make you a better hunter, shooter, and steward of our sport.