We have talked a lot the last month about gun violence. Using a recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, a respected independent U.S. source for health policy research and polling, we think it is important to present the numbers from their recent poll of how gun violence is affecting America.
We will be honest: the numbers surprised us in how much gun violence touches more than half the people in the U.S.
But it shouldn’t.
Over the last ten days, there were four high profile incidents of young adults being shot for no other reason for being in the wrong place at the wrong time: a 16 year old boy in Kansas City who went to the wrong house to pick up a family member; four people killed and 32 people injured during the shooting at a 16th birthday party at a dance studio in Alabama; a 20 year old girl fatally shot in upstate New York for making a u-turn in a driveway; and two Texas high school cheerleaders shot because one of them opened the wrong car door.
There was only one common thread: a gun was shot that hit another American, with disregard for the color of their skin, gender or where they live.
But the randomness should not be a surprise, at least according to the KFF polling from this month. Let’s look at the polling results:
- 54% of U.S. adults have either personally or had a family member who has been impacted by a gun-related incident, such as witnessing a shooting, being threatened by a gun, or being injured or killed by a gun.
- 21% have been threatened with a gun
- 17% have witnessed someone being shot
- 4% have been injured by a gun
- 31% have a family member who has been threatened with a gun
- 28% say a family member has witnessed someone being shot.
- 20% say a family member has been injured by a gun
- 19% say a family member has been killed by a gun, including death by suicide
- 55% of deaths in the U.S. involving guns are suicides.
It is changing how we socialize:
- 35% have avoided large crowds, such as music festivals, or crowded bars and clubs to protect themselves or their families from the possibility of gun violence
- 23% have avoided using public transit
- 20% have changed or considered changing the school that their child attends
- 15% avoided attending religious services, cultural events or celebrations
- 15% moved to a different neighborhood or city.
The numbers are even more stark for communities of color:
- 31% of Black adults and 22% of Hispanic adults of have personally witnessed someone being shot
- 34% of Black adults have a family member who was killed by a gun, twice the share of White adults
- 32% of Black adults and 33% of Hispanic adults say they worry either “every day,” or “almost every day” about themselves or someone they love being a victim of gun violence (10% for White adults)
- 20% of Black adults and 18% of Hispanic adults feel like gun-related crimes, deaths, and injuries are a “constant threat” to their local community; only 8% of White adults say the same thing
Guns and the violence that come with them—especially assault weapons—are changing us. What is more frustrating is that there are commonsense actions lawmakers can take to make us all safe but are being held up by Second Amendment absolutist.
But it is up to you and us to demand those changes, and be unrelenting about it to make it happen. And if those in office do not make the changes, you must work to change them.
Gun crisis is a National Disgrace!! When I travel
Overseas realized gun violence is extremely rare! There I am concerned about picket pockets but they will not hurt anyone. So just have to be prepared. They target distracted people.
Time submitted: 11:25am on Sunday, 4/23/2023 (included since my comments are typically suppressed for a day or two since they logically contradict your biased and misleading opinions).
Lol…the title of this opinion should be “How Widespread is the progressive left wing agenda? We’re Glad You Asked”
At the root, the problem is a rise in crime that’s the direct result of Soros funded DA’s that care more about criminal “rights” than victims, open borders, the systematic attack on and destruction of the nuclear family, the general moral decay of society, and other progressive left wing ideologies that are a coordinated effort to cause a dysfunctional society that’s more reliant on the government.
If you doubt what I’m saying, then simply look at just about every large city (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Baltimore, NYC, Detroit, New Orleans, etc…or closer to home Camden, Newark, Paterson) where Democrats have been in control of policy for decades. Crime, homelessness, drug addiction, education systems, etc. are rampant.
But rather than focus on the root causes, the left would prefer to use tragedies to further their political agenda so they selectively focus on the tool (when it’s a gun) whenever possible.
When a lunatic drives a car through a parade or into a crowd of people do we blame the car?
Matter of fact, if a crime is committed with just about any other inanimate object (such as a hammer, bat, knife, screwdriver, bomb, etc.), do we call for the abolishment of that item?
Of course not, that would be misguided / do nothing to address the problem…but when it’s a gun …then it’s very clear (for liberals)…thats the problem!
Question for north-jerseyleftwingpropaganda.com…are you ignorant enough to believe that increasing the already overreaching requirements for law abiding citizens to exercise our rights will make NJ safer or do you know that it won’t and you’re simply advocating for the unconstitutional control over citizens without addressing the real problems?
By definition, criminals are not following the law so do you think they care about breaking more?
How about focusing our efforts on the what’s causing the increased crime rates? The criminals! Wow that’s a novel idea.
You (should) know that gang members, drug dealers, human traffickers, carjackers, etc. are not applying for gun permits, limiting the magazines in their guns to 10 rounds, etc…nope, the only people that follow the laws are law abiding citizens so this ridiculousness that you’re constantly spewing is simply a waste of time and tax payer money and more do nothing political grandstanding.
Most would agree that significantly increasing the prison terms for those using a gun in the commission of a crime would be a more effective deterrent/law since that punishes the… CRIMINALS. And that would be an example of an actual “common sense CRIME reform”… which is what’s truly needed.
@Diane Grohn
I’m assuming your “extensive travel” hasn’t included Europe and many Asian countries where they’ve implemented…”knife control”…lol… yep, that’s right…somehow bad people find a way of doing bad things regardless of what liberals “ban”.
Please…learn from the ridiculousness of others…the root of the problem is… bad people…that think nothing of harming you, your family, friends, etc.
Also, does anyone else think it’s odd that the author of this opinion seems gleeful about masses being affected by crime?
OPINION: How Widespread is Gun Violence? We’re Glad You Asked
Or is it simply a democrat theme…
Rahm Emanuel, then chief of staff to President-elect Barack Obama, famously issued what has come to be known as Rahm’s rule:
“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that [is] it’s an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before.”
Well now; It all starts with Curbing Gun Violence by All Law Enforcement on Un-Armed Citizens!! Decent People are being screwed from both ends; from the Criminals & by Law Enforcement!! So some People brave enough, choose to protect themselves from both these Predator’s!! It’s Called Self-Defense, when a Citizen is fired on by any of these clique’s!! IN; The Old Western Law Community, they knew only too well about Self-Defense & always sided with the Victims!! YEP; The U.S. is sliding downhill in law & dispensing real Justice!! A Nation to remain Free needs to build: “Freedom & Self-Defense go Hand-in Hand”!!//
Most gun violence is limited to inner cities that have been dominated for decades by democratic politicians. Most gun violence involves so called under represented minorities (black) inner democratic controlled places victimizing one another.
The democratic party loves this and activiely encourages it because it serves their agenda and goals for absolute power
All gun owners should be required, by law, to carry liability insurance. In addition, the legal assumption should be made that if a crime is committed with your gun, you are legally liable for the crime! Someone uses your gun to kill someone, YOU are guilty of murder! A child finds your gun and uses it to accidentally kill another child or adult, YOU are guilty of murder!
@James+J+Kovalcin
Congrats, you just summarize the flawed mindset of most liberals that would prefer to blame an inanimate object and/or the victim of yet another crime (the person who’s gun was stolen) than the criminal committing all of the crimes.
So, if we apply your “logic” consistently, you’re equally liable if someone steals your car and uses it to either purposely or in the act of committing another crime (fleeing yet another robbery) kills someone with your car…you’re okay with being found guilty of murder and sharing your cell with the person that stole your car and committed the other crimes?
Or…wait for it… should we convict the person that stole your property and used it to commit other crimes (including killing someone) with all of THEIR crimes, subject them to a jail term that’s in-line with THEIR crimes, and actually make THEM serve the full term of THEIR combined sentences?
Btw, in most / all states, if a child finds an unsecured gun and hurts themself or another with it, the owner would be convicted of a crime.
“…the Kaiser Family Foundation, a respected independent U.S. source for health policy research and polling…”
One look at the KFF donor list reveals a preponderance of left-wing activist organizations.
Secondly, the article on the KFF web site regarding the “recent poll” on which this tripe was based does NOT specify the poll sample or any other statistical details about the poll–an immediate red flag about the poll’s validity.
Third, if you eliminate the inner (DemocRat) cities from the poll, the numbers would drop precipitously. So maybe it’s really a DemocRat inner city problem, not a gun problem?
I also think that the writers of these anti-gun articles should divulge whether they’ve ever: (1) owned a gun; (2) fired a gun; and (3) their political affiliation.
Please; guns as a right dominating our “constitution” is obscene, with all the other issues we really face; like climate and economic injustice. It’s a sideshow to divert attention to an uneducated mass the paid for profit media directs it’s energy for corporate domination..With the 2nd we terrorize our own population, to maintain corporate power, over our real rights as citizens .We are now in a state of danger, of supreme inequality. As a Republic, we are a joke, who wants to live in a country where a gun is necessary, only a fascist. History apparently is a lost cause..
This is not Rocket science here. Republicans equal more guns ,more guns mean more death. Remove Republicans. Problem solved. .
You guys are a woke joke. You try to avoid race baiting and division, and you CAN’T, not even when you set the goal yourselves! lol
You write:
“…with disregard for the color of their skin, gender or where they live.”
Then you go on to list the aggrieved by color:
“The numbers are even more stark for communities of color:
31% of Black adults and 22% of Hispanic adults of have personally witnessed someone being shot
34% of Black adults have a family member who was killed by a gun, twice the share of White adults
32% of Black adults and 33% of Hispanic adults say they worry either “every day,” or “almost every day” about themselves or someone they love being a victim of gun violence (10% for White adults)
20% of Black adults and 18% of Hispanic adults feel like gun-related crimes, deaths, and injuries are a “constant threat” to their local community; only 8% of White adults say the same thing”
What is “gun violence” anyway? Did you call it violence when our communities burned in 2020 to the tune of billions, or did you back the “mostly peaceful protest” narrative.
Nah, you just have an agenda.
Posted 7:13 am
Here’s what Gov Murphy and his DA really believe about gun violence:
Last week they just dropped ALL gun charges against a felon and reduced his life sentence for MURDER to 22 years.
https://www.news2a.com/new-jersey/nj-attorney-general-goes-soft-on-gun-violence-murder/
Why aren’t you writing about that story? Gun violence affected that community and NJ went soft on the gun charges! Doesn’t fit your narrative.
Posted 7:16 am
Remember when mandatory seat belts, auto insurance, motorcycle helmets, no smoking in airliners etc. etc. were the end of American Freedom ?
@Walter
To answer your question, No.
You simply cannot compare any of the items that you listed to a constitutional right… actually the 2nd…just after freedom of speech.
The fact that you see a parallel between the two demonstrates the lack of understanding on the topic and a complete disregard for the principles that our country was founded on.
@Stephen D Klemash
Topical liberal…don’t agree with something/someone, just cancel it/them.
@makunik52, sorry to burst your bubble, but there is no anthropogenic global warming. According to official temperature data, there has been ZERO temperature rise in the last eight years. There have ALWAYS been cooler and warmer periods throughout history, and they had nothing to do with greenhouse gas emissions. The “climate crisis” is all about government control and the transfer of wealth from the U.S. to the third world (and to grifters like Al Gore, Greta, and their ilk). Try doing a little research beyond the MSM propaganda.
According to what the news report almost daily, the problems about gun shooting in the whole country has got to a stage that to define it highly critical is not nearly enough. We have reached such a stage where we are talking about a major social catastrophy .There must be a complete turnaround about about this issue, both socially and legally No need to change the 2nd emendament , but I believe it need to be updated to the real needs for self-defence and state beyond any doubt the boundaries within which the possession of guns should be allowed..I don’t think that 2nd emendament necessarily implied that anybody can possess a gun, but that anybody “could” possess it. Well I believe that’s modern laws should promptly adjust that and turn things into a clear and straight set of brand legal norms for what “now” appears to be a very “wrong” principle ..
@ Makunik52
You seem to be really confused about our Constitution and definitions of basic terms, like fascism.
First, the Second Amendment doesn’t dominate our Constitution. It holds equal weight in affirming our right to liberty and self defense as any other amendment does, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from illegal search and seizure, and so forth.
As far as fascism goes, the tens of millions of law-abiding gun owners can hardly be called fascists. Maybe you meant another term. Rather, it is our President and his administration curtailing our civil liberties, attempting to ban guns and preventing law-abiding citizens from owning guns that are fascist actions.
Indeed, as you say, you are a prime example of history being a lost cause, as this is exactly what every totalitarian, fascist regime did throughout history before subjugating people into the worst possible scenarios. You may want to read up on that.
Finally, you ask who wants to live in a country such as this? Apparently everyone from every other part of the world that doesn’t have freedom. They are coming here by the millions (legally and illegally). If it’s so bad 1) why would they come to America and 2) why don’t you let us all know what country you’d prefer to move to?
I invite you to leave a coherent, rational response to any of the points above.
Posted at 2:13 pm
You should look up the definition of fascism. You will see it describes the republican party of today. The right to bear arms does not mean you can have a private arsenal and shoot anybody you feel wrongs you.
Time to tax ammo. About $5 a bullet should do. Your right to bear arms is not stopped. You can own all the guns you want. Not anybody’s problem but your own if you can’t afford ammo for them.
@Crown
Please educate yourself before speaking on topics that you’re clearly not familiar with…including our constitutional rights.
The right to bear arms means exactly that…a person can purchase as many firearms as they wish to have and many enthusiasts/collectors do own what you and others might consider to be an “arsenal” but they’re typically not the issue…and the 2nd ammendment does not state that you can “shoot anybody you feel wrongs you”…we have laws against that.
And while you may not understand or agree, that’s irrelevant as your opinion is only that…it has no bearing on our constitutional rights.
The root of the issue is that crimes are committed by…criminals…and by definition, criminals choose not to obey the law.
Punish the criminals for the crimes that they commit to the fullest extent of the laws that are already in place and make them serve the entirety of their sentences. That would reduce the number of criminals on the streets and therefore the amount of crime.
That should be the sole focus of every discussion about crime regardless of the object (gun, knife, car, screwdriver, hammer, bat, etc.) being used.
Or you can propose more do nothing laws, taxes, etc. that have zero effect on deterring bad people from doing bad things.
I hope that I’ve opened your eyes a bit…but somehow I doubt it.