Gun violence is higher in the US than in other countries, yet some Americans swear that it has nothing to do with guns.
The beginning of July holds two very important holidays in North America – Canada Day (July 1st) and Independence Day (July 4th). Since these two holidays come so close together, Canadian magazines and newspapers take the opportunity to write comparison articles between Canada and the United States. I read such an article yesterday.
One aspect of the article compared crime rates between the two countries. There were some surprises. For example, did you know that there is slightly more non-violent crime in Canada? I’ll bet you didn’t. However, you may have suspected that there is more violent crime in the US. You were right. The stats are as follows:
| Guns per 100 people | Canada
30 | US
90 |
Auto Thefts per 100000 populationCanada
487 | US
398 |
| B & Es per 100000 Population | Canada
768US
729 |
| Arsons per 100000 Population | Canada
41 | US
27 |
| Gun Murders per 100000 Population | Canada
0.6 | US
27 |
| All Murders per 100000 Population | Canada
1.9 | US
5.7 |
| Robberies Per 100000 Population | Canada
94 | US
149 |
Why did I bring this up? Well, in another gun-related thread, a ShoutWire user was trying to tell me that guns actually PREVENT crime. Yes, that’s right. The logic is that owning a gun deters people from fucking with you. A quick look at the stats may actually confirm this, unless of course you’re the target of robbery or murder.
The same guy also said that the number of murders in the US are not related to the number of guns. If that’s true, then why are there twice as many murders per 100000 in the US than in Canada? Before you answer, take a look at the other stat. There are…wait for it…
45 times more gun-related murders in the US than in Canada. That’s no surprise if you consider that 90 out of 100 Americans own a gun while only 30 out of 100 Canadians do. So is it now safe to say that there are more gun-related murders in the US because there are more guns? I can’t wait for you to tell me “no.”
We all know America loves guns. You guys cherish the right to blow someone’s fucking head off, and that’s fine. It’s your country and you can run it however you’d like. Just don’t try to defend your gun policies by saying that guns reduce crime, or that more guns does not equal more murders.
So Americans, sling your gats carefully. Sure, they’ll deter people from taking your shit or burning your house down, but they won’t save you from being robbed or killed on the street.
Canadians, you might not be getting murdered left right and center, but people ARE taking your shit and burning your house down. I think we all know why that is, though – it’s because Canadians don’t lock their fucking doors, right Michael Moore?
Sources:
Small Arms Survey 2007, Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva;
Statistics Canada;
Crime In The United States 2006, FBI
Crime In Metropolitan America: City Crime Rankings, QC PressNote: B&Es are called “burglaries” in the US.