Personal Defense World
  • News
  • Guns
    • Handguns
    • Rifles
    • Shotguns
    • Class III & More
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics/Lights
    • Safes
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • First-Time Shooters
    • Home & Self-Defense
  • Videos
    • Latest Videos
    • PDW Videos
    • Free Gun Friday
    • SCCY Brand Videos
    • Video Series
      • Everyday Carry
  • More
    • Sweepstakes
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Personal Defense World
  • News
  • Guns
    • Handguns
    • Rifles
    • Shotguns
    • Class III & More
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics/Lights
    • Safes
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • First-Time Shooters
    • Home & Self-Defense
  • Videos
    • Latest Videos
    • PDW Videos
    • Free Gun Friday
    • SCCY Brand Videos
    • Video Series
      • Everyday Carry
  • More
    • Sweepstakes
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Personal Defense World
No Result
View All Result
 
New Year, New FREE GUN FRIDAY! Enter to WIN the Smith & Wesson and Black Hills package.

The Big Lie: Mainstream Media’s Account of Accidental Gun Deaths

Mark Chesnut by Mark Chesnut
February 2, 2022
in News
0
Accidental gun deaths do not outweigh other causes.
0
SHARES
40
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The anti-gun Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence recently told Newsweek that accidental shootings are one of the most common causes of death and kill nearly 500 people in the United States every year. To be blunt, that’s a flat-out lie. Accidental gun deaths are very low on the list of accidental deaths in the U.S. every year.

NSSF Survey Shows 5.4 Million First-Time Gun Buyers 2021.
RELATED STORY

There Were 5.4M First-Time Gun Buyers in 2021, NSSF Survey Shows

Accidental Gun Deaths

Yes, accidental gun deaths are quite high in the United States by all means. Following only heart disease, cancer, and Covid-19 in causes of death for the year 2020. Yet the roughly 500 accidental gun deaths are a very small portion of the 200,000 accidental deaths each year. They account for only about one-quarter of one percent of all deaths.

Interestingly, that doesn’t keep gun-ban groups and anti-gun politicians from spouting off about firearm accidents quite often. And it doesn’t keep so-called “mainstream” media outlets from printing their lies without question. Despite the fact that it’s easy to check the figures with a simple internet search.

Fact is, many in the media want to push these rare accidental firearm deaths to the forefront at every opportunity. To even be able to list gun accidents in a recent news story, CBS news dragged out its findings all the way to number 59—ironically exactly where accidental firearms deaths ranked—and headlined the story, “Death index: Top 59 ways Americans die.”

You can almost envision a CBS editor in the newsroom perusing a Top 50 deaths story, realizing that accidental firearm deaths didn’t make the list and instructing the “reporter” to extend the list as long as it took to get gun accidents included.

More Prominent Accidental Fatalities

Of the accidental deaths that are far higher than accidental firearm fatalities, accidental drug overdose tops the list. Resulting in more than 93,000 deaths in 2020. That’s about 186 times more accidental deaths than were attributed to firearms accidents for that year. And while media sometimes report on the phenomenon, many are proponents of legalizing more drug use, instead of limiting it.

Fatal vehicle accidents are also much higher than accidental gun deaths. Totaling more than 40,000 a year the past few years, despite less travel due to Covid. That means the average American is 80 times more likely to be killed in a car accident than a firearms accident. Have you seen any headlines lately calling for a ban on high-capacity sedans?  

As for the often-repeated media statement, “Firearms now kill more people than vehicle accidents,” that’s not even remotely comparing apples to apples. First, with the spike in vehicular fatalities over the past few years, the statement is false anyway. But what they’re talking about is all deaths involving firearms—murders, suicides, etc.—and comparing that to accidental deaths from car wrecks.

A better comparison is deaths by firearm accidents and accidental vehicle fatalities. Which calculates out to about 1.2 accidental gun deaths to every 100 vehicle deaths.

Obscure Causes of Accidental Death

Most probably also don’t realize that 34-times more Americans die each year from accidental falls than from firearm accidents. According to the latest figures, about 17,000 people die annually from such accidents. I haven’t noticed any media outlets clamoring to try to reduce this number.

Going to work is also quite dangerous. There were 4,764 fatal work injuries in 2020, meaning someone died every 111 minutes from a work-related injury. That’s more than nine times higher than accidental firearm deaths. Still, the media doesn’t report that as an “epidemic.”

Another accidental fatality that is far more common than firearm accidents is drowning. About 4,000 people drown in the United States each year—about eight times more than are killed in firearm accidents. Yet you don’t see many headlines reporting about a “drowning epidemic” or legislation limiting swimming pool ownership.

It’s a Long Way from the Top

The truth is you have to go far down the list of accidental causes of death to reach firearm accidents. And while it would be refreshing for mainstream media to report that fact, we’ll likely never see it done.

Of course, even one accidental firearm death is one too many. That’s why organizations like the National Rifle Association have taught gun safety to millions upon millions of Americans over the past several decades, and continue to do so each and every day. Many other organizations do likewise.

Bottom line: It’s a dangerous world out there. But despite what many in the media would have you think, being killed in a firearm accident is far less likely than most other accidental ways to perish.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

Related Posts

Illinois “Assault Weapons” Ban Signed Tuesday.

Sheriffs and State Rep. Will Not Enforce Illinois “Assault Weapons” Ban

New Jersey Adds Concealed Carry Restrictions to Gun Control Efforts.

New Jersey Doubles Down on Gun Control with Stiff Carry Restrictions

Alabama Constitutional Carry Law Goes into Effect.

Alabama Becomes Constitutional Carry State – Making it Half of the U.S.

Federal Court Allows New York to Enforce New Concealed Carry Law.

New York: Injunction Filed Against Exclusion of Concealed Carry in Church

Load More

PERSONAL DEFENSE WORLD VIDEOS

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

Study Proves the Good Guy with a Gun Theory.

Good Guy with a Gun: Study of CCW Holders Stopping Mass Shootings

Following the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, gun control advocates have taken the anti-gun narrative to a fever pitch. They insist...

Read more

TRENDING

The Headrest Safe.

The Headrest Safe Provides Hidden Security for Your Valuables or Firearm

...

Taurus 605 TORO and 856 TORO Revolvers.

Taurus Releases New Optics Ready 605 TORO and 856 TORO Revolvers

...

pocket pistol, pocket pistols, concealed carry handguns, concealed carry handgun, concealed carry pistol, concealed carry pistols

Best Pocket Pistols for Personal Defense [2022]

...

concealed carry, concealed carry handguns

Top 13 Compact 1911 Handguns for Concealed Carry

...

PICK A CATEGORY

CONCEALED CARRY SPOTLIGHT

gun drawing tips techniques

Tips & Tricks for a Fast Gun Draw

You have the right gun. Your cutting-edge holster is made with some lightweight, futuristic material. Your belt is even specially made to carry your...

CONCEALED CARRY SHOWCASE

The FightLite SCR Bandito Pistol.

Shot at SHOT Show: The FightLite SCR Bandito Pistol in 5.56 or 300BLK

Are Switchblades Illegal?

Are Switchblades Legal to Carry in the United States?

Two New Concealed Carry Pistols from Rock Island Armory.

Two New Rock Island Armory Concealed Carry Pistols at SHOT Show

The GPO Spectra Reflex Sight.

GPO Debuts Spectra Reflex Sight at SHOT Show – Its First Reflex Optic

The Tisas Bantam Carry 1911.

Tisas Bantam Carry 1911: A Feature-Rich Pistol with Custom Performance

The Taurus TX22 Compact .22 LR.

Seen at SHOT Show: Taurus Ups the .22 LR Ante with the TX22 Compact

How to Choose a Gun for Self-Defense

How to Choose a Gun for Self-Defense

gun drawing tips techniques

Tips & Tricks for a Fast Gun Draw

AMMO SPOTLIGHT

Getting a Jump on SHOT Show 2023.

7 Personal Defense Related Products to Start SHOT Show 2023 Early

SHOT Show 2023 is almost here and the anticipation is killing us. Of course, the staff of Personal Defense World...

site logo
Gun News, Gun Reviews, and Self Defense Tips

Tactical

  • tactical-life.com

Magazines

  • Tactical Life
  • The Complete Book of Reloading
  • Guns of the Old West

Facebook

  • Tactical-Life Facebook
  • Guns of the Old West Facebook

Twitter

  • Tactical-Life Twitter

Self Defense

  • PersonalDefenseWorld.com

Magazines

  • Personal Defense World
  • Combat Handguns

Facebook

  • Personal Defense World Facebook
  • Combat Handguns

Twitter

  • Personal Defense World Twitter

Shooting Lifestyle

  • BallisticMag.com

Magazines

  • BallisticMag.com

Facebook

  • Ballistic Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Ballistic Magazine Twitter

Alpha Lifestyle

  • SkillsetMag.com

Magazines

  • Skillset

Facebook

  • Skillset Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Skillset Magazine Twitter

Instagram

  • Skillset Magazine Instagram
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Guns
    • View All Guns
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Rifles
    • Class III & More
    • Sponsored
  • Gear
    • View All Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics/Lights
    • Safes
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • View All Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • First-Time Shooters
    • Home & Self-Defense
  • Videos
    • PDW Videos
    • Free Gun Friday
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.