EDITOR:

Slow down… Easy…. When we are upset, we members of the human family are vulnerable to jump on a popular band wagon, especially if emotional speeches are made in their support. But the popular emotional argument is often wrong.

According to the Daily Press, March 15, 2018, Natalie Hansen, one of the student leaders of the Gladstone walkout said “I wanted a conversation to start.” I respect that. Yes, let’s talk, after carefully digging through facts and thoughtfully examining possible solutions. Once I started looking at some stats, the problem(s) and effective solution is not easy to determine.

I examined “Firearm death rates in the United States by state” by Wikopedia. Here is what I found:

States with highest gun murders

Percent age gun owners – Murder/100,000

1. District of Columbia, 25.9 percent, 16.5

2. Missouri, 27.1 percent, 5.4

3. Maryland, 20.7 percent, 5.1

States with lowest gun murders

1. Vermont, 28.8 percent, 0.3

2. New Hampshire, 4.4 percent, 0.4

3. Hawaii, 45.1 percent, 0.5

States with the highest percent of gun ownership

1. Alaska, 61.7 percent, 3.2

2. Arkansas, 57.9 percent, 3.2

3. Idaho, 56.9 percent, 0.8

Just for contrast:

Michigan’s stats are: 28.8 percent, 4.2

Based on this data, you cannot make a sound case that gun ownership is the problem.

I did not find statistics on how many crimes, including attempted murder, that were ended because someone nearby had a gun. It would be good to know.

I noted an article, “Do Gun Laws Reduce the Gun Homicide Rates in States?” by professor John A. Tures, of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Ga. After studying various factors in his college class, he states, “We cannot conclude that states that regulate private gun sales have a higher or lower gun homicide rate.” Their next focus will include the impact of mental health laws.

The issue of gun safety is important, complex and deserves careful study. We cannot afford to mindlessly repeat the views of political action groups.

Lynn Hansen

Escanaba