Let the Figures Tell the Truth
FIREARMS MURDERS AND CIVILIAN GUN OWNERSHIP
United States
270,000,000 civilian firearms - 88.8 for every 100 people
Ranked 1 in the world for civilian gun ownership
In the latest year, there were 9,146 homicides by firearm - 2.97 per 100,000 population. 60% of all homicides are by firearm
FIREARMS MURDERS AND CIVILIAN GUN OWNERSHIP
England and Wales
3,400,000 civilian firearms - 6.2 for every 100 people
Ranked 88 in the world for civilian gun ownership
In the latest year, there were 41 homicides by firearm - 0.07 per 100,000 population. 6.6% of all homicides are by firearm
Now, Lest We Forget
After all, the U.S. military budget -- currently standing at $964.8 billion (FY 2011) -- has risen dramatically over the last 13 years and is the largest in U.S. history. Currently, U.S. military spending constitutes nearly as much money as the military spending of all other countries combined. Furthermore, in the context of severe budget cutting by Congress, popular domestic social programmes are being sacrificed to support the U.S. military budget -- so much so that it currently consumes more than half of the U.S. government's discretionary spending.
With a military budget like this, the US has either directly occupied many countries, or indirectly has done so, via hundreds and hundreds of military bases around the world. So far so good. But the big question is: Is the US or its citizens any safer, more secure, happier, healthier, and peaceful? I leave the answer to you. For me, this much I would like to say: perhaps it is time for the US government to begin to worry more about their own citizens, their human rights, their democracy, welfare and well-being, rather than the Iraqis, Afghanis, Persians, the Chinese, the Russians, and more. Perhaps it is time for them to realise that: Charity starts at home! Otherwise, sooner or later, the US will fall, and will fall very badly, not because of external threats, but through "Internal Combustion".
Read more:
The gun ownership and gun homicides murder map of the world
Which countries in the world have the highest firearms murders - and the highest rates of gun ownership? Click on a country to see how it compares - and use the dropdown menu to see the map in different ways
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2012/jul/22/gun-ownership-homicides-map
Please now watch this very moving and timely video: Pete Seeger: Where Have All the Flowers Gone? When Will They Ever Learn?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1y2SIIeqy34
See More:
Armed to the teeth: The US obsession with guns
Newtown shooting: when it comes to guns and violence, America is like a failed state Observer editorial, Sunday 16 December 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/16/newtown-shooting-america-gun-laws-failed-again