A number of states have actually taken up measures in terms of:
Some of the data as I compared states with similar attributes was a little disturbing. I started with the 4 largest states in terms of population: California, Texas, New York, and Florida. Here's what I found: the states that adopted state laws to regulate firearm purchases and ownership experienced fewer deaths, homicides and suicides, by firearm.
It was disappointing to see Texas be #1 in gun related deaths in the data that is most recently available from the CDC for 2016.
I provide the sources I used and some impressions below. Will continue to look at the data that includes clusters of states with similar populations (in terms of numbers) like Idaho, Hawaii, and Maine OR like Oklahoma, Connecticut, and Iowa. Not sure if there's causal relationship but at this point the states that have elected to be more restrictive are generally quite low compared to those that have not in terms of deaths.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Center for Health Statistics (Firearm Mortality by State 2016 Data)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2010 Demographic Profile
California
- the right to purchase,
- the right to own,
- the requirement for registration, and
- the requirement to conduct background checks on individual to individual transactions.
Some of the data as I compared states with similar attributes was a little disturbing. I started with the 4 largest states in terms of population: California, Texas, New York, and Florida. Here's what I found: the states that adopted state laws to regulate firearm purchases and ownership experienced fewer deaths, homicides and suicides, by firearm.
It was disappointing to see Texas be #1 in gun related deaths in the data that is most recently available from the CDC for 2016.
I provide the sources I used and some impressions below. Will continue to look at the data that includes clusters of states with similar populations (in terms of numbers) like Idaho, Hawaii, and Maine OR like Oklahoma, Connecticut, and Iowa. Not sure if there's causal relationship but at this point the states that have elected to be more restrictive are generally quite low compared to those that have not in terms of deaths.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Center for Health Statistics (Firearm Mortality by State 2016 Data)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2010 Demographic Profile
California
- Deaths by firearm (Homicide + Suicide) - 3,184
- Firearm death rate - 7.9
- Population (Rank) - 37,253,956 (1)
- Impact - 2nd deadliest state in the U.S. It has 12.1 million more people than Texas. California does not experience an additional 1,524 deaths which is the median total for the 3 states with populations of ~12M people.
- Deaths by firearm (Homicide + Suicide) - 3,353
- Firearm death rate - 12.1
- Population (Rank) - 25,145,561 (2)
Impact - Deadliest state in the U.S. despite having a significantly smaller population than California. Both are border states with multiple major metro areas and diverse populations.
- Deaths by firearm (Homicide + Suicide) - 900
- Firearm death rate - 4.4
- Population (Rank) - 19,378,102 (3)
Impact - 17th deadliest state in the U.S. Surpassed by 14 states with smaller populations and limited or no laws. Diverse state with large immigrant population and 42.2% of all residents in New York City.
- Deaths by firearm (Homicide + Suicide) - 2,704
- Firearm death rate - 12.6
- Population (Rank) - 18,801,310 (4)
Impact - 3rd deadliest state in the U.S. Diverse state with large immigrant population. Jacksonville largest city with a population of 821,784 residents.
