Despite the prominence of firearm crimes in the headlines, a study has revealed that gun-related violence in the United States has decreased from 20 years ago.
The Pew Research Center conducted a study, which reveals that gun-related homicides and other criminal acts have actually plunged in the United States when compared to 20 years ago. These findings are contrary to the belief of many American that crimes related to firearms are on the upswing. The study covered the past half century of data on violent crimes from the 1960s to the present time.
Other relevant findings
However, in spite of this positive development, the rate in the United States is still high when it comes to homicides compared to other developed countries. But it does not hold this distinction for all violent crimes. The Pew study also revealed that the US is still on top of the list when it comes to gun ownership versus other developed countries in the world. Moreover, the rate of deaths from suicides using firearms has not declined, with six for every ten gun related deaths from suicide.
Available data
Based on the results of the research, gun-related homicide rose from the 1960s through to the 1970s and peaked in 1980 and early ‘90s. After that time, the rate of gun violence has plunged and eventually leveled out. The recent Pew study reported that in 1993 there were seven homicides per 100,000 people and in 2010 the numbers have dropped to 3.6. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was used by the Pew Research Center.
The year 1993 has been singled out as the peak of gun homicides in the United States and by the year 2010, fewer deaths and a 49% lower homicide rate related to firearms was noted. This is despite the fact that the population has grown significantly over the years. In a report by the Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, the number of firearm-related homicides was 18,253 in 1993 while in 2011, the number was 11,101. Non-fatal gun-related crimes also went down significantly from 1.5 million victims to 467, 300 in 2011.
Reasons and explanations
Pew researchers tried to explain their data but by far there have been no definite explanations for the findings of the study. There have been many other researches on the subject with similar observations. But those who have seen a decline based on the data that they provide can only supply theories as to why such trends occur. And there has been no consensus as to what the most likely explanations is about. D’Vera Cohn of Pew Research Center said in an interview that it is very difficult to know what is really going on.
What the American public has to say
Just this March, the same group conducted a survey and found that more than half of the Americans who participated in the study (56%) are under the impression that crimes related to firearms have increased at this time while 12% claim that it is lower than two decades ago. In the same study, 26% replied that there was no difference while 6% decided that they did not know or had no idea at all.
Photo Credit: A Gun
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