Firearms Facts

Did you know?

1. The NRA’s call to help arm Britain in 1940 resulted in the collection of more than 7,000 firearms for Britain’s defense against potential invasion by Germany (Britain had virtually disarmed itself with a series of gun control laws enacted between World War I and World War II).
2. During World War II one of the reasons the Japanese were reluctant to invade the US was due to the number of firearms in private citizens hands.
3. Saturday Night Special: A “suicide special” or “Saturday night special” is a cheap, usually poorly made inexpensive firearm that is considered to be so inaccurate that the only good use for it is to commit suicide.
4. Son of a Gun.  Three centuries ago the expression described the son of a Gunner in a rather uncharitable way. In olden times, the ‘train of artillery’ always included camp followers, among them ‘ladies of easy virtue’ with whom Gunners, being human, were apt to form unblessed liaisons. There being neither pill nor condom in those days bad luck or carelessness inevitably ‘brought forth illegitimate issue’, as the more polite historians say. Now jealous members of the Infantry and Cavalry who did not enjoy the same ‘home comforts’, and as we know had a poor opinion of our ancient brethren in any case, would call the misbegotten infant a ‘son of a gun’, implying that not only was it a bastard of low estate but that its father was one also. [http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/son.htm]
5. 9mm Parabellum: The word “parabellum” is derived from the Latin meaning “if you seek peace, prepare for war”
6. Suicide – Firearms. One might want to study the correlation, not between firearms and suicide, but between alcohol or drug consumption – the causes – and suicide. According to the World Health Organization, suicide rates in Ireland are marginally less than the US and endemic – nearly double – in Japan. Gun control in Ireland and Japan is absolute.
7. Overall robbery and assault rates in the United States are low compared to other developed countries, such as the UK, Australia, Finland, notwithstanding the much lower levels of gun ownership in those countries.
8. The number of handguns used in crime (approximately 7,500 per year) is very small compared to the approximately 70 million handguns in the United States (i.e., 0.011%). [Committee on Law and Justice (2004). “Chapter 4”, Firearms and Violence: A Critical Review. National Academy of Science]
9. When comparing European and US death from firearm statistics, Europeans are apt to describe the US a barbaric with regard to firearm use. This is an interesting observation from a continent that brought the world 83 million deaths in two wars in the past 90 years. This does not include annual firearm homicide statistics within the European Union nor the Serbian conflict.

TYPES OF ACCIDENTAL DEATHS, USA 2002 MVA = Motor Vehicle Accident) ACCIDENT PERCENT

1. The top ten guns used in crime, As reported by the ATF in 1993, included,
   • Smith & Wesson .38 Special
   • Smith & Wesson .357 revolver
   • Raven Arms .25 caliber
   • Davis P-380 .380 caliber
   • Ruger .22 caliber
   • Lorcin L-380 .380 caliber
   • Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handguns;
   • Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun
   • Remington 12 gauge shotgun
   • Tec DC-9L
     [LaPierre, Wayne (1994). Guns, Crime, and Freedom. Regnery Publishing, Inc., Washington, DC, p. 58]
2. Why own a Gun?
   • Because It’s Cool
   • Family Legacy (Because my Parents Owned Guns)
   • Just For Hunting
   • Target Shooting Only
   • For Social Reasons
   • For Self Defense
   • Because the Founding Fathers Wanted me to
   • As an Investment
   • Historical Reasons
   • Interest in The Mechanics of Firearms
   • My Own Reasons