Brian Malte, writing for the Times of San Diego, has taken a look across the Golden State and feels that the surge in gun sales in California means impending death.
Approximately 110,000 Californians have purchased a gun since March including an astonishing 47,000 first-time buyers. The nationwide gun-buying surges are fueling increases in fatal and non-fatal firearm-related injuries. Two public health crises have collided — gun violence and a global pandemic. This is cause for massive concern and action. …
Data shows that guns are much more likely to be used against oneself or a family member than an intruder. A gun in the home substantially elevates the risk of intimate partner lethality involving women by 500% and suicide by 300%. Furthermore, a new study shows that 70% of those who bought a firearm during the COVID-19 pandemic reported having suicidal thoughts throughout their lives, compared to 37% of current gun owners.
Yes, there has been an incredible spike in gun sales, not just in California, but nationwide. Government-mandated lockdowns, mask mandates, and a hurting economy tend to cause trouble. Looting and rioting carried out by people who seemed to be looking for any excuse to rob, maim, and murder just might be a factor, too.
But Malte feels a lot of this disturbing uptick in gun buying has to do with race issues, too.
It is not just about the risks of having more guns in more homes. Since the start of the pandemic, inequities, racial injustice, hate crimes and gun violence have exponentially increased.
What’s the solution? Why, government involvement, of course.
Educate yourself and your family about the risks associated with gun ownership. Think twice about bringing a gun into your home, and if you do, learn how to store and handle the gun safely. It is incumbent on philanthropy, government and community-based organizations to work together to educate communities on the risks associated with gun ownership and double-down on effective and proven community violence intervention strategies.
Strangely, Malte doesn’t mention the number of defensive gun uses on the left coast. The CDC’s own numbers show the number of DGUs vastly outnumber the number of gun deaths each year
Offhand I’d say any government involvement isn’t the greatest plan ever when it comes to doing something about gun violence. However, that isn’t the real issue here. Has anyone noticed that the massive gun sales spike has NOT coincided with a jump in gun-related crimes being committed by law-abiding gun owners?
If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a thousand times: criminals are going to act criminally. Gun violence increases due to gang activity and looting and rioting have nothing to do with the guns being lawfully purchased for self-defense.
Is the gun sales surge responsible for any increase in gun-related incidents in 2020?