Guns make us safe

If we are truly serious about reducing gun-related deaths and injury, then we must consider this:

Dealers sold 600,000 guns in California last year, up from 350,000 in 2002, according to records of sale tallied by the California Attorney General's office.

During that same period, the number of California hospitalizations due to gun injuries declined from about 4,000 annually to 2,900, a roughly 25 percent drop, according to hospital records collected by the California Department of Public Health.

Firearm-related deaths fell from about 3,200 annually to about 2,800, an 11 percent drop, state health figures show.

Most of the drop in firearm-related injuries and deaths can be explained by a well-documented, nationwide drop in violent crime.

Certainly, some of the drop in the mortality rate from gunshots is due to better trauma response. But that doesn't explain the reduction in injuries. The best response to a bad guy itch a gun is a good guy ... with a gun.

California gun sales increase - The Sacramento Bee