Guns are used to kill two out of every three homicide victims in the United States, and new research shows that easy-access guns in the home make a difference. Homicide rates are highest in states where more households have guns, the national survey concludes.
... "The southern states and the mountain states on average have higher gun ownership levels than most states in the northeast," [researcher] Miller said.
For instance, in Oregon, 40 percent of households have guns, and more than half of the homes in Alabama own guns. Compare that with Massachusetts, where some 12 to 13 percent of households reported firearm ownership. [my emphasis -- Charley]
Gun-related deaths
In the top firearm-household states, homicide rates were more than double the rates found for states in the lowest firearm group. Overall, the top-gun states showed homicide rates that were 60 percent higher than all other states.
Most women victims of homicide are killed by guns that were already in the home, while men tend to be killed outside of the home. From past studies, Miller said, women are more likely to be killed by people they know, such as ex-boyfriends or ex-spouses.
"Overall women are more likely to die in states where there are more guns [in homes]," Miller told LiveScience.
Yeah Bruce, guns might be great for self-protection ... but it's much more likely the brutalizing husband or boyfriend who's quicker to reach for the gun. And I'm proud of Massachusetts for mostly doing without.
