In a very recent article by the well-known international magazine, Newsweek (February 5), it shared very interesting information on gun-related murders in the USA in comparison to other wealthy countries. It used information gathered from a 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) data gathering exercise. Below are six of its eye-opening results:
1. Gun-related homicides in the USA are 25 times higher than any of the other wealthy nations.
2. Americans are 10 times more likely than citizens in other high-income countries to be killed by gunfire whether it is murder, accident or suicide.
3. The USA's overall homicide rate is seven times higher than any other wealthy country.
4. The 15-24 year old age group has a gun-homicide rate that is 50 times higher.
5. 90 per cent of women, children and young adults killed by guns in high income countries were Americans.
6. The gun-related suicide rate in the USA is eight times that of any other wealthy country.
One wonders now how does Trinidad and Tobago compare with high income countries on these measures, and secondly, how do we compare with countries similar to us.
One of the main reasons attributable to this US problem is the easy availability of guns. To those that argue for more guns to be placed in the hands of businesses and others in T&T, let this be a reality check on what may come. We can't be following everything what the US does. D Binasarie