Libertarian Leanings

Gun-Free School Zone Laws & School Shootings (2024 Updated)

by Cassandra McBride, Ammo.com

Before the 1990 Gun-Free School Zones Act (GFSA), only two notable mass shootings had occurred on school campuses. Since the passage of this legislation, many Americans can name over ten incidents without needing to research.

Congress passed the 1990 GFSA to reduce firearm-related incidents on school campuses. Despite many states having their own laws regarding gun-free zones, there is growing concern that the GFSA may have inadvertently caused more harm than good. Fortunately, decades of research allow us to assess the impact of gun-free zones on school shootings.

Report Highlights:

• The 1990 GFSA prohibited firearm possession on school campuses nationwide, excluding individuals in official capacities.

• Definitions of school shootings vary significantly across publications and databases, leading to discrepancies in reporting.

• Targeted school attacks increased by over 384% following the enactment of the GFSA.

• Firearm-related incidents on school campuses rose by 327% after the GFSA was implemented.

Our data sources include various reputable and frequently cited resources, listed comprehensively in our report here.

Understanding Gun-Free Zones and School Shootings

School shootings are an unnecessarily challenging topic due to differing definitions and murky facts clouded by political anecdotes. Furthermore, the complexity of federal laws' influence over state-level school districts is often misrepresented or misunderstood.

Defining School Shootings

Different databases and organizations use varying definitions of school shootings, which skews data and hinders meaningful discussions and solutions.

For instance, K-12 and Everytown include off-campus shootings occurring when no students or faculty are present, while the Secret Service only includes incidents where school staff or students are specifically targeted.

Loose definitions of school shootings can induce unnecessary fear and fail to address the underlying causes. For example, gang-related shootings, brandishing incidents, active shootings, off-campus shootings, and police-involved shootings each have distinct causes and effects.

Our research will define each subset of school shootings and explain the impacts of gun-free zones.

• GVA - 125 school shootings (incidents of shots fired on or near school campuses) (Source 8)
• K-12 - 344 school shootings (all firearm-related incidents on or near school campuses) (Source 7)
• Education Week - 182 school shootings (at least one person injured other than the shooter) (Source 9)
• FBI - 1 school shooting (targeted attack) (Source 2)

[2023 Graphic Sources: K-12 Shooting Database/K-12 Dive/Education Week]

The Gun-Free School Zone Act: Explained

The Gun-Free School Zone Act (GFSA) imposed penalties for possessing or brandishing a firearm on school property, with exceptions for official capacities such as School Resource Officers (SROs).

Initially passed in 1990, the GFSA was ruled unconstitutional in Lewis v. U.S., leading Congress to pass an amended version in 1995, citing the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Essentially, the 1995 GFSA stated that school shootings impacted Americans’ ability to travel freely and without fear between states.

The goal of the GFSA was to deter gun-related incidents on school campuses. Unfortunately, this bill also left schools defenseless against a new threat, targeted attackers.

Targeted Attacks in Schools Before and After Gun-Free School Zones

Using the FBI’s definition, targeted attacks on school campuses increased by 384.6% after the GFSA was enacted. (Source 1) Between 1970-1989, there were 26 targeted attacks on schools, while 126 occurred between 1991-2000. (Source 1,7)

As defined, targeted attacks are “any incident of violence where a known or knowable attacker selects a particular target before their violent attack.” As opposed to other types of school shootings, these acts are often deadlier and more terroristic.

Targeted attackers aim to inflict maximum harm with minimal resistance. The GFSA did not prevent these incidents from happening, as the numbers indicate an increase in targeted attacks.

Graphic Caption: Includes only mass casualty (injuries and/or deaths) incidents where a school was targeted and the attacker shot indiscriminately at students, staff, and faculty.

[Graphic Sources: 1,9]

School Shootings: Before and After Gun-Free School Zones

Before the 1990 GFSA, only 389 recorded incidents would have violated the new rule's intent (brandishing, shooting, threatening, etc.). After 1991, there were 1,662 incidents, a 327% increase. (Source 1)

All School Shootings: 1970-2022

Before the mid-1990s, schools weren't required to report firearm possession. However, local newspapers and the FBI tracked such incidents when they posed a threat. To understand school shootings before and after the implementation of gun-free zones, we need to delve deeper.

The representation of school shootings is often inaccurate due to the lack of a standard definition. Here, we'll analyze all known school shootings from 1970 to 2022 in context.

Between January 1970 and June 2022, there were 2,069 firearm-related incidents on school campuses. Of these, 62% (1,284 incidents) occurred during school hours, with 637 happening on school grounds. Among these incidents, 498 involved a shooting during school hours on school campuses.

From 1970 to 2022, there were 191 active shooting incidents on school grounds, as defined by the FBI. Additionally, 237 incidents were gang-related, and 117 were domestic disputes.

Disputes led to 720 of these school shootings. There were also 140 drive-by shootings and 96 indiscriminate shootings. Incidents related to bullying or anger over suspensions or grades accounted for 94 shootings. Thirty-six shootings were attributed to psychosis, and 14 resulted from racial tensions (11 of which occurred before the Gun-Free Schools Act).

Now, let’s examine how school shootings have evolved over time.

[Graphic Source: 1]

School Shootings 1970-1989

Before the GFSA, 389 firearm-related incidents were recorded on or near school campuses. While some incidents may be missing from reports, as it wasn’t required to report incidents before the GFSA, these incidents were notable enough threats to publish in newspapers or report to the FBI.

Among these, 135 occurred during school hours, 124 occurred during school hours on school campuses, and 99 involved shots fired.

There were only 11 active shootings, 10 gang-related incidents, and 10 domestic disputes. Disputes accounted for 55 incidents, while bullying and suspension issues accounted for 16 incidents. Race-related incidents were higher, with 11 incidents recorded.

Note: The following data includes only school-related shootings that occurred while students were present and on school property (unless otherwise stated).

[Graphic Source: 1]

School Shootings 1991-2022

After the GFSA, 1,662 notable firearm-related incidents occurred, with 958 during school hours. Of these, 860 took place on school grounds, and 601 resulted in shots fired.

There were 68 active shootings (a 518% increase), 53 gang-related shootings, and 38 domestic disputes. Disputes led to 151 shootings, with more drive-by shootings (36) and indiscriminate shots fired (39). Bullying and suspension-related incidents led to 35 shootings, and psychosis led to 12. Race-related incidents decreased to just one.

[Graphic Source: 1]

Gun-Free Schools and School Shootings: Wrap Up

School shootings began increasing after 1974, but they were relatively rare until after the 1990 GFSA. While the exact causes of school shootings are unclear, it is evident that they were less frequent before the disarmament of teachers, faculty, and students.

The GFSA failed to protect children and faculty and did not address the underlying issues leading to school shootings. Therefore, firearm restrictions alone are not effective in reducing school shootings on campuses.

Sources

1. Center for Homeland Defense and Security
2. School Shootings in 2023: Fewer Injuries and Deaths While Gun Violence Continues
3. S.890 Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1995
4. S.2070 Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990
5. Implications for the Prevention of School Attacks in the United States
6. Protecting America’s Schools: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Targeted School Violence
7. K-12 Shooting Database
8. Another Record High: Counting School Shootings in 2023
9. Number of K-12 School Shootings in the U.S. from 1970 to June 2022

Announcing the Sound Money Fellowship: Promoting Sound Money Research

from Money Metals Exchange

(Charlotte, North Carolina – September 30, 2024) – The Sound Money Defense League and Money Metals Exchange are proud to announce the inaugural Sound Money Fellowship—a new program designed to foster advanced research in the field of sound money.

The two groups have set aside more than 100 ounces of physical gold (currently valued at approximately $260,000) to reward deserving students and researchers advancing original sound money analyses.

Building on the overwhelming popularity of the nation’s first gold-backed annual Sound Money Scholarship, the Sound Money Fellowship is open to graduate students, post-graduate students, and independent researchers.

The fellowship seeks to advance scholarship pertaining to sound money by encouraging in-depth exploration of monetary history, policy analysis, and comparative studies.

Each selected Sound Money Fellow will receive a stipend of $3,000 and will write three articles for publication (750-1000 words) as well as a research paper during a six-month period.

The writings and research of Sound Money Fellows will be featured on both the Sound Money Defense League and Money Metals’ websites, as well as in the prestigious Sound Money Review, an annual publication that highlights the contributions of our fellows while serving as a valuable resource for academics, policymakers, and the public.

“After almost a decade of receiving hundreds of thoughtful essays on sound money from students all over the world through our Sound Money Scholarship program, we are excited to expand our overall support and thought leadership through the Sound Money Fellowship,” said Jp Cortez, Executive Director of the Sound Money Defense League.

“Money Metals is excited to augment its efforts to cultivate the next generation of thought leaders as they make meaningful contributions to the discourse surrounding the monetary future of America, and the world,” said Money Metals president Stefan Gleason.

The application period for the 2025 Sound Money Fellowship is now open, with a deadline of December 31, 2024. For more information on the fellowship and how to apply, please visit www.moneymetals.com/fellowship or email [email protected].

Gun Deaths in the US

Analyzing At-Risk Demographics in 2024

by Cassandra McBride, Ammo.com

Gun deaths in America are a highly publicized and politicized talking point. Unfortunately, we rarely see solution-oriented discussions, and the most at-risk demographics are often overlooked.

The anti-gun lobby and American politicians speak often about children and adolescent gun deaths, while rarely speaking about the people who are actually dying. This article will analyze the most at-risk demographics, and shift conversations where they matter.

Report Highlights:

• Urban areas have 7.5 firearm-related deaths per 100k people.

• Large suburban areas, small towns, and rural areas have 6 firearm-related deaths per 100k people.

• Individuals between 20 and 24 die at higher rates than any other age group (24.3 per 100k).

• Young black Americans between the ages of 14 and 34 comprise 20% of the nation’s gun deaths and only 4% of the nation’s population.

• Black Americans are more likely to be murdered with a firearm, and black American teens and adolescents die at much higher rates than other races.

• White and Native Americans are more likely to commit firearm-related suicides than any other race.

We strive to provide accurate and reliable information sourced from reputable databases. Our sources for this article are available here.

The Most At-Risk Demographics

The United States has had some form of federal gun control legislation for 90 years. Unfortunately, firearm-related deaths continue to occur at higher rates than other Western countries (and lower rates than many South American and African countries).

The U.S. is a unique country, however, and pinpointing solutions is challenging. To begin having more meaningful conversations about firearm-related deaths, it’s time to start discussing high-risk areas and the individuals most at-risk of firearm-related deaths.

By Population Size

To better identify at-risk demographics, we must explore the correlation between population sizes and firearm-related deaths. More than half of all firearm-related deaths occur in large and medium-sized cities. Naturally, cities have more people, so total deaths should be higher. However, that isn’t the case.

Large suburban areas with one million or more people have lower homicide rates (per 100k people) than medium cities with between 250k and 999,999 people. Essentially, we’ve narrowed down the most at-risk people to metropolitan areas, as opposed to suburbs, small cities or towns, and rural communities.

The Discussion

Large and medium cities contributed 7.5 deaths per 100k people in 2023, whereas all other areas, including suburban areas with more than one million people, contributed only 6 per 100k combined.

Therefore, we must explore crime rates, and the effects of policing and criminal justice policies in densely populated cities with more than 250,000 residents.

By Age

We’ve all heard the media and politicians saying that guns are the number one killer of kids. Unfortunately, those who consistently debunk this misinformation are also missing a critical and life-saving discussion: What age groups are most at risk?

Exploring all firearm-related deaths (including homicide, suicide, unintentional shootings, and police intervention) by age group better helps us understand where we can focus our resources to bring down the entire nation’s homicide rates.

Children and adolescents below fourteen and younger are rarely killed with firearms. Individuals aged 20-24 had the highest rate of firearm deaths per capita at 24.3/100k in 2022 and 22.5/100k in 2023.

Next, individuals aged 25-29 had the second highest rate of firearm-related deaths at 23.5/100k in 2022 and 21/100k in 2023.

Adults aged 30 to 44 comprise the third, fourth, and fifth highest per capita rates, followed by teens (14-19) at 16.7/100k.

The Discussion

Not all of America’s children are at risk of firearm-related death, and blanket “guns are the number one killer of kids” statements deter meaningful conversations away from those who are most at risk of gun violence.

The risk of firearm-related death doesn’t begin until individuals reach age fourteen and peaks between age 19 and 24. The rates decline after individuals reach 34 years of age. Therefore, we must focus life-saving interventions and conversations to the most at-risk age groups.

By Race

Unfortunately, there are racial disparities among gun death victims. Although melanin levels do not affect criminality, there is a correlation between race and firearm-related deaths in the United States.

Black Americans are far more likely to die from a gun-related death than any other demographic. Unfortunately, black Americans of all age groups succumb to more fatal firearm injuries than any other demographic in all metropolitan statistical areas.

However, black males between the ages of 20 and 24 die at a rate of 89 per 100k in large cities and 77 per 100k in medium-sized cities. Black teens are also more likely to die than any other demographic in any other MSA in the same age group. Black teens between the ages of 15 and 19 die at a rate of 62.8 per 100k in large cities and 55.5 per 100k in medium-sized cities.

The Discussion

Young black Americans between the ages of 14 and 34 comprise 20% of the nation’s gun deaths and only 4% of the nation’s population. Conversely, white Americans in this same age group contribute only 14% of the nation’s gun deaths and comprise 14% of the population.

Sadly, black Americans comprise more firearm-related deaths than the population size would indicate, and many more than other races in the same age groups. To better combat firearm-related deaths in the U.S. we must discuss the disproportionality of deaths affecting black Americans.

Analyzing Risk Factors for Gun Deaths

Firearm deaths in the U.S. are a highly concentrated issue. Unfortunately, the root issue is rarely addressed due to misinformation and political grandstanding.

Upon analyzing risk factors, we see that Black Americans living in large or medium-sized urban cities between the ages of 15 and 40 die at a rate of 67.6 per 100,000 people. For comparison, white Americans in the same age group die at a rate of only 14 per 100,00 people.

Furthermore, Black Americans are far more likely to die in an urban area but are also more likely to die in small towns compared to white and Hispanic Americans.

Although many politicians and lobby groups are focused on children, children in America are the least likely to die from a bullet. Therefore, we must shift the conversation where it matters to effect change.

At-Risk Demographics Gun Homicides and Suicides

The root cause of suicides is much different than homicides, and therefore, we must address them separately. 58% of all gun deaths in the U.S. are self-inflicted.

Unfortunately, the issue is rarely addressed because media personalities and lobby groups prefer to use all-encompassing terminology such as “gun violence,” skewing the conversation from tangible solutions.

By Homicides

Fewer than half of all gun-related deaths in 2022 and 2023 were homicides. Therefore, Americans are much safer than anti-gun lobby groups would have us believe. However, there are risk factors that we can explore to understand the problem better and find tangible solutions.

By Location

Americans are more likely to succumb to a firearm-related murder in large urban areas than any other population size. With 8.6 firearm-related homicides per 100k in 2022 in large cities and 5.8 per 100k in medium-sized cities, local law enforcement agencies, DAs, and mayors around the country can shift focus to densely populated areas.

Large and medium-sized cities in America contribute four victims for every 100,000 people, whereas all other areas contribute only two per 100,000. Therefore, national firearm-related homicide rates are primarily concentrated in urban areas.

By Age & Race

As discussed previously, young to middle-aged Black Americans are more likely to die from gunshots than any other race. Unfortunately, the most at-risk demographic for firearm-related homicide is Black Americans between the ages of 20 to 24.

However, Black American children are also more likely to die in a firearm-related homicide. Black teens die at a rate of 58 per 100k, while black children (under 14) die at a rate of 9 per 100k.

Native American teens are also at a high risk for firearm-related homicide at 14 per 100k. Comparatively, white American children die at a rate of 1 per 100k, and teens die at a rate of 2 per 100k.

By Suicides

Suicides comprise more than half the nation’s firearm-related deaths. Suicide is a unique issue, and the tool is inconsequential to those who are determined to end their lives. However, if we explore the correlation between at-risk demographics, we can begin to have more meaningful discussions that save lives.

By Location

Contrary to homicides, firearm-related homicides are much more likely to occur in rural areas. Those in small towns or rural communities commit suicide with a firearm at a rate of 13 per 100,000 people.

On the contrary, those in more populated areas commit suicide with a firearm at a rate of 8 per 100k. Therefore, those living in rural communities are at a higher risk of firearm-related suicide than those in other areas.

By Age & Race

Identifying the most at-risk demographics for suicide can be helpful to better allocate resources to saving lives. In the U.S., Native Americans and white Americans are more likely to commit suicide than any other demographic. However, age seems to matter as well.

Native Americans between the ages of 20 and 34 commit suicide with a firearm at much higher rates than any other demographic. Young to middle age Native Americans commit suicide with a firearm at a rate of 18 per 100k, while White Americans between the ages of 75 and 84 commit suicide at a rate of 19 per 100k. Comparatively, the national average is 9.2 firearm-related suicides for every 100,000 people.

At-Risk Americans Matter, Too

To better combat firearm deaths in the U.S., we must first acknowledge who is most at risk. Focusing on a one-size-fits-all solution or federal legislation does little to tackle the underlying issues of firearm-related deaths in our country.

Unfortunately, conversations often turn to children. Although tragic, children are the least likely demographic to succumb to firearm-related deaths. Until we begin having solution-oriented conversations, public policy, advocacy, and political outrage will continue to fail the most at-risk Americans.

Sources

• CDC Provisional Mortality Statistics 2023
• CDC Underlying Cause of Death 2022

Sharon Statement – Adopted at Conference in Sharon Connecticut September 11, 1960

Gun Laws vs. Crime Rates in 2024

A Comprehensive Analysis

by Cassandra McBride, Ammo.com

Almost daily, legislators propose new gun laws aimed at reducing crime rates. However, both new and existing laws are unlikely to impact crime significantly. With over 90 years of gun control legislation and crime data, it's clear that these laws do little to curb criminality or save lives.

While some countries with strict gun laws have low crime rates, others do not. Additionally, strict gun laws in safer countries have saved few lives over the past two decades.

This article examines the effects of gun legislation on criminality, homicide, and mass shootings.

Report Highlights:

• National homicide rates have increased with federal firearm legislation and decreased with more relaxed gun laws.

• Firearms are used in 73% of homicides in states with strict gun laws and 75% in states with relaxed gun laws.

• Gun death rates vary widely despite state laws, with some strict states having high gun deaths and some relaxed states having few.

You can see a comprehensive list of our sources for this article here.

Do Strict Gun Laws Reduce Violent Crime?

With thousands of active gun laws in the U.S., homicide rates have reached levels not seen since 1993. Despite media and gun lobby claims, “common sense” gun legislation is neither common sense nor productive.

Federal firearm legislation began in 1934. To understand its impact, we can review crime rates over the past 91 years.

Exploring Gun Laws and Crime Rates: A Historical Perspective

We have over nine decades of crime rates and gun control laws to review. Here are some major federal gun regulations:

The 1930s: Crime and Guns

Gun laws have been a temporary solution for crime for nearly a century. However, crime rates often increased after new restrictive legislation, particularly in the 1930s.

Prohibition, which aimed to reduce crime, created a new market for criminality. Illegal alcohol production and distribution led to higher homicide and crime rates. After Prohibition ended in 1933, the National Firearms Act was passed in 1934, banning firearms associated with criminality.

Homicide rates rose from 1.3 per 100,000 people in 1904 to 9.6 per 100,000 in 1934. Despite various contributing factors, the homicide rate never dropped below 4 per 100,000 again.

The 1960s and 1970s: Crime and Guns

Before the 1968 Gun Control Act, violent crime rates were lower. Despite more unrestricted access to firearms, the 1960 crime rate was 160.9 incidents per 100,000 people. Crime rates increased steadily from 1964, peaking in 1991 at 758.2 per 100,000 people, with homicide rates rising from 5 to 8.8 per 100,000 from 1960 to 1970.

The 1968 Gun Control Act aimed to restrict firearm transfers to felons and those with mental illnesses. Despite its intentions, crime rates quadrupled over the next three decades.

Subsequent legislation, like the 1986 Firearm Owners’ Protection Act and the 1993 Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, failed to reduce crime significantly.

The 1980s and 1990s: Crime and Guns

The 1980s and 1990s were the most violent decades in American history. Homicide rates in 1980 were 10.9 per 100,000 people, and violent crime rates rose from 500 to over 700 per 100,000.

The 1993 Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act mandated national background checks and waiting periods, but homicide and violent crime rates remained high. Crime rates only began to decline after 1994, attributed to the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, not the Federal Assault Weapons Ban.

The 1994 FAWB didn’t ban all semi automatic rifles, only those with detachable magazines and a few other features found only on rifles. Assault weapons weren’t being used often in violent crimes and homicides before the legislation took place. Violent crime did not increase after the FAWB expired in 2004. Had the FAWB been effective, these three facts could not be true, and yet they are.

Incarceration rates rose by 59% after the 1994 Crime Bill, while crime decreased by 22%. Homicide rates did not increase again until 2016, when softer crime policies became more popular.

If we look beyond our borders, El Salvador dropped their country’s homicide rates from 53.3 per 100k to only 2.4 per 100k after opening supermax prisons and incarcerating gang members.

Essentially, the increases and decreases in crime through the 1990s can largely be attributed to crime policies and incarceration rates rather than any gun control legislation in Congress.

Do Strict Gun Laws Reduce Mass Shootings?

One of the more common talking points regarding gun control is that we need to implement new policies to reduce mass shootings. However, mass shootings and school shootings were incredibly rare before sweeping federal gun control legislation.

Prior to 1984, mass shootings were so infrequent most people today aren’t even aware they happened. However, the United States has experienced at least one mass shooting every year since the 1986 Firearm Owners’ Protection Act prohibited the possession and transfer of machine guns, as well as tightened restrictions on gun sellers.

Although Congress passed many gun control bills between 1986 and 1994, mass shootings became more frequent.

There were seven mass shootings in the United States between 1970 and 1979. This number doubled between 1980 and 1989 with 14 mass shootings. Between 1990 and 1999, there were 29 mass shootings. 2000 to 2009 saw 41 mass shootings and 66 mass shootings between 2010 and 2020 (not including gang violence or family-related shootings).

Overall, mass shootings were less frequent when individuals could purchase machine guns without background checks from pawn shop dealers than they are with dozens of “common sense” gun laws now.

Guns and Crime: International Comparisons

Many countries with strict gun control or outright bans still experience high crime rates. For instance, the U.K., Australia, and Canada had low homicide rates before implementing gun bans, and these countries also report high violent crime rates.

• The U.K. reported 2.1 million violent crimes against a person in 2023, compared to 1.2 million in the U.S.
• Australia reported 123 rapes per 100,000 people, while the U.S. reported 40 per 100,000 in 2023.
• Canada reported 1,364 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2022, compared to 380.7 per 100,000 in the U.S.

The U.S. has a homicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people in 2023, with over 400 million firearms. In contrast, Mexico, with only 16 million firearms and strict gun laws, has a homicide rate of 26 per 100,000. Honduras, with background checks and training requirements, has 800,000 firearms and a homicide rate of 35 per 100,000.

Despite gun bans, the U.K. and Australia still experience mass shootings and homicides, albeit at lower rates than the U.S. The U.K.’s homicide rate dropped from 1.5 per 100,000 before 1997 to 1 per 100,000 nearly three decades later. Similarly, Australia’s rate fell from 1.94 to 0.74 per 100,000 after mandatory buybacks.

The Future of Gun Laws and Crime in America

Despite the evidence, politicians and the gun control lobby continue pushing for more regulations, such as Red Flag Laws, Universal Background Checks, and Safe Storage Laws. However, these laws will not save lives in America.

The answer lies in enforcing existing laws and implementing tough crime policies, which have proven effective, while restrictive legislation has shown adverse effects.

Sources

• The 1994 FAWB
• 1986 FOPA
• Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (1993/1994)
• Hospitalizations
• Firearm Trace Data
• Firearm Mortality
• BJS Report Crime Guns
• Homicide Rates El Salvador
• Mass Shootings in the U.S.
• Violent Crime Rates in the U.S.
• Violent Crimes in the U.K.
• Australia Crime Stats
• Murder Rate by Country
• Civilian Owned Firearms by Country

 

Saving Democracy

Brace Yourself

SIGNED INTO LAW: New Jersey Eliminates Sales Taxes on Gold and Silver

by Jp Cortez, Money Metals Exchange

(Trenton, NJ – September 12, 2024) – Sound money advocates are hailing their hard-fought victory today as New Jersey’s Senate Bill 721 was signed into law – thereby removing sales taxes on purchases of gold, silver, and other precious metals above $1,000 effective January 1, 2025.

The long-anticipated bill signing by Gov. Phil Murphy positions New Jersey alongside 44 other states that recognize the importance of exempting constitutional sound money from burdensome taxation.

Supported by the Sound Money Defense League, Money Metals Exchange, and in-state activists, Senate Bill 721 enjoyed unanimous support from both sides of the political aisle, including 13 Democrat and Republican formal sponsors.

“In 2024, New Jersey was one of seven states to have passed legislation that removes taxes on precious metals, reaffirms gold and silver as constitutional money, empowers state treasurers to invest in physical gold, and more,” reported Stefan Gleason, president of Money Metals and Chairman of the League.

“Our work isn’t done,” said Gleason. “With New Jersey reversing its policy, New Mexico, Maine, Vermont, Hawaii, and Kentucky are the only states that still charge sales tax on the metals. Those are our biggest targets moving forward.”

Eliminating sales taxes on the monetary metals is good public policy for many reasons:

• Levying sales taxes on precious metals is inappropriate. Sales taxes are typically levied on final consumer goods. Computers, shirts, and shoes carry sales taxes because the consumer is "consuming" the good. Precious metals are inherently held for resale, not "consumption," making the application of sales taxes on precious metals inappropriate.

• Studies have shown that taxing precious metals is an inefficient form of revenue collection. The results of one study involving Michigan show that any sales tax proceeds a state collects on precious metals are likely surpassed by the state revenue lost from conventions, businesses, and economic activity that are driven out of the state.

• Taxing gold and silver harms in-state businesses. It’s a competitive marketplace, so buyers will take their business to neighboring states, thereby undermining in-state jobs. Investors can easily avoid paying $169 in sales taxes, for example, on a $2,550 purchase of a one-ounce gold bar.

• Taxing precious metals is unfair to certain savers and investors. Gold and silver are held as forms of savings and investment. New Jersey already does not tax the purchase of stocks, bonds, ETFs, currencies, and other financial instruments.

• Taxing precious metals is harmful to citizens attempting to protect their assets. Purchasers of precious metals aren't fat-cat investors. Most who buy precious metals do so in small increments as a way of saving money. Precious metals investors are purchasing precious metals as a way to preserve their wealth against the damages of inflation. Inflation harms the poorest among us, including pensioners, New Jerseyans on fixed incomes, wage earners, savers, and more.

Executive director of the Sound Money Defense League, Jp Cortez, traveled to Trenton to testify in support of exemption before numerous Assembly and Senate committees. “The recent passage of S721 in New Jersey highlights the wave of support we are seeing in the states for sound money legislation.”

“This victory is a direct result of grassroots pressure from in-state advocates, persistent messaging and communication, and the growing awareness that taxing constitutional money is a backwards policy,” Cortez said.

There is a fly in the ointment, however. S721 ultimately included a “poor tax” provision that discriminates against small-time savers of precious metals who purchases below $1,000 at a time.

New Jersey is one of only seven states (CA, CT, FL, MD, MA, NY) that includes this regressive tax scheme while exempting all larger purchases of gold and silver coins, bars, and rounds. It’s score is expected to rise sharply on the Sound Money Index, where it had languished in 49^th place.

Anti-Gun Control Arguments 2024

Facts Gun Control Lobby Suppress

by Cassandra McBride, Ammo.com

The debate over gun control is heavily influenced by various groups, including the anti-gun lobby and anti-Second Amendment (2A) politicians. These groups often dominate headlines and social media, advocating for more restrictive gun laws. Organizations like Moms Demand Action, Everytown, and Newtown have successfully garnered public support by using data, statistics, and emotional appeals to sway opinions.

However, the perspective supporting the Second Amendment, which views it as a vital measure for self-defense, is often underrepresented. This viewpoint is frequently criticized as prioritizing firearms over children's safety or merely offering "thoughts and prayers." Despite these criticisms, proponents of the 2A argue that compromising on these rights poses greater dangers.

Key Points:

• Implementing mandatory gun buybacks or registrations in the U.S. would cost billions of taxpayer dollars, and many firearms would still remain in civilian hands.

• The firearm industry contributes billions annually to the U.S. economy, providing jobs and tax revenue.

• Despite existing gun control laws, homicide rates in countries like the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K. continue to fluctuate, suggesting that criminality is not directly impacted by these laws.

• The Second Amendment and Supreme Court rulings support an individual’s right to keep and bear arms in the U.S.

• Gun control has historically been used to oppress minorities in the U.S. and worldwide.

• There is no positive correlation between gun lobby efforts, anti-gun lobby actions, and gun deaths.

We strive to provide fact-based information and only use reputable sources. You can check those sources out here.

The Economic Impact of Gun Control

Groups like Everytown estimate that gun violence costs $557 billion per year. (Source 4) However, this figure includes extreme estimates of lost wages, court costs, incarceration, medical bills, etc., and the source of this data is often unclear.

The Cost of Gun Control

Canada imposed gun registrations costing over $2.7 billion (adjusted to $3.32 billion today), which failed and records were destroyed. (Source 1)

Australia’s gun buyback program in the 1990s cost $230 million; the country now has more guns than before. (Source 2)

The UK’s gun buyback program cost $2 million to collect only 162,000 firearms, covering a small fraction of the total guns. (Source 2) More than $3.2 million today, and the country has only recovered 26% of its firearms.

In the U.S., implementing similar measures would be significantly more expensive and complex due to the high number of firearms. For instance, buying back just 20% of the guns could cost upwards of $42 billion.

[Graphic Sources: 1,2,3]

The Economic Benefits of the Second Amendment

The firearm industry generates about $9 billion annually, providing significant economic benefits, including jobs and tax revenue. Without this industry, the U.S. economy would lose over $90 billion. (Source 5)

[Graphic Source: 5]

The Effects of Gun Control on Crime and Death Rates

One common misconception when debating gun control is that it has worked in the past, but historical data shows mixed results for the effectiveness of gun control on reducing crime and death rates:

1934 NFA (National Firearms Act): This aimed to reduce homicides by making certain firearms undesirable with a costly tax stamp for ownership, but it took nearly a decade to see significant declines. (Source 6) This was implemented when homicide rates reached 9.7 per 100,000 during Prohibition and The Great Depression.

1968 Gun Control Act: Crime rates increased until the 1990s.

1986 FOPA (Firearm Owners Protection Act) and 1994 FAWB (Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act): These targeted specific firearms but had limited impact on overall crime rates. (Source 11)

1993 Brady Bill: This required waiting periods for a short time and created a national background check system.

1990 GFSA: School shootings increased significantly after its implementation. (Source 12)

It’s important to note here that criminals often obtain guns from non-legal sources, undermining the effectiveness of gun control laws aimed at legal purchases. (Source 13)

Oppressive Gun Control History

Gun control has often been used as a tool for oppression:

• Prevented Native Americans from bearing arms.
• Disarmed colonies to prevent uprisings.
• Used against enslaved people and minority groups like the Black Panthers.

Today, some cities implement gun control while reducing law enforcement budgets, potentially leaving law-abiding citizens more vulnerable.

[Graph Source: 7]

Gun Control in Other Countries

We often hear about how well other countries curbed homicide rates and mass shootings by enacting gun control. However, countries like the U.K. and Australia still have mass killings and homicides (including those with firearms).

Australia: Homicide rates initially increased after strict gun control laws but eventually decreased, saving one person per 100,000.

United Kingdom: Similar trends with initial increases in homicide rates post-legislation, later seeing a reduction of less than one person per 100,000.

Canada: Despite stricter gun laws, recent homicide rates are higher than before licensing requirements. (Sources 17, 18)

[Graphic Sources: 14,15,16,17]

The Original Intent of the Second Amendment

The Second Amendment states: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Historical documents and Supreme Court rulings support that this right is essential for maintaining liberty and limiting government power over citizens.

Plainly put, some Americans place credence on the first part of the sentence, and others only on the second part. However, after reading several founding documents, letters, and Supreme Court cases, it’s obvious: the first statement explains why the 2A is necessary, and the second limits the government’s power over the right to keep and bear arms.

Supreme Court Cases

The Supreme Court consistently upholds that U.S. citizens have the right to keep and bear arms. However, the Second Amendment does not apply to all firearms and all individuals.

Supreme Court case rulings on the Second Amendment largely support U.S. Citizen’s rights to bear arms.

Exploring a Well-Regulated Militia

Rather than arguing semantics or sentence structure, let’s review a few founding documents written before the Constitutional Convention.

John Hancock’s Boston Massacre Oration 1774

In John Hancock’s speech on the anniversary of the Boston Massacre, we see that the well-regulated militia is comprised of the citizens of states and not controlled by the government.

George Washington to John Hancock 1776

George Washington expressed to John Hancock that an unregulated and undisciplined militia would not adequately protect the colonies from foreign threats.

Exploring the Right of the People

James Madison - Federalist Paper #46

James Madison wrote Federalist Paper #46 in 1788. One of his many contributions to the Constitutional Convention (and, ultimately the Constitution) was that the right of the people to keep and bear arms would greatly benefit the States’ liberty.

When we put these pieces together, we can see the founders' intent: that a well-regulated militia would be necessary to maintain a free state and that, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Ethical Arguments Against Gun Control

Gun control is a longstanding debate. While intended to reduce crime, evidence suggests that it often fails to achieve its goals. The United States, with decades of gun control legislation, still sees high crime rates. Effective self-defense and protection of liberty are central arguments for maintaining Second Amendment rights.

There is no correlation between firearm-related deaths (including homicide, suicide, unintentional, and law enforcement) and gun lobbying (for or against gun control).

Essentially, feel-good legislation is ineffective but quite profitable.

We Rest Our Case

Gun control is not a new concept and has been debated for centuries. Many arguments for gun control are based on a desire to reduce crime rates, but crime is complex and multifaceted.

Historical and current evidence suggests that governments are often unable to protect civilians as effectively as individuals can protect themselves. Thus, maintaining the right to keep and bear arms is seen by supporters as crucial for personal safety and liberty.

Sources

1. Gun Registry Cost Soars to $2 Billion
2. How Australia and Britain Tackled Gun Violence
3. Estimated Number of Firearms in Canada
4. Calculate the Economic Cost of Gun Violence
5. Firearm and Ammunition Economic Impact
6. Homicide Trends in the U.S. 1900-1974
7. Gun Control and Racism: The Laws and Taxes Meant to Limit Minority Gun Ownership in America
8. Canada Firearms Program Statistics: 2004
9. Gun Lobby Donations
10. CDC Wonder (Provisional, 2018-2022, 1999-2020, 1968-2016)
11. Guns Used in Crime
12. Shooting Incidents at K-12 Schools (1970-2022)
13. Source and Use of Firearms Used in Crimes: Survey of Prison Inmates in 2016
14. Official Statistics: Historical Crime Data
15. Australia Murder/Homicide Rate: 1960-2024
16. U.K. Murder/Homicide Rate: 1960-2024
17. History of Firearms in Canada
18. Number, Rate, and Percentage Changes in Canada’s Homicide Victims

 

Accidental Shooting Statistics

A Review of Unintentional Firearm Deaths from 1979-2024

by Cassandra McBride, Ammo.com

The pro-gun community has put a lot of time and effort into preventing accidental shootings in America. Unlike other firearm-related incidents, accidental shootings are a category that the pro-gun community has notably influenced over the years.

Despite sensationalized headlines and ongoing advocacy for new legislation, it’s crucial to recognize that accidental shootings are exceedingly rare occurrences. Even in households with unsecured firearms and children, such tragedies are infrequent.

However, it’s essential to acknowledge that these accidents are entirely preventable. The following sections delve into various aspects of accidental shootings in the United States.

Key Points:

• In 2022, less than 1% (461) of the 48,222 firearm deaths in the U.S. were attributed to accidental shootings.

• 2.3% of the 30,303 unintentional firearm-related injuries were fatal in 2021.

• Of the 231,878 firearm-related offenses reported to the FBI in 2022, only 721 were accidental shootings (0.3%).

• There is no correlation between permitless carry and accidental shootings; only four of the five top states for accidental shootings and all five of the bottom states have permitless carry.

• Only 0.2% of all accidental injury-related deaths in the U.S. can be attributed to firearms.

Note: 30,303 injuries include any hospital visit involving a firearm injury.

Accidental Gunshots Per Year

In total, 673 individuals in the U.S. were victims of an accidental shooting in 2022. Accidental shootings occur in 0.001% of all American households with a firearm annually.

Contrary to claims by Everytown and Giffords, simply owning a firearm does not significantly elevate the risk of danger. In reality, the likelihood of dying from other causes such as fire, drowning, poisoning, falls, or motor vehicle accidents far exceeds that of accidental firearm-related deaths.

Gun Laws and Accidental Shootings

Whenever a tragedy occurs, the anti-gun lobby, media, and many politicians exploit it. Despite an estimated 113,000,000 firearm owners in America, the 673 accidental shooting deaths have spurred discussions about new legislation.

Examining states with existing legislation like safe storage laws and concerns about permitless carry provides insights into the impact of such laws on accidental shootings.

Safe Storage Laws

With limited safe storage legislation in the U.S., accidental shooting deaths declined by 40% between 1999 and 2023. This decline underscores the effectiveness of firearm safety initiatives primarily driven by the pro-2A community.

As of 2024, 26 states have safe storage laws. For instance, in Texas, it constitutes a prosecutable offense if a child gains access to an unsecured firearm. Notably, Texas recorded 61 accidental shooting deaths among individuals aged 1-17 between 2018 and 2023.

Expanding this data reveals that 30% of all accidental firearm-related deaths in this age group occurred in states with existing safe storage laws, whereas nine states without such laws had no accidental shootings involving children during the same period.

Permitless Carry

Another contentious issue for the anti-gun lobby is permitless carry legislation. However, such legislation does not ease firearm access; rather, it allows lawful individuals to carry firearms without a permit.

Analyzing data from states before and after enacting permitless carry laws reveals no significant correlation with unintentional shootings. For instance:

Indiana, Kentucky, and Oklahoma, which passed permitless carry between 2019 and 2021, had accidental shooting deaths, while the other four states (Iowa, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming) that enacted permitless carry had none.

In Indiana, there was no notable change in accidental shooting deaths after passing permitless carry in 2021.

Kentucky and Oklahoma also did not experience significant fluctuations in accidental shooting deaths following the implementation of permitless carry laws.

Ultimately, permitless carry legislation neither exacerbates nor alleviates accidental shooting incidents. Firearm safety is primarily an individual responsibility that cannot be regulated effectively.

Accidental Shootings: The Full Picture

Though 2.3% of accidental shootings are fatal, only 0.0001% of all firearms in the U.S. are involved in such incidents, affecting just 0.05% of all households with firearms.

Understanding the causes of accidental shootings is crucial. Regardless of firearm ownership or Second Amendment stance, familiarizing oneself and one's family with firearm safety principles is imperative.

Common causes of accidental shootings include:

Further analysis reveals that a significant portion of unintentional firearm deaths result from mishandling firearms or hunting-related accidents.

From 2005 to 2015, research indicates that 28.3% of unintentional firearm deaths happened when individuals were handling firearms casually. Additionally, 17.2% of deaths resulted from not confirming the firearm was unloaded, while 13.8% of victims were engaged in hunting-related incidents. [Unintentional Firearm Deaths in the United States: 2005-2015]

Accidental Gunshot Deaths and Adolescents

Individuals aged 14 to 30 face the highest risk of accidental shooting deaths. In 2021, 46 small children (aged two to four) and 71 teens and young adults succumbed to unintentional gunshot wounds.

Although accidental firearm-related deaths in the <1-17 age group are relatively low compared to other accidents, they remain preventable. Vigilant gun owners and parents play a crucial role in mitigating such incidents.

Prevention And Safety Measures

Accidents often occur due to carelessness. While some states have safe storage laws, accidental shootings involving minors and adults still happen.

Hence, it's vital to maintain constant vigilance over firearms. While access to defense firearms should be unrestricted for adults, precautions should be taken to prevent access by children or unauthorized individuals.

Individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol or those incapable of handling firearms should refrain from doing so. Moreover, hunters must adhere to safety protocols such as knowing their targets and the surrounding environment.

Effectiveness Of Educational Programs

Although the effectiveness of educational programs on accidental shootings warrants further research, increasing education alone may not be enough.

A study found that a majority of teachers support firearm safety education in schools, indicating a potential avenue for disseminating such knowledge.

Study results:

• 62% approved of education in schools overall
• 13% disapproved of firearm safety courses in schools
• 25% had no opinion
• 28.4% of teachers approved of firearm safety for students in Pre-K and 1st grade
• 54% of teachers indicated that military personnel or police should teach the courses
• 6.9% of teachers responding approve of teachers educating students on gun safety

Accidental Shootings vs. Other Accidental Causes

Unintentional falls rank as the most common accident across all age groups in the U.S., followed by incidents categorized as "Struck by or Against" and motor vehicle accidents.

Accidental firearm-related injuries do not feature in the top ten causes of all accidents in the U.S.

In 2021, firearms accounted for only 0.2% of all accidental deaths, with poisoning and falls constituting the leading causes.

The Run-Down on Accidental Shootings

While any firearm-related injury or death is tragic, accidental shootings are rare and entirely preventable.

Legislation alone is insufficient to prevent accidental shootings; proactive firearm safety measures are crucial. Understanding firearm safety principles and identifying high-risk individuals are essential steps in reducing firearm-related deaths in America.

It’s crucial for individual gun owners and parents to take necessary precautions to minimize the likelihood of accidental shootings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the most common causes of accidental shootings?

The most common cause of accidental shootings is mishandling a firearm.

What are the most effective ways to prevent accidental gun shootings?

The most effective way to prevent accidental shootings is to follow the ten rules of gun safety and ensure that firearms are inaccessible to prohibited or uneducated individuals.

How do gun safety laws impact accidental shooting statistics?

States with no gun safety legislation take the majority in the top five and bottom five states for unintentional firearm-related deaths.

Sources

• 2005-2015 Study on Accidental Shooting Deaths
• 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act
• 2010 Survey on Gun Safety Courses in Schools
• CDC WISQARS Accidental Injuries
• CDC Wonder
• NHTSA Motorcyle Fatalities 2021
• Gun Storage Laws by State

Tax-Grabbing Nebraska Politicians Taught a Lesson by Sound Money Supporters

By Jp Cortez, Sound Money Defense League

(Lincoln, Nebraska) - In a powerful display of grassroots pressure, Nebraska politicians beat a hasty retreat this week after attempting a brazen tax grab that would have reimposed sales taxes on purchases of gold and silver in the Cornhusker State.

The Sound Money Defense League and Money Metals Exchange, alongside a coalition of concerned citizens, in-state dealers, and pro- sound money State Senator Ben Hansen, successfully thwarted this misguided effort, proving that Nebraskans will not stand for attacks on their financial freedoms—especially during a time of rampant inflation. 

Legislative Bill 1 (LB 1) had sought to eliminate a longstanding sales tax exemption on precious metals and thereby align Nebraska with fringe pro-tax states like Vermont and Hawaii.

The overwhelming trend nationwide has been to eliminate this tax, with only five states still fully taxing gold and silver purchases.

If passed, these provisions within LB 1 would also have reversed the Nebraska’s recent progress in promoting sound money principles.  That’s because Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed LB 1317 only four months ago, removing capital gains taxes on gold and silver.

Just as exchanging a dollar for four quarters is a non-taxable event, so too should the exchange of Federal Reserve Notes for the only forms of money explicitly mentioned in the U.S. Constitution—gold and silver—be free from taxation.

Purchases of precious metals are not being consumed -- they are held for resale as investments. Precious metals are held as protection against inflation, financial turmoil, and the devaluation of fiat currency.

Sen. Hansen said, “Nebraskans should not be taxed on purchases of constitutional money. This misguided effort to increase the tax base would harm residents of our state looking to protect their wealth with money that has preserved its value for thousands of years.”

The notion of sales taxes on these transactions is not only inappropriate but also discriminatory, as other financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, and real estate are not subject to this sort of tax.

Moreover, the abortive sales tax grab would have placed Nebraska businesses at a severe disadvantage. With every single neighboring state—South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming—exempting gold and silver from sales taxes, many Nebraskans would have simply taken their business elsewhere, depriving the state of actual taxable economic activity and, ironically, the tax revenue the bill sought to generate.

Nebraska’s attempt to reimpose this tax mirrors past mistakes made by other states—mistakes they were quick to correct. In 2021, Ohio repealed its sales tax exemption on precious metals, only to face immediate backlash.

The Ohio repeal hurt in-state businesses, reduced tourism dollars, and harmed Ohio investors who sought to protect their wealth against inflation. Recognizing this damage, the Ohio legislature passed legislation to reinstate the exemption the following year.

Louisiana faced a similar situation in 2016 when it briefly imposed sales taxes on precious metals. The result was a rapid decline in business activity, with coin conventions and other events leaving the state, leading to a decrease in state revenue until Louisiana lawmakers quickly reversed course.

Alabama, Utah, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Louisiana, and Kentucky have already passed legislation in 2024 ending sales and capital gains taxes on precious metals, declaring that Central Bank Digital Currencies are not valid money in their state, reaffirming the metals as legal tender, or empowering state treasurers to invest state funds in gold and silver.

Urban Violent Crime & Legal Gun Ownership:

A Story of Geographical Assault in the U.S.

By Cassandra McBride, Ammo.com

Crime in America is concentrated in only 0.5% of counties, which is home to only 0.8% of the nation’s population - yet these counties account for 25% of the nation’s homicides.

How can it be that the entire nation’s homicide rate is consistently disproportionately higher in only a few counties?

We examined violence trends in a handful of the most dangerous cities and counties in the United States.

Report Highlights:

• 1% of U.S. counties accounted for nearly 35% of all homicides in 2022.

• In 2022, urban areas with over 1 million people accounted for the most murders, totaling 11,729.

• Urban areas with over 1 million people have a per capita homicide rate of 11.6 per 100,000, whereas suburban areas of the same size have a rate of only 4 per 100,000.

• In the top 15 high-homicide-rate counties, there are only 12 police officers per square mile, despite densities of over 2,000 people per square mile. Safer areas have about 2 officers per square mile, serving populations of fewer than 200 people per square mile.

• Rural areas, with only 10% of all homicides, have a firearm ownership rate of 46%.

• Tighter gun control doesn't necessarily lead to safer communities; the most dangerous U.S. counties have differing levels of gun regulation, ranging from lax to strict.

For this article, we reference data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey and a 2021 publication in the American Journal of Public Health. We’ve included a comprehensive list of our sources here.

Geographically Concentrated Violent Crimes

Of the nation’s 3,124 counties, only 15 contribute to nearly a quarter of all homicides. Furthermore, these counties top the lists for violent crime and homicide year after year. If we expand this a little further, 42% of all homicides occurred in only 50 counties (25% of the nation’s entire population).

Notably, counties with more people will have more crimes and homicides. However, not all urban areas tend to have a crime and homicide problem.

Counties with large cities (more than 1,000,000 people) comprise all but one of the top most violent counties. On the other hand, several fringe metros (counties with more than 1,000,000) have very low violent crime and homicide rates.

The disparities between highly populated areas and crime, homicide, and gun laws show us that there is more to urban crime than simply population size.

For example, Cook County, IL, consistently tops all other areas for homicides. Moreover, the county that’s home to Chicago has an excess of homicides for its population size. While Illinois has a homicide rate of 11.7 per 100,000 people, Cook County contributes 71% of those homicides to the state.

If we remove Cook County (Chicago), Illinois’ homicide rate drops to only 5.7 per 100,000 people. Furthermore, counties close to Cook County have lower homicide rates than their population sizes would predict.

We see this same pattern with the other top counties for homicides.

In Baltimore, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Memphis, the homicide rates are higher than models predict, while surrounding areas are incredibly peaceful. If we remove only those areas from the state’s homicide reports, the entire state’s homicide rate will decrease drastically.

Looking at per capita firearm-homicide rates, Cook County, IL; Wayne County, MI; and Philadelphia County, PA, far surpass several other counties with larger populations, San Diego, CA, and Harris County, TX, for example.

So, the next logical area of research is, other than population size, why do those specific counties have so many problems with violence?

Putting It All Together

We now know that population size alone doesn’t determine criminality. We have to look into other factors that make Cook County and Philadelphia County more violent than, say Fairfax County, VA, or Middlesex County, MA.

We looked into factors such as education, poverty, single-parent households, and policing to better understand the most violent urban areas in the U.S.

While poverty and other factors were common across the board, we did notice disparities in policing, clearance rates (number of homicides solved), poverty, race, and street gangs.

Policing & Violent Crime/Homicide Rates

When Chicago’s Washington Park neighborhood has a violent crime rate 701% higher than the national average and only 12 full-time officers per square mile, there simply aren’t enough police officers to handle the sheer number of criminals in the area.

At the local level, DAs, mayors, and police departments serve as the front line to combat violent crime. An environment that nurtures crime is one where people resort to violence out of fear, too few police officers, and soft-on-crime policies. This seems to be the case with many dangerous neighborhoods in America.

In the top 15 counties with the highest homicide rates, there is a notable scarcity of police officers per square mile when considering both homicide rates and population density. These areas typically have 12 police officers for every square mile, despite having over 2,000 people per square mile. In contrast, safer regions with lower homicide rates have a higher ratio of police officers, approximately 2 officers per square mile, serving populations of less than 200 people per square mile.

The most dangerous areas have an average population density of 2,447 people per square mile, whereas there’s an average of only 156 per square mile in all other areas. They also have more crime and too few police officers to combat it.

Essentially, the most violent counties in America have an average of 12 police officers per square mile, while the safer ones have only two officers per square mile. However, when residents have a 1 in 39 chance (or higher) of being victimized by a criminal, 12 police officers aren’t enough to protect, investigate, and catch repeat criminals.

Solving Homicides in Violent Urban Areas

The fifteen most violent counties in America have a clearance rate 21% lower than all other areas with homicides.

We’re starting to see a pattern - fewer police officers mean fewer crimes solved and more criminals committing more crimes.

Furthermore, urban centers have higher rates of gang membership, which further compounds the problem. Not only do gang members who go uncaught continue to commit crimes, but gang leaders continue to lead and convert more people to criminal lifestyles.

Poverty

Another distinct pattern we see in the most violent counties is poverty. Households with individuals under 18 years of age have 20% higher rates of food assistance, 30% higher rates of single-parent homes, and 31% higher rates of households living below the poverty line, as opposed to other counties.

Therefore, the most violent counties in America do show some relation between poverty and crime rates. However, poverty is not a key factor in criminality. There are plenty of examples where high poverty rates are not associated with high crime rates - for example, impoverished coal mining towns in Appalachia.

When you put more people in smaller spaces with limited resources, crime may become more prevalent. While policing and catching criminals can keep the crime rates low, the most violent counties are letting criminals run rampant in impoverished areas, further exacerbating violent crime and homicides.

Race

In a sobering, startling, and upsetting revelation, we pulled a report filtering race, county, and per capita homicide rates using the CDC Wonder and discovered that the top 110 counties with those filters were all black victims.

We would be doing a disservice to Americans most at risk for homicides if we did not address race in our research. While it is a sensitive subject for many, we will not save a single life by ignoring the data and facts about racial disparities and homicide in the U.S.

Although race does not factor into whether one will commit murder or violent crimes, black and Hispanic individuals living in urban areas are at a higher risk of being a homicide victim than other demographics.

In the most dangerous cities in America, black and Hispanic Americans are murdered at disproportionately higher rates than other races and ethnicities.

This pattern continues—we continue to see disproportionately higher homicide victim rates among black and Hispanic individuals in urban centers that remain high on the list of homicides.

*Note: It’s important to remember that these are homicide victims and not crime stats based on race.

Gang Membership and Urban Violence

Gang membership data hasn’t been available since the 1990s and early 2000s. However, we can assess reports dating back to 2012 and see that of 2,500 law enforcement agencies report 1% gang membership in large metropolitan areas and .4% total gang membership in medium metro areas. These two metropolitan statistical areas have the highest concentration of the nation’s homicides.

While this data doesn’t immediately stand out among all population sizes, it becomes more apparent when we break this down by age. Individuals between the ages of 14 to 24 are most likely to partake in gang activities and also comprise the highest homicide rates.

In fact, the excess number of homicides in the most dangerous counties is two times higher among gang-aged individuals.

Gang prevalence is higher in the most violent U.S. counties. This may account for the racial disparities in homicide victims among the two most at-risk groups, Hispanic and black Americans.

Combining the Variables

Policing and clearance rates have a consistent correlation with violent crime.

Twelve police officers per square mile in an area with more than 7,000 violent crimes per 100,000 leads to low clearance rates. Clearance rates have been reported as low as 53% in some of these violent counties. When nearly half of the criminals in your city get away with crimes, they will continue to offend and even encourage others to join them.

After considering policing and clearance rates, the correlation between poverty and violent crime becomes slightly more apparent. While poverty is an issue nationwide, there is a moderate correlation between single-parent households and those receiving cash assistance in the nation’s most dangerous counties.

There are exceptions; while policing tends to be a common factor in high-crime populations, New York County often appears near the top of the list and has six times the number of full-time officers as the other top counties.

These variables tend to be consistent in counties with more homicides and are not as prevalent in those with fewer homicides.

Culture and Legislation

As with everything in nature, extremes can only be neutralized by extremes. Let’s look at the reactions of local leaders as they relate to the area’s crime rates.

For example, Chicago, IL, consistently has homicide victims every weekend, and local leaders simply respond with, “We need to do better.” On the contrary, Polk County, FL, is much safer, and local leaders respond in kind, “If you kick my door in, in the middle of the night, I will kill you graveyard dead.”

As we saw in the early 1990s, violent crime, and homicide rates plummeted with tough-on-crime policies and leaders willing to stand behind them. In 2018, defunding the police rhetoric and soft-on-crime policies became prevalent in the most dangerous counties.

Ultimately, culture and legislation aren’t the leading causes of high homicide and crime rates, but these factors do tend to be prevalent among the most dangerous areas. Local politicians' unwillingness to directly address criminality and soft-on-crime policies rooted in sympathy for criminals will logically allow crime to take over.

Urban Violent Crimes & Correlations

Criminality will never have a one-size-fits-all answer. We can only analyze the data to identify correlations or different patterns between populations and the different variables that may lead to violent crime. Unfortunately, the counties that consistently rank at the top for violent crime year after year have yet to find a solution to this ongoing problem.

Sources

• Neighborhood Racial and Economic Segregation and Disparities in Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Criminal Neglect
• Violent Crime in the U.S. (FBI)
• Crime Rates
• 2016 BJS Report
• Violent Crime Victimizations 2021
• BJS Violent Offenses By Demographic
• NCVS Violent Crime Report
• Bureau of Justice Statistics - Criminal Victimization, 2022
• Cities with the highest murder rates per capita
• Alaska Crime Rates
• Single-Parent Homes Urban Crime
• Criminality in Cities (FBI)
• Total Reported Crime by Precinct
• Population by City

Milton Friedman and Phil Donahue

Phil Donahue died today at the age of 88.

I never get tired of watching one of Milton Friedman’s greatest Donahue moments: pic.twitter.com/DqiWnPyIr8

— Good Morning Liberty (@GoodAMLiberty) August 19, 2024

Gun Violence Statistics 2024: A Comprehensive Look at the Data

By Cassandra McBride, Ammo.com

America has more civilian-owned guns per capita than any other country in the world. However, only 0.0084% of the country's estimated 500,000,000 firearms are used to end a human life.

"Gun violence" is a broadly defined term that encompasses the relationship between firearms and death, crime, or injuries. Unfortunately, this vague terminology can divert conversations from concrete data and hinder the development of effective solutions.

This report will highlight the increasing issues related to gun violence and provide a clearer understanding of the term.

Report Highlights:

• In the first four months of 2024, there were 5,847 firearm-related homicides, unintentional shooting deaths, and defensive use cases resulting in death, as reported by the Gun Violence Archive.

• Before May 2024, there were 10,674 firearm-related injuries reported by the Gun Violence Archive, which gathers data from 7,000 newspaper publications.

• Homicide rates in the United States dropped by 21% from 2022 to 2023, with firearm-related homicides decreasing by 25% during the same period, returning firearm-related homicide rates to pre-2020 levels at 4.7 per 100,000 people.

• Nationally, there was a 16% decrease in the total number of firearm-related deaths in 2023, with firearm-related suicides declining by 13% and firearm-related homicides dropping by 20%.

All data in this article is collected from various reputable sources. Our sources are listed here.

Defining Gun Violence

The term "gun violence" is controversial and often misunderstood. Before we delve into the statistics, let's clarify how this term is used and what the public needs to know about gun-related deaths and injuries in the U.S.

Many Americans associate gun violence with a general threat. However, the media and politicians often use the term more broadly to refer to any incident involving a firearm.

For example, suicides are included in gun violence statistics, even though they pose no direct threat to others. Some reports also include cases of brandishing, which can be subjective and may involve situations where no real threat is present.

To provide a clearer picture, let's break down firearm-related deaths and injuries in 2023:

• 58% of firearm-related deaths were suicides
• 38% were homicides
• 3% involved police shootings, accidental shootings, or were undetermined

In the following sections, we will use specific terms to accurately describe the intent behind firearm-related incidents, helping our readers better understand the impact of firearms on injuries and deaths.

[Graphic Source: 2]

Gun Violence Statistics in 2024

According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, there were 5,847 firearm-related homicides, unintentional shooting deaths, and defensive use cases resulting in death in the first four months of 2024. Additionally, this source, which gathers information from 7,000 newspaper publications, reported 10,674 firearm-related injuries before May 2024. (Source 1)

Examining shooting incidents in early 2024 can help identify future trends when compared to previous years. For instance, if the Gun Violence Archive's data is accurate, the 5,847 firearm-related deaths between January and April 2024 represent a significant decrease.

In contrast, the first four months of 2018 saw over 13,000 firearm-related deaths, with this number increasing to a peak of 15,572 deaths by April 2022.

Furthermore, after a sharp rise in firearm-related deaths during 2020 and 2021, the numbers have started to trend downward.

Gun Violence and Gun Ownership Statistics

Wyoming has more firearms per capita than any other state, with 245.8 per 1,000 people. In 2023, Wyoming had 107 firearm-related deaths, of which 89% were suicides and 9% were homicides.

In contrast, New Jersey has the fewest firearms per capita, with 1.1 per 1,000 people, yet 337 people died from gun-related incidents in 2023. Only 31% of these deaths were suicides, highlighting a stark difference from Wyoming.

Thus, by the definition of gun violence, New Jersey, with fewer firearms, experiences more gun violence.

The United States experienced 40,627 firearm-related deaths in 2023. Of these, 59% were suicides, 38% were homicides, and 3% were due to legal intervention, unintentional shootings, and undetermined causes.

Examining gun-related deaths further reveals that states with higher gun ownership have a lower percentage of firearm-related homicides. Conversely, states with fewer guns have a higher proportion of homicides in their gun death totals.

For instance, only 16.7% of Maryland residents own firearms, yet 80% of the state's gun deaths are homicides. On the other hand, 65.7% of Montana residents own firearms, and only 19.3% of gun deaths are homicides.

Regarding suicides, higher gun ownership states tend to have a greater proportion of firearm-related suicides within their total gun deaths, although gun ownership does not directly influence overall suicide rates.

Ultimately, the data indicates that firearm ownership does not necessarily lead to more gun violence, homicides, or suicides. Instead, it suggests that the availability of firearms may influence the method of suicide but not the overall suicide rates.

[Graphic Source: 2]

Gun Violence Deaths by Year in the U.S.

Homicide rates in the United States dropped by 21% from 2022 to 2023, with firearm-related homicides decreasing by 25% during the same period. As a result, firearm-related homicide rates returned to pre-2020 levels at 4.7 per 100,000 people.

Nationally, there was a 16% decrease in the total number of firearm-related deaths. Firearm-related suicides declined by 13%, while firearm-related homicides dropped by 20%. In 2023, 78% of all homicides were committed with a firearm, compared to 79% in 2022.

Despite 56 consecutive months of over 1,000,000 firearm sales in the U.S., gun violence appears to be returning to lower levels.

Non-Fatal Gun Violence in the U.S.

In 2021, 1,958,273 individuals visited an emergency room for an injury related to violence. According to the FBI NIBRS, in 2022, 231,878 of the 815,580 violent crimes reported involved a firearm. (Source 5)

Tracking firearm-related injuries from violence is challenging. For example, the CDC WISQARS compiles data on the number of ER visits but doesn’t specify the nature of the injuries. The FBI UCR collects crime report data, but not all incidents involving firearms are classified as violent.

A study estimates the average number of non-fatal firearm-related emergency room visits to be 84,581 incidents per year from 2010 to 2015 (Source 3). However, in 2020, the number of ER visits for firearm-related injuries increased by 37%, while other injury-related visits decreased. This trend continued with a 36% increase in 2021, but firearm-related ER visits declined by 20% in 2022. (Source 4)

Similar to homicide rates, firearm-related injuries and violent crimes increased during the pandemic but have declined since 2022. Despite millions of gun sales, the passage of permitless carry legislation in several states, and soft-on-crime policies, the threat of non-fatal gun violence has been trending downward as of 2023.

[Graphic Source: 5]

Gun Violence by Demographics

While race does not cause gun violence, there is a significant correlation between the race of victims and higher rates of gun violence. For example, Black Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans are 70% more likely to be victims of gun violence than other demographics. (Source 2)

Gun violence, particularly assaults with firearms, is a complex issue influenced by various factors, including inner-city violence, reduced policing, lower incarceration rates, and soft-on-crime policies.

In 2022, Black Americans were killed with guns at a rate of 20 per 100,000. For Hispanics, the rate was 4.4 per 100,000, and for Native Americans, it was 4.3 per 100,000. In contrast, Asian and White Americans had rates of 0.9 and 1.6 per 100,000, respectively.

The pattern changes only slightly when excluding firearms: White Americans were killed at a rate of 0.8 per 100,000, Hispanics at 1.4 per 100,000, Native Americans at 4.5 per 100,000, and Black Americans at 3.4 per 100,000.

The reasons why Black Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanic Americans are more likely to be victims of gun violence are not fully understood, but the data clearly shows severe racial disparities in violence-related victimhood in the United States.

[Graphic Source: 2]

Trends and Decline: Navigating the Fluctuations of Gun Violence in 2024

"Gun violence" is a polarizing term because it often includes incidents where no individual was threatened or harmed. Nonetheless, the fluctuation of gun violence statistics remains a concern for many Americans.

Gun violence rates increased in the 1960s, peaked in the 1980s, decreased in the 1990s, and rose again during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, gun violence statistics in 2024 indicate that this problem is now declining.

Sources

1. Gun Violence Archive: 2024
2. CDC Wonder Provisional Mortality Statistics
3. A Cross-Sectional Study of Firearm-Related Injuries in Emergency Department Patients
4. Emergency Department Visits for Firearm Injuries Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January 2019–December 2022
5. 10 Leading Causes of Nonfatal Emergency Department Visits, United States

America’s Stolen Guns: A Silent Contributor to Gun Crimes in the U.S. (2024)

By Cassandra McBride, Ammo.com

The issue of guns in America mainly arises from stolen firearms, as it's uncommon for lawful gun owners to commit crimes. However, in America, being a victim of gun theft is unique because victims are often blamed for making themselves vulnerable to criminals.

Key Points:

• 1,074,022 firearms were reported stolen in the U.S. between 2017 and 2021, which equates to an average of 200,000 per year.

• There were more guns stolen in 2017 than in 2021, despite an increase in gun sales nationwide in 2021.

• 85.9% of those possessing a firearm, when they committed their crimes, purchased or obtained the firearm from somewhere other than a licensed dealer.

• Firearm-related homicides are largely related to socioeconomic disadvantages and poor upbringings.

The data provided offers a thorough understanding of stolen guns in the U.S. and suggests ways to enhance crime prevention through sensible measures. For a detailed list of our sources, please refer to the comprehensive list provided here.

Understanding Stolen Guns in America

Between 2017 and 2021, a total of 1,074,022 firearms were reported stolen in the U.S., averaging around 200,000 annually. However, these figures are estimates, as criminals typically do not report their illicit activities to law enforcement agencies for research purposes.

While this number seems exceptionally high, the truth is that less than a fraction (only 0.042%) of civilian-owned firearms in the United States are stolen each year. Therefore, it is safe to say that the vast majority of gun owners are, in fact, taking precautions to ensure thieves do not acquire their property.

Stolen guns in America are used in a significantly higher number of crimes than legally purchased firearms. However, many stolen guns are never used in crimes.

Diagnosing firearm theft is challenging due to reporting issues. However, according to an Everytown study based on FBI data that is no longer available, firearm theft from vehicles began surpassing firearm thefts from burglaries in 2014, years before many states passed open carry legislation.

When a thief takes a firearm from an unsuspecting victim, it becomes nearly impossible to track until it is recovered after a crime or when police recover it during a traffic stop.

Here are the things you need to know about stolen guns in America:

[Citations: ATF Firearm Thefts Report 2021/Everytown]

Stolen Guns Used in Crimes

Only 10% of stolen guns are used in crimes annually, but 43.2% of criminals who used a firearm in the commission of a crime purchased it from an underground dealer. Furthermore, 20% of inmates who committed a crime with a firearm reportedly obtained a firearm solely for the purpose of committing a crime.

Despite rhetoric about gun shows, firearms purchased from gun shows are the least likely to be used in crimes (0.8%), and those purchased from an FFL dealer by the offender are used in only 1.3% of crimes.

In total, 85.9% of those in possession of a firearm, when they committed their crimes, purchased or obtained the firearm from somewhere other than a licensed dealer. Combined with what we already know about stolen guns, it’s safe to say that thieves are contributing to gun-related crimes in America. [Citation: Source and Use of Firearms in Crimes: Survey of Prison Inmates in 2016]

Contrary to some assumptions, the rate of legal firearm owners, state and federal legislation, and the number of legal guns do not increase homicide rates. However, there is a clear correlation between the prevalence of stolen guns and increased homicide rates.

A 2021 study assessed possible correlations between the number of FFL dealers, big box stores that sell firearms, poverty, race, policing, and disadvantaged individuals with homicide rates to better understand the relationship between guns and crime.

The study showed that the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of illegal firearm availability was higher than the legal firearm rate availability in high gun crime areas. Furthermore, areas with more disadvantaged individuals also had higher rates of gun-related crimes.

Therefore, stolen guns and socioeconomic disadvantages create an environment that fosters gun crime victimizations despite stringent legislative restrictions and legal firearm availability.

Guns & Socioeconomic Disadvantages

According to a 2021 study, 87% of 330 individuals aged 16-24 in disadvantaged neighborhoods have carried firearms. 82% stated that they carry because it makes them feel powerful, 77% cited personal safety, and 26% stated they felt respected because they had a firearm.

Now that we know the correlation between high-crime areas and illegal gun availability, we must explore the market for illegal firearms in these areas.

The majority of gun owners in this study (63%) stated they first obtained a firearm between the ages of 14 and 17 years old. The top sources for these firearms were friends, family members, and gang members, according to the study.

While this doesn’t tell us exactly how many guns were stolen, it does show us the market for firearms in high-crime neighborhoods where they’re less likely to be obtained legally.

Inner-city youth who feel unsafe, are exposed to gangs, and are influenced by pro-gun culture have fewer opportunities to protect themselves and obtain firearms legally. Therefore, it stands to reason these areas create an opportunity for gun thieves to profit.

Stolen Guns Risk Factors

In April of 2024, two teenagers were caught pulling on car door handles in the middle of the night in Chattanooga, Tennessee. One of the sixteen-year-old boys was wearing body armor and possessed a stolen gun. This story is common in the small urban city. In fact, Chattanooga, Tennessee, has had more guns stolen from vehicles per capita than nearly any other city in the United States in recent years.

Despite curfews, Ring cameras, and policing, the epidemic of stolen guns from vehicles has exploded in recent years. So, what’s going on?

Many claims assume that stolen guns are uniquely a weak gun law problem or a gun ownership problem. However, when we expand the issue across all fifty states, gun laws, and ownership rates don’t show a consistent correlation when you look at the number of stolen guns in an area.

We do however notice a correlation between low clearance rates and gun theft.

For example, Chattanooga, TN, Memphis, TN, and Columbia, SC, comprise the top three cities for stolen guns from vehicles. These cities also have lower clearance rates than other cities with fewer stolen guns.

[Citations: Everytown/FBI UCR]

Stolen Guns in America

Criminals are far more likely to purchase a stolen firearm from an unauthorized dealer than they are to steal one themselves. Therefore, it stands to reason that there’s a market for stolen guns, and many thieves are taking advantage of that.

While areas with many legal guns tend to have lower crime rates, inner-city areas with higher rates of crime tend to create a profitable market for stolen guns. When individuals feel unsafe in an area and have no means to protect themselves lawfully, they may resort to illegal and stolen guns for protection.

The stolen gun issue is further compounded by low clearance rates and too few officers to combat growing crime problems in urban areas.

Sources

• Clearance Rate Data
• BJS Report on Source of Guns Used in Crimes 2016
• Everytown Study on Stolen Guns
• ATF Analysis of Stolen Guns
• 2021 Study on Guns in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods
• Illegal Firearm Availability 2021

Are we living in the twilight zone or what?

The Kamala Harris Atlanta Rally With Megan Thee Stallion Is Getting Backlash

“Are we living in the twilight zone or what? Having Megan Thee Stallion twerk is not going to fix our economy, and it's not going to stop the legal immigrants from flooding this country”

“But now… pic.twitter.com/9dfad6lwcV

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) July 31, 2024

So Weird...

YOU are weird. pic.twitter.com/FmffxdHML7

— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) July 31, 2024

The reason I'm not voting for Kamala Harris...

I’m not voting for Kamala. pic.twitter.com/0xajwCDpWG

— Dr. Interracial 🇺🇸 (@billysandytodd) August 1, 2024

Poll: 9% of “Likely US Voters” That Voted in 2020 Were Not US Citizens or “Not Sure”

by Brian Lupo, Gateway Pundit

In addition to creating a massive drain on local and state governments tasked with providing for these illegal migrants, another major problem has arisen:  voter registration.  With automatic voter registration and motor voter registration in many states, including Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, California, and New York, anyone who obtains a drivers license, or in some cases engages with almost any government entity, may be registered to vote, often times unbeknownst to them.  In some cases, not only are they registered unknowingly, but laws have been enacted to release them of liability if they are sent a ballot and ‘accidentally’ vote.

[...]

A new Rasmussen poll taken before the assassination attempt on President Trump and the resignation from the 2024 Democrat ticket by Joe Biden shows a shocking result. The poll shows the top issues still remain the economy (27%) and the border (20%). However, the demographic polled is interesting.

Rasmussen also asked 2,466 the typical questions in an election year poll, however, they also asked about citizenship status. Respondents either answered “Yes,” “No,” or “Not sure.”

Out of 2,466 respondents, 131 responded with “No” and 91 responded “Not sure” regarding their citizenship. [bold in the original]

You can see how Democrats plan to cheat again in 2024.  Read the rest here.

Candace Owens Explains Media Brainwashing Technique Taking Place In America Today

This Candace Owens Clip Perfectly Explains The Media Brainwashing Taking Place In America Today

It’s based on a CIA experiment.

“CIA, back in the day, did this experiment where they placed 18 people in a room. 17 of those people were actually CIA agents, and one of them was… pic.twitter.com/KjHXKHJVzd

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) July 28, 2024