Louisiana ranks in the top five for states with the overall highest gun death rates. According to the Violence Policy Center, the Bayou State ranks third and Government Affairs Director Kristen Rand said states with a large percentage of gun owners and weak gun laws have a higher gun death rate.
“States with the highest rates, their rates are many times higher than the states with the lowest rates. And in Louisiana we’ve seen a steady increase in your gun death rates since 2011,” said Rand.
The study said 46.6% of Louisiana households have guns and a death rate of 25.47 per 100,000 annually.
The overall gun death rates include homicides, suicides, and fatal accidental shootings. Rand said the majority of the types of gun deaths have evolved recently.
“Most of them are usually suicides but in 2020 we saw a pretty significant increase in homicides as well,” said Rand.
In 2020 the number of Americans killed by gunfire increased 14% and the spike was largely attributed to homicides. Rand said they are looking into the causes for the spike and said the pandemic was most likely a contributing factor and there was a significant increase in gun sales in 2020.
When asked what could be done to decrease gun death rates in Louisiana, which has a significant rate of gun ownership, Rand said awareness is key.
“People need to really take into account the risks associated with bringing a gun into the home and in particular handguns, handguns are more prone to be used in homicides and suicides,” said Rand.
Rand also said in homes with children, gun owners need to be aware of the dangers firearms pose as well.
The top five states with the highest overall gun deaths rates are Mississippi, Wyoming, Louisiana, Alaska, and in 5th place, there’s a tie between Missouri and Alabama.
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