Myths vs Reality

As deaths by firearms mount, there’s a lot of talk about what can be done to reduce gun violence, including misinformation.

Let’s separate fact from fiction, reality from myth, and have productive conversations about saving lives.

MYTH - They’re coming for your guns.
REALITY – Why that won’t happen:

  • It’s unconstitutional – in 2008 the Supreme Court affirmed in DC v Heller the 2nd Amendment applies to individuals.
  • There are 300 million guns in 80 million U.S. civilian hands.
  • Confiscating them is impossible!
MYTH - People kill people, not guns.
REALITY – Dangerous people with guns kill people.

  • Convicted felons
  • Domestic abusers
  • Terrorists
  • Untrained individuals
  • Toddlers who find and play with unlocked guns
MYTH - The government requires background checks.

REALITY – 40% of gun purchases today occur without a background check due to:

  •  Loopholes
  •  Exceptions
  •  Straw purchases
  •  Internet sales
MYTH - Background check laws won’t work, criminals don’t obey laws.
REALITY – The gun seller is accountable to get the background check, not the gun-buyer. Responsible gun sellers do obey laws.

MYTH - Gun violence is about mental health, not guns.

REALITY – 4% of gun deaths are linked to mental health (other than suicide).

MYTH - The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.

REALITY

  • Keeping guns out of bad guys’ hands works even better.
  • A good guy with a gun, but no training, is a risk to everyone.
  •  2.4 million sales blocked since 1990s = fewer guns in bad guys’ hands.
MYTH - Without a gun, I can’t protect my family.
REALITY

  • A gun in the home is 22 times more likely to kill/injure, i.e. homicide, suicide, or accidentally. 
  • Most youth suicides and accidental/school shootings use a family member’s gun.
  • A gun in the home is 22 times more likely to kill/injure by homicide, suicide, or accident.