General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why can't more people figure this out? [View all]X_Digger
(18,585 posts)And I'd be careful with that 40,000 30,000 number, especially when comparing to Japan.
About 60% of that 30,000 number (as of 2012 at least) is suicide.
Japan has a horrible suicide problem (almost twice our rate), but a larger problem is that many suicides are actually murders. Father loses his job, goes home and kills himself and 3 family members? Reported as 4 suicides. Police can't find the killer of a person found dead? Suicide.
Google "muri shinju". It's a morbidly fascinating cultural phenomenon. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/02/03/national/japans-suicide-statistics-dont-tell-the-real-story/#.UfbZ7G2Qk1c
eta: Another interesting comparison? London vs New York in the 1880's before *either* country had substantive gun control. NYC's homicide rate was 5 times that of London.
eta2: Heck, our *non-gun* homicide rate is higher than many countries' *total* homicide rate.