Here is a way to reduce gun violence and other causes of death that Democrats and Republicans can agree on.
The media suggests that most gun violence occurs through mass shootings. In fact, less than one percent of gun deaths are from mass shootings. The reality is that most gun deaths are suicides, not homicides. Looking at gun deaths, approximately 54 percent resulted from suicide, 41 percent resulted from homicide and 3 percent were unintentional.
The rate of suicide stays constant when data from countries without guns is compared to the U.S. The issue of suicide prevention lacks clear agreement as to the best approach. However, the area of homicide deaths reduction offers some possibilities for agreement.
Most homicide deaths can be traced to some involvement with drugs. Drugs are illegal and offer huge profit potential, so the business is something people are willing to fight for. Disputes can’t be handled in court, so the streets are used.
If the profit motive on drugs was reduced and disputes could be settled in court, a much different picture would emerge.
For starters, Republicans should drop their opposition to marijuana and work with Democrats to gradually decriminalize drugs. Democrats in turn should abandon their gun-control efforts and focus on other areas that have higher death rates, such as distracted driving, disease prevention, etc. The end result will be a real reduction in gun deaths, as well as other causes.
Write your state representatives and senator and suggest this.
EDWARD W. SMITH
Concord