General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Guns in civilian hands kill people. [View all]Nuclear Unicorn
(19,497 posts)Yet, even with some states managing all liquors sales alcohol continues to fuel more crime and deaths than guns.
4300 under-aged drinkers die from alcohol poisoning every year. That is the equivalent of 3.75 Sandy Hooks each and every week without stopping.
DUIs kill approximately 10,000 people annually making them comparable to gun homicides.
Approximately 2/3 of the 30,000 gun deaths in the US each year are suicides. Of ALL 33,000 suicides in the US around 1/2 involve alcohol.
Twenty to 40% of crimes involve alcohol at the time of offense
Alcohol fuels most episodes of domestic violence.
Weapons account for less than 10% of sexual assaults with guns less than half of that; yet, alcohol figures is as much as 70% of all sexual assaults.
Add in the cost to the healthcare system for alcohol related illness and alcohol outclasses guns as a public health concern yet no serious person suggests returning to Prohibition. Instead education and cultural changes are the focus.