SF Tennis Freak

Sometimes there are other things far more important than tennis.  This is one of those times.

The facts aren’t completely known, but in the wake of news that Oscar “Bladerunner” Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend, I’d like to post this piece of information regarding “guns in the home”.  I’m not posting it because I hate guns or gun owners; I simply want people on both sides to acknowledge the statistical reality of what happens when you keep a gun in your home for “protection”.

American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine

Risks and Benefits of a Gun in the Home

David Hemenway, PhD

Am J Lifestyle Med. 2011;5(6):502-511.

One of the most cited studies involved approximately 400 homicide victims from 3 metropolitan areas who were killed in their homes. Half died from gunshot wounds. In 83% of the homicide cases, the perpetrator was discovered; among these cases, 95% of the time, the perpetrator was not a stranger. In only 14% of all the cases was there evidence of forced entry.*

*-Kellermann AL, Rivara FP, Rushforth NB, et al. Gun ownership as a risk factor for homicide in the home. N Engl J Med. 1993;329:1084–1091.

 Numbers don’t lie, but then again we live in a society that loves to deny statistical reality.  Sometimes, however, there’s no denial strong enough to cover up this many dead…