Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

flamin lib

(14,559 posts)
Sat Dec 24, 2016, 12:15 PM Dec 2016

This is the season for gun accidents. Deaths spike during the holidays.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/12/21/season-gun-accidents-deaths-spike-during-holidays/95690064/

The happiest of seasons is also among the deadliest: Unintentional shootings spike during the holidays, and are more likely to occur than any other time of the year, according to an analysis by The Associated Press and the USA TODAY Network.

In all, 32 people were killed nationwide and 59 injured over the past two years from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day, which the analysis identified as the most likely day for accidental shootings each year. The victims were mostly male and young, with a median age of 19. Nearly half the shootings were self-inflicted, and most occurred in their own homes.
====
Several factors contribute to the increase:

Children and teenagers are out of school for the holidays and have access to unsecured guns at their homes and those of relatives and friends.
Adults are drinking alcohol and inattentive to gun safety or their children.
New guns are given and received as gifts in the tens of thousands.
It’s a popular time of year for hunting.


Fala lala la lala la BOOM.
2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
This is the season for gun accidents. Deaths spike during the holidays. (Original Post) flamin lib Dec 2016 OP
Also suicides go up during this time of year. kimbutgar Dec 2016 #1
no such thing as gun "accidents", there is always a cause nt msongs Dec 2016 #2

kimbutgar

(23,630 posts)
1. Also suicides go up during this time of year.
Sat Dec 24, 2016, 01:25 PM
Dec 2016

Years ago I lived in an apartment and one morning I heard a pop and found out later that day my neighbor had committed sucide. The officer came to my door to ask me if I heard anything as his wife was in another room and they were investigating if it was a suicide or homicide.

I heard her running down the hall and screaming " what have you done, what have you done"?i'll never forget the anguish in her voice. Turns out they had been had been together for years and he decided to marry her and then he killed himself two days later. He was despondent she said because he hated the holidays.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Gun Control Reform Activism»This is the season for gu...