CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY FEBRUARY 1, 2023
A STUDY BY JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SHINES A LIGHT ON GUN VIOLENCE AND ITS REAL VICTIMS.
DURING 2020, THE LATEST YEAR FOR WHICH FIGURES ARE AVAILABLE, GUN-RELATED HOMICIDES DISPROPRTIONATELY IMPACTED BLACK PEOPLE MORE THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS, ESPECIALLY BLACK MALES. YOUNG BLACK MALES REPRESENT TWO PERCENT OF THE TOTAL U.S. POPULATION, BUT ACCOUNTED FOR 38 PERCENT OF ALL GUN HOMICIDE DEATHS. BLACK MALES AGES 15 TO 34 WERE OVER 20 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE BY GUN HOMICIDE THAN WHITES OF THE SAME AGE RANGE.
PLACES WITH THE HIGHEST GUN RELATED DEATHS WERE NOT THE BIG CITIES, BUT RURAL STATES IN THE SOUTHWEST. MISSISSIPPI HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF GUN DEATHS IN 2020, FOLLOWED BY LOUISIANA AND WYOMING.
YES, GUN LAWS AND BETTER BACKGROUND CHECKS AND WAITING PERIODS MIGHT HELP, BUT A PERSON INTENT ON DOING EVIL WILL FIND A WAY.
THE REAL PROBLEM IS A MORAL AND SPIRITUAL VACUUM. YOUNG PEOPLE ESPECIALLY AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION SAY THEY HAVE NO RELIGIOUS FAITH. LOVING GOD AND RESPECTING LIFE HE HAS CREATED IS A PARTIAL ANSWER. I’M CAL THOMAS.
