.0004% of the population is involved in a gun incident each year. The number remains fairly static about 100,000 events per year. This includes accidents, murder, and suicide both lethal and non-lethal. It also includes Chicago.. :)
While it is estimated that there is a gun in nearly half of all households.
That is a pretty amazing safety record.
I don't debate gun laws, because it makes both the NRA and the anti-gun lobbyists richer and it is nowhere near a top health or safety problem in the US. We are just manipulated with over coverage to discuss it.
In South Africa the use of fire arms for protection is very high. On a Friday and Saturday night I will hear gunshots at least twice during the night. We have armed patrols in our neighborhood which we have to pay for.
I have been back 14 years now and on two occasions my neighbors have had shoot outs in their back yard. The threat here is real and the reason why I moved into a secure community protected by armed guards. I honestly would not live outside a community again as the chances of become another statistic are just too high.
Oops, excellent point... I should have pointed out those stats are for the USA. Good point.