In recent years both mass-gun shootings and shootings in general resulting in the loss of American lives have occurred more and more frequently. It is now clear America is faced with a ‘gun violence’ epidemic.

Just since the start of the year there have been over 40 mass-shootings that cost the lives of 70 Americans. I did some digging to get some firearm statistics. As per the 2020 US Census, Americans make up roughly about 4% of the world’s population. However a study conducted by a Switzerland-based Small Arms survey in 2017 found that American citizens owned nearly 46% of the world’s 857 million firearms held by civilians. In whole numbers that’s 394 million firearms. The same study concluded that for every 100 residents, there were about 120.5 firearms in the United States. Remember people, this study was in 2017. Sadly these numbers today are higher. 

During the pandemic firearm sales hit record-breaking numbers. Today there are about 466 million firearms in America.  As per the United Nations data, our present population is roughly 336 million. Using these current stats, America’s firearm per capita has climbed. Presently for every 100 residents, there are 138.6 firearms. These stats show America’s gun culture is deeply ingrained in its DNA.

For me, it is quite evident the gun violence, that is a plague causing death throughout our nation, should and must be addressed in a meaningful way by Congress. Then my jaw dropped when I recently saw and heard a video covered by Newsweek of a House floor speech spewed out by the MAGA far-right extremist Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado. She was actually disappointed that Americans only own 46% of the world’s civilian firearms. In one quote she asserted: “Gun-free zones are the most dangerous places in our country.” In reference to firearm stats, another one of her quotes: “We need to get our numbers up, boys and girls.” Good grief! So much for meaningful, common sense gun reform.