We Must Ban People

Segment #600

For a very long time in the U.S. people have been given a free pass. If there is a shooting, we blame the gun. If a drunk driver kills someone we blame the alcohol. But our society does not takeaway all the cars to limit auto accidents. Do we prohibit people from living in houses to limit household accidents. Many people are injured or die from stabbings, but you still can purchase knives. We have tried everything.. we must ban all people who might by in jeopardy of hurting or killing themselves or others.

Okay maybe that’s just a bit absurd, but what are the facts that nobody every cites.

Based on data from the FBI and other sources, here is a summary of murders and injuries by stabbing in the United States:

Knives

Murders by Stabbing

• On average, more than 1,500 people are murdered with a knife or cutting instrument each year in the U.S.1

• While this is a significant number, firearms are the most common weapon used in homicides, accounting for a much higher percentage of murders.

Non-Fatal Injuries by Stabbing

• Estimating the total number of non-fatal stabbing injuries is more complex as comprehensive national data is not as readily available as it is for homicides.

• However, a study of knife-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments from 1990 to 2008 estimated an average of over 434,000 injuries annually.2 This figure includes all knife-related injuries, not just those from intentional violence, such as accidental injuries from pocket or kitchen knives.

• It is worth noting that while stab wounds are a common type of penetrating trauma, their mortality rate is much lower than that of gunshot wounds.3

Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other sources for the year 2023:

Guns

Deaths from Guns

·        There were 46,728 total deaths from gun-related injuries in the United States.1

·        This figure represents an average of about 128 gun deaths per day or one death every 11 minutes.2

·        The leading cause of these deaths is suicide. Of the total gun deaths in 2023, approximately 58% (27,300 deaths) were suicides, which was the highest number ever recorded.3

·        Homicides accounted for the next largest portion, with roughly 38% (17,927 deaths).4

·        The remaining deaths were from unintentional injuries, law enforcement-related incidents, or had undetermined circumstances.5

Injuries from Guns

·        The total number of non-fatal gun injuries is more difficult to track with precision than deaths, but research indicates that the number is substantial.

·        An average of more than 200 Americans visit an emergency department each day for non-fatal firearm injuries.6

·        One source estimates that there are approximately 70,000 non-fatal gun injuries each year. This is a significant number, and it is estimated that for every person who dies from a firearm, about two more are injured.

Based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other safety organizations, here are the recent statistics on deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes in the United States:

Vehicles

Deaths from Car Crashes

·        In 2023, there were 40,901 deaths from motor vehicle crashes.1 This represents a 4.3% decrease from 2022.2

·        This figure includes all types of motor vehicles, such as passenger cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists involved in crashes.

·        The number of deaths has fluctuated over the years, with a notable increase from 2020 to 2021, and then a downward trend beginning in 2022.

Injuries from Car Crashes

·        It is estimated that there are millions of non-fatal injuries from motor vehicle crashes each year.3

·        In 2022, there were over 2.6 million emergency department visits for injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes.4

·        Another source, the National Safety Council, estimates there were 5.1 million medically consulted injuries from car crashes in 2023.5

It's important to note that these numbers are a combination of different data sources (NHTSA, CDC, National Safety Council), which may have slight variations due to how they collect and categorize data. However, they consistently show that car crashes are a major cause of death and injury in the U.S.

 Malpractice

Quantifying the number of deaths from medical malpractice is a highly debated topic, and there is no single, universally agreed-upon figure. Different studies have produced a wide range of estimates, and the methodology used to arrive at these numbers is often a point of contention among researchers and patient safety experts.1

Here's a breakdown of the key figures and the context behind them:

The High-End Estimate: 250,000+ Deaths Annually

·        Johns Hopkins Study: A widely cited study from 2016 by researchers at Johns Hopkins University estimated that more than 250,000 deaths per year in the U.S. are due to medical error.2 This figure, if accurate, would make medical errors the third-leading cause of death in the United States, behind only heart disease and cancer.3

·        Why it's controversial: This study and others with similar high numbers have been criticized for their methodology. Critics argue that they often extrapolate from small sample sizes, have a high degree of interrater variability in determining if an error was responsible for a death, and are not specifically designed to determine a causal link between an error and a patient's death.4

The Lower-End Estimate: Tens of Thousands of Deaths Annually

·        Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: The landmark 1999 IOM report "To Err Is Human" estimated that between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans die each year due to preventable adverse events in hospitals.5 This was a pivotal report that brought national attention to the issue.

·        More recent studies: Some more recent studies and analyses, while still acknowledging a significant problem, have produced lower figures.6 For example, some have estimated the number of preventable deaths to be around 22,000 annually, and a study of preventable deaths in hospitals has suggested a figure of around 75,000 deaths per year.

The Difficulty in Measurement

The reason for the wide discrepancy in these numbers is the lack of a consistent, standardized method for tracking deaths caused by medical error.7

·        Death Certificates: Standard death certificates, which are used to compile national statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), do not have a field to list "medical error" as a cause of death.8

·        Complex Cases: It is often difficult for medical professionals to determine if a patient's death was a direct result of a medical error, or if it was caused by the underlying illness or other factors.9

·        Underreporting: It is widely believed that many medical errors are not officially reported or documented, making it challenging to get a complete and accurate picture of the problem.

In summary, while there is no definitive number, the consensus among patient safety advocates and researchers is that medical errors are a significant public health problem, causing a substantial number of preventable deaths and injuries each year in the United States.

According to data from the National Safety Council (NSC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of deaths from household accidents is substantial and has been increasing over the last several decades.

Here's a breakdown of the key figures for 2023:

Household Accidents

Deaths from Household Accidents

·        In 2023, an estimated 125,700 deaths occurred in homes due to preventable, unintentional injuries.1 This makes home accidents a major cause of death, often surpassing other well-known causes.2

Leading Causes of Household Accident Deaths

The vast majority of these deaths are from two primary causes:

1.    Poisoning: This is the leading cause, accounting for an estimated 77,000 deaths in 2023.3 A large portion of these are related to drug overdoses, which are often classified as unintentional poisonings.

2.    Falls: The second leading cause of home accident fatalities, with an estimated 32,000 deaths in 2023.4 Falls disproportionately affect older adults, though they are a risk for all age groups.5

Other, less frequent causes of home accident deaths include:

·        Fires, flames, and smoke (approximately 3,100 deaths)6

·        Choking (approximately 3,000 deaths)

·        Drowning (approximately 1,400 deaths)

·        Mechanical suffocation (approximately 1,600 deaths)7

Non-Fatal Injuries

The number of non-fatal injuries is also staggering. The NSC estimates that there were approximately 35.2 million medically consulted injuries from home accidents in 2023.8

 So maybe the world is just a bit more complicated than reversing the second amendment and banning all guns. Hey my left leaning friends, some people, sane and otherwise, don’t belong on our streets.