President Obama Cites America’s Suicide Rate as Reason for Gun Control, But US Ranks 50th Worldwide

President Obama cited the U.S.’ suicide rate as a rationale for his executive action on gun background checks.

“We have tens of thousands of people every single year who are killed by guns,” Obama said. “We have suicides that are committed by firearms at a rate that far exceeds other countries. We have a frequency of mass shootings that far exceeds other countries.”

In regards to the latter claim, the frequency of mass shootings in the United States is comparable to that of other “advanced” nations. The President’s claim about suicides, often lumped in with firearm homicides to give a more grim picture of “gun violence,” should also be addressed.

Despite the United States having the most firearms in the world, and the highest gun ownership rate per population, the nation’s suicide rate ranks 50th in the world according to the World Health Organization.

The United States’ suicide rate of 12.1 per 100,000 population ranks below nations with tight gun control laws, such as Japan, Hungary, and South Korea.

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