Which is more deadly — guns or alcohol?
I appreciate the recent protests for reducing gun violence. I wrote a blog last month about common-sense ways to keep guns from getting into the hands of criminals and mentally unstable people.
However, there are many ills plaguing our society far more deadly than gun violence.
Last year alone more than 88,000 people died in America as a direct result of alcohol abuse. Every day, almost 29 people in the United States die in alcohol-impaired vehicle crashes — that’s one person every 50 minutes. Drunk-driving crashes claim more than 10,000 lives per year. These deaths and damages contributed to a cost of $44 billion per year.
Last year our family vehicle was hit by a drunk driver while traveling 70 mph on the highway. Miraculously we all survived. But that accident cost us over $10,000. These costs are not insignificant.
In comparison only 15,549 Americans died last year from gun-related violence, including terrorism. Nobody in my circle of influence died as a result of gun violence, but there were several who died through drug and alcohol abuse.
These statistics are no anomaly. If you do your own research a quick online search will show you that alcohol kills nearly 3 times more Americans each year than guns. Still not convinced? Did you know that alcohol is the #1 underlying cause behind crime in the United States.
Similarly a study conducted by drug experts shows that alcohol alone causes more harm to society than heroine, cocaine and marijuana combined.
Among doctors, as a result of scientific studies, it is commonly accepted that alcohol consumption is associated with cancers of the esophagus, liver, and pancreas. A relationship between alcohol and the development of breast cancer has been debated for years. The largest study on this subject was presented recently. The Nurses’ Health Study, a study of 121,700 nurses followed over a 20-year period, found that even modest alcohol intake was associated with an increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.
So where is society’s outrage? Where are all the millions of dollars in campaign contributions and television ads trying to save peoples lives from the dangers of alcohol? If we as a country are so concerned about saving American lives, then why does no one talk about this issue?
It might have something to do with the fact the alcohol tax revenue nets the United States government 9.6 billion dollars. Whereas firearm tax revenue only nets the government 123 million dollars.
So there you have it, morality in politics is quite literally bought. The more money something makes, the more it’s dangers can be ignored and swept under the rug. I am using alcohol as an example to show people how society can be brainwashed into following a false narrative by manipulative political agendas.
I don’t think that alcohol drinkers are going to give up their deadly habit. So I don’t think they can legitimately spew rage at gun owners without acknowledging their hypocrisy.
Guns can save lives by protecting against us against criminals and murders. Each year policemen, soldiers and civilians use guns to protect the innocent from harm. Conversely alcohol has zero potential to save lives.
America needs to open its eyes and wake up. If you do not want to ban alcohol, but you support banning guns, then you have to seriously ask yourself why.
