Debunk The Most Common Myths About Gun Violence

CAN YOU DEBUNK THE MOST COMMON MYTHS ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE?

Misinformation about the gun violence epidemic and commonsense gun safety laws is everywhere. But understanding the scope of the problem is key to addressing it. That is why we put together this short quiz to debunk the most common myths about gun violence.

Find out how well you know the facts! Let’s get started.

Results

 

Way to go! You know your stuff! 

Understanding the scope of the gun violence epidemic is key to identifying and advancing solutions that will address it. 

***Bonus question!***

Will you make a donation to support the Alliance for Gun Responsibility to fund our lifesaving work?

Yes → I can give $5 to prevent gun violence.

Yes -> I can give more!

 

You’ve got some studying to do! Don’t worry, you’re not alone. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there.

Understanding the scope of the gun violence epidemic is key to identifying and advancing solutions that will address it. 

***Bonus question!***

Will you make a donation to support the Alliance for Gun Responsibility to fund our lifesaving work?

Yes → I can give $5 to prevent gun violence.

Yes -> I can give more!

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#1. Gun violence is a mental health issue.

Individuals with mental health challenges are far more likely to be the victim of gun violence than the perpetrator. Other industrialized countries experience similar levels of mental illness but significantly lower levels of gun violence.

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#2. Gun safety laws are unconstitutional and infringe upon the Second Amendment.

The United States has a long history of enacting gun safety laws and federal courtsincluding the Supreme Court—have repeatedly upheld commonsense restrictions designed to prevent gun violence.

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#3. Gun violence increased during the pandemic.

Despite the public health guidance closing schools and businesses and keeping people at home, 2020 saw a record number of gun deaths and gun violence has remained at elevated levels ever since.

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#4. Gun laws are not effective because criminals do not follow the law.

Study after study has shown that strong gun laws have been proven to reduce gun violence. States with stronger gun laws have lower rates of gun deaths than states with weaker gun laws.

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#5. The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.

The best way to prevent gun violence is to keep guns out of dangerous hands in the first place. Armed civilians are almost never successful at stopping shootings. According to the FBI, in 250 active shooter situations, an armed civilian successfully intervened just seven times. Unarmed civilians, by comparison, successfully intervened 22 times.

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#6. The vast majority of Americans support commonsense gun laws.

A huge percentage of voters, including Democrats and Republicans, gun owners and non-gun owners, support gun safety policies. For years polling has shown that nearly 90 percent of Americans support background checks.

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#7. We don’t need new gun safety policies or programs, we just need to enforce the laws in the books.

It is true that effective implementation of existing laws is a crucial part of preventing gun violence, but it is clear that we need more comprehensive, targeted policies to keep guns out of the hands of individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others. And we need to support non-criminal solutions to gun violence, like community violence intervention groups that reduce gun violence.

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#8. Someone experiencing suicidal thoughts will always find a way to complete suicide, whether with a gun or by other means.

9 out of 10 people who survive a suicide attempt do not go on to die by suicide. That is why securing access to firearms—the deadliest option—works to reduce suicide.

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#9. Arming survivors with a gun will protect them from domestic violence.

There is NO evidence suggesting that gun ownership increases safety. Instead, research shows that the presence of a gun increases the risk of homicide. A domestic violence victim is 5 times more likely to be killed if their abuser has access to a gun.

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#10. Mass shootings receive the most attention, but a majority of gun deaths in the United States are suicide.

Suicide accounts for 60 percent of all gun deaths in the United States. Despite the outsize media attention they receive, mass shootings make up around 1 percent of gun deaths.

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#11. Gun violence prevention is popular.

Poll after poll shows that a majority of Americans support stronger gun laws. A whopping 90 percent of voters support expanding background checks to all gun sales. 

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#12. Gun violence will always be an intractable problem in the United States.

Gun violence is preventable! Across the country, stronger gun laws are being passed that we know will work to keep our communities safe. And in 2022, after nearly 30 years, Congress finally took action again to address the epidemic. There is more work to be done, but progress is possible.

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