Guns double in U.S.

To Europe we're still cowboys; they see the U.S. as having a love affair with guns. Not that it bothers us. Perhaps the image is as much a product of our Wild West origins as any current realities, but either way there is no mistaking Americans' strong fidelity to the Second Amendment.

Of course, not in the framers' wildest dreams as they sought to protect an 18th century citizen militia could they imagine automatic weapons or massacred kindergartners. Where the balance should lie is the formidable challenge of modern lawmakers.

Numbers back up the image. A 2011 Gallup poll showed 47 percent of Americans own a gun (about 310 million guns, roughly the same as the total population), and 62 percent of those have more than one. In guns owned per capita, we are No. 1 worldwide by a healthy margin.

According to data from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, FBI, ATF, National Institute of Justice, and the two biggest gunmakers, Ruger and Smith & Wesson:

* The economic impact of the American firearms industry for 2012 is estimated at $31.8 billion. That's about what was spent nationally on the arts.

* Tracking sales is tricky with private sales unmonitored, but as of November, the FBI had done 16.5 million background checks in 2012. Individual and many gun show sales don't involve background checks; those comprise an estimated 40 percent of all sales.

* Politics and perception play a role. Sales spike after mass shootings such as Aurora and Columbine, and gun manufacturers report sales rising between 40 and 86 percent since President Obama took office. Ironically, since he took office no new restrictions have been enacted.

* More than five million guns annually are now manufactured in the U.S. Three million more are imported from other countries (legally). About 250,000 are made here and exported.

* One statistic is the most telling of what is hotly debated: The number of guns in households per capita has doubled since 1968, a far greater rate than population growth. Hunting and target shooting rated third and second as reported reasons for gun ownership in a 2011 Gallup poll; self-defense was first (67 percent). At last count, Americans own 89 guns per 100 people. The next highest ownership is in Serbia (58 per 100).

What does it mean, this doubling? Worldwide as well as nationally, murders, terrorist acts, and other violent crimes are down - not just recently but in a steady trend borne by national and international statistics. Despite headlines of heinous acts that pain us, the world is literally safer than it ever was. So if we are twice as afraid, why are we? The question merits deep individual and social reflection, beyond emotional reactions to dead children or autocratic despots. The more aware is humanity of its motivations and fears, the more ably can it address challenges with success.

"Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that it has no power." - Jim Morrison

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at sholehjo@hotmail.com.