Letter: Armed Americans the largest threat

Terrorists don't have to kill us. Americans are doing the job for them, at an incomprehensible rate.

An American is 20 times more likely to die by a firearm than a citizen in any other Western country. Between 2001 and 2013, there were 406,496 U.S. firearm deaths, in contrast to 3,380 American deaths attributed to terrorism.

Our firearm death rate (most killed by handguns) over that period is equal to 1,000 747s crashing and killing all 400 passengers. That's seven planes per month, nearly two per week.

The circumstances repeat over and over: road rage, workplace disputes, domestic violence, revenge, imagined slights, someone feels "disrespected" and on and on. The stories of handguns purchased and loaded by daddy for "self defense" and found by a child are heartbreaking. A brother or a playmate gunned down. Families destroyed by a bullet fired from a gun in the hand of a youngster. Statistically, a gun owner's spouse or co-worker is in far greater danger from the household gun than from an Islamic terrorist.

No gun legislation is likely to do more than dent the carnage. With more than 112 guns per 100 people in the U.S. (the UK has 7 per 100), hope lies in changing a culture addicted to violence. If you have a problem, get a gun. If you have more problems, get more guns.

We have indeed met the enemy, and he or she is an armed American.

Charles Cornett

This story was originally published December 25, 2015 at 6:04 AM with the headline "Letter: Armed Americans the largest threat."