U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and his party counterparts ended their 14-hour filibuster, as the GOP committed to a gun-control vote. During his speech, Murphy commented, “What we know is that in states that have imposed those reasonable limitations, there are less gun crimes. There are less homicides.”
But is there truth in the statement? Murphy’s team said they used a 2015 National Journal chart, the same one President Barack Obama referenced in claims about “gun deaths.” However, Murphy specifically used the words “gun crimes” and “homicides,” and more than 60 percent of those deaths listed in 2013 were suicides. The National Journal study includes all gun deaths—homicides, accidental gun deaths, legal firearm intervention and suicides.
By taking suicides out of the equation, the results were staggering. It turns out half of the 10 states with the lowest deaths related to guns are states with less-restrictive laws. That’s a fact.
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