America is awash in guns, an estimated 200 to 250 million of them. That’s enough to arm every single American adult with a rifle, pistol or shotgun.

In 1995, these guns helped end nearly 36,000 American lives, more than half through suicide.

Firearms can—and often do—turn routine quarrels into fatal disagreements. In 1995, almost half of most Americans murdered with guns were shot by a friend, relative or lover.

“The thing to remember about guns and murder is that most murders occur because somebody got angry,” says George Akerloff, a scholar with the Brookings Institution, a liberal Washington think-tank. “And if guns weren't available at the time, those murders would not have taken place.

” While even draconian gun control probably wouldn't reduce U.S. gun deaths to European rates, many experts agree the amount of deadly violence would approach more civilized levels. There is ample evidence to show that tougher gun laws make a difference.”

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