WVsig
Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2012
- Messages
- 2,063
I believe the OP is referring to reports more recent than 2006 or 2008 per the posted graphs.
I suspect that the dramatically increased prevalence of concealed carry has contributed to an increase of events which are likely to get coverage. Whether or not irresponsible uses of guns has increased statistically overall, events may now be much more likely to happen in the public which is of course going to garner more attention from the media. Such seems to reflect the stories i hear about at a relatively high frequency. Also the fact the people are carrying guns more frequently simply means they handle them more frequently, hence more negligent discharges. Of course, recent changes in gun laws, for and against, simply shine light on the subject of firearms which means stories including them earn higher ratings so are covered more frequently.
I agree with this. The growth of concealed carry has moved a lot of these events into the public eye. Also there are a lot more what I would call inexperienced shooters now carrying and owning guns. Growth in gun ownership and carry in ths country is not without its unintended consequences.