According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2005, 16,885 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes - an average of one almost every half-hour. These deaths constituted approximately 39 percent of the 43,443 total traffic fatalities.–MADD

I wonder if those that are more than ready to remove firearms from the hands of Americans for the sake of our safety would also be willing to remove alcohol for the same reasons. The above numbers are well above the numbers of people killed by accidental gun shot each year, and even lower if you were to restrict the data to the same age group.

Also available from the MADD website, among teens, alcohol was a factor in:

• 36 percent of murders
• 45 percent of rapes
• 44 percent of robberies
• 37 percent of assaults

Consider the following problems “caused” by alcohol…
Fatal:

• Disease
• Traffic Accidents
• Violence (Hmm…)
• Fetal Death

Non-Fatal:

• Loss Of Productivity
• Fetal Injury
• Cost Of Treatment & Recovery
• Organ Transplant
• Litigation

Perhaps we should talk about tobacco related deaths and expenses? The point is that alcohol, tobacco and firearms are not what kill people, but rather it is those that do not use them responsibly that kill people. Furthermore, if America is no longer able to handle firearms responsibly, then surely America has never been able to handle alcohol responsibly. One last thing, firearms are used in defensive situation an estimated 2+ million times per year. When was the last time alcohol was used to save someone’s life?

There are two things driving the fight against firearms. First, individuals and governments that believe freedom should start with government rather than the individual. Second, those that are ignorant of the actual facts involved, and are driven by an emotional response to the spin that is spoon fed to them via the liberal media.