Mass shootings have a way of focusing the nation's attention to
the scourge of gun violence, but those events are relatively
infrequent. In some parts of the country, gunfire is a part of
everyday life. Despite overall drops in the crime rate, America
still has one of the highest rates of gun violence in the world.
Data collected by government agencies show how deeply this
plague impacts the country, particularly children. More victims
live than die 289: The number of people, on average, who are
shot every day in America as the result of murders, assaults,
suicides, suicide attempts, accidents and police actions. (1)
202: The number of those average daily victims who survive their
injuries. (1) 32,163: The number of people shot to death in
2011. (2) 73,883: The number of people who survived gunshot
wounds in 2011 (3) Weapons of choice 67.8: Percentage of 2011
murders in which a gun was used. (5) 72.5: Percentage of 2011
gun murders in which handguns were used. (5) 3.8: Percentage of
2011 gun murders in which