Gun deaths as common as traffic deaths in U.S.
By Christopher Ingraham and Carolyn Y. Johnson, Washington Post
For the first time on record, Americans are as likely to die by a gunshot as in a traffic accident, according to federal data.
Gun deaths now outnumber vehicle deaths in 21 states and the District of Columbia. That was true in just two states a decade ago, Alaska and Maryland.
The trend was driven largely by the sharp drop in the rate of traffic fatalities, a result of a series of laws and safety measures aimed at making driving safer. Gun homicide rates also have fallen in recent years, but have been offset by the rising prevalence of suicides.
Today, suicides account for roughly two out of every three gun deaths.