Dear Americans: What's the leading cause of death among the young?

[Strongbad]

I think it's mostly down to culture, but if I was to guess the risk factors (without looking at any peer review literature) I would harbour a guess that income inequality would be the largest contributing individual risk factor. I base that guess on the fact that of OECD nations I believe Japan has the lowest income inequality and as you can see above a very low homicide rate when compared with other developed countries.

Lower levels of health, welling, security and subjective happiness would also be contributing risk factors.

It's something to think about.

Poverty is definitely the biggest factor, and we have high concentrations of poverty in urban areas that are flush with guns and drugs all across the country. There are many other factors, however, that appear to be fueling the situation, like our gun culture, poor education, and the disenfranchisement of the inner-city youth. It's a complicated problem that needs to be addressed, but America doesn't seem to want to pay attention.

I don't have any sources, other than personal experience, but I think religion is a major contributing factor to the gun violence in the US. Something like 85% of the population define themselves as "religious", and the vast majority of them are Christian. Almost every Christian I know is a gun owner, and most of them have a cache of rifles and pistols in their homes, for "protection". When young people get their hands on guns, bad things happen. I'm willing to bet that most of the perpetrators of school shootings come from "good Christian" homes.

[Chas]

I don't have any sources, other than personal experience, but I think religion is a major contributing factor to the gun violence in the US. Something like 85% of the population define themselves as "religious", and the vast majority of them are Christian. Almost every Christian I know is a gun owner, and most of them have a cache of rifles and pistols in their homes, for "protection". When young people get their hands on guns, bad things happen. I'm willing to bet that most of the perpetrators of school shootings come from "good Christian" homes.

You don't have any facts, just your opinion. Most gun owners don't have a 'cache' and there are many Christians without guns.

So, if you you would like to present some facts to back up your interesting thesis ...

[Nope]

My wild guess is that Americans have a strong sense of individualism, which is good in many ways, but it also makes us more likely to take things personally. Of course, I am pulling this out my butt so feel free to ignore me. Lol

I have noticed that my online friends who live outside the US seem less adament about sharing their faith as they view that as rude but they are more likey to discuss their religious obligation to feed and cloth the poor. Many of the religious people I know here in the US not only are very vocal about their faith but are very proud to tell me what their faith gives them.(peace, joy, financial comfort). That is a simplification of course but I wonder if the same sort of entitlement that makes a lot of my American religious friends seem self centered is also why the US is more violent. Maybe we as a nation just have slightly larger egos

Think of all the people who angrily like to pretend that their success is a product of just their hard work. They completly ignore the parents who encourage them, the teachets who taught them, even the fact that someone built roads for them to drive to work.

[John V]

When young people get their hands on guns, bad things happen.

I got my hands on a gun when I was 12. Since I got my hands on it in a hunter's safety class, though, nothing bad happened.

BTW, I have never owned a gun, and haven't even held one for over 30 years.

[Mister Agenda]

I can see why people's concerns about gun rights can be problematic for controlling guns in the USA. However, teaching our kids how to handle their conflicts, stress, and relationships peacefully shouldn't be. People, especially young people, commit murders primarily over 'beefs', relationship issues, or in relation to a personal or mental health crisis. We can do way better in equipping kids to deal with their problems.

[Dragonetti]

Hmm FBI keeps publishing violent crime on the decline in USA.

http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/crimestats

http://www.statista.com/statistics/19121...ince-1990/

Guess they are wrong.

[Strongbad]

I don't have any sources, other than personal experience, but I think religion is a major contributing factor to the gun violence in the US. Something like 85% of the population define themselves as "religious", and the vast majority of them are Christian. Almost every Christian I know is a gun owner, and most of them have a cache of rifles and pistols in their homes, for "protection". When young people get their hands on guns, bad things happen. I'm willing to bet that most of the perpetrators of school shootings come from "good Christian" homes.

You don't have any facts, just your opinion. Most gun owners don't have a 'cache' and there are many Christians without guns.

So, if you you would like to present some facts to back up your interesting thesis ...

Nope, I don't have any facts. That's why I qualified my statement by saying "I don't have any sources other than personal experiences". I didn't say most gun owners have a 'cache', I said most Christian gun owners - that I know - have a cache of weapons. It is my opinion that religious people are more inclined to own guns; you are free to disagree with me.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Diggin' the Frazetta av, SB.

[Strongbad]

Diggin' the Frazetta av, SB.

I have always been a Molly Hatchet fan.

[The Grand Nudger]

Nope, I don't have any facts. That's why I qualified my statement by saying "I don't have any sources other than personal experiences". I didn't say most gun owners have a 'cache', I said most Christian gun owners - that I know - have a cache of weapons. It is my opinion that religious people are more inclined to own guns; you are free to disagree with me.

I don't think that you'd be able to determine something like that (even as an opinion) - even from your own experiences. You have to tip the hat the the fact that the demographics skew towards religious people, so seeing alot of them doing something wouldn't be a very good indicator of what the group is inclined towards, particularly relative to another group.

Let's say you knew three non-religious people, and only one owned a gun. Lets says you knew thirty religious people, and nine owned a gun. Which group, going by these numbers, is "more inclined" to own a gun?