Knives Kill More Than Guns in the U.S.? Just Not True

As the public debate over extending background checks for gun purchases unfolded last week, I saw a statement on Facebook that knives are used more than guns each year in homicides. That didn’t ring true, so I did some research. The statistics below are from the FBI’s website. Go here to see them for yourself. To see the whole list below at once, use the drop-down menu and select “Show 25 entries.” (There are only 20 rows, so that’s all you’ll see.)

It still seems reasonable to me to require a background check when someone wants to purchase a gun. It’s not a cure-all measure, and it won’t stop someone hellbent on homicide, but it could deter some people and slow others down. A reported 90 percent of Americans see this as a common-sense step. How about you? (Thoughtful comments are welcome. Thoughtful rants, even. But nothing outside the borders of good taste!)

Homicide Victims by Weapon, 2007-2011  

Weapons20072008200920102011

Total14,91614,22413,75213,16412,664

Total firearms:10,1299,5289,1998,8748,583

Handguns7,3986,8006,5016,1156,220

Rifles453380351367323

Shotguns457442423366356

Other guns11681969397

Firearms, type not stated1,7051,8251,8281,9331,587

Knives or cutting instruments1,8171,8881,8361,7321,694

Blunt objects (clubs, hammers, etc.)647603623549496

Personal weapons (hands, fists, feet, etc.)1869875817769728

Poison1097115

Explosives1112412

Fire13185987875

Narcotics5234524529

Drowning121681015

Strangulation1348912212285

Asphyxiation10987849889

Other weapons or weapons not stated1,005999904872853

1 Pushed is included in personal weapons.