I haven't read all this thread so at the risk of repetition:
The following was lifted from Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence_in_the_United_States
I'll spoilt it a bit more then,
According to wikipedia,(all I did was look up "medical malpractice death rates in the USA") medical malpractice is responsible for over 195000 deaths in the USA each year.
kinda makes careless use of firearms almost feel safer than visiting your doctor.
not saying you should be careless with firearms- or avoid your doctor, just pointing out that figures can be manipulated to say anything you want.
In the U.S. gun rights groups, and right wing politicians have been trying for years to get tougher legislation for gun crimes.
Laws like "Use a gun go to jail" or "use a gun and you're done" have been implemented after being fought every step of the way by left wing pressure groups and leftist politicians.
Leftist judges have overturned some of these type laws in the courts.
I'll admit all (three) of my unintentional shots were my own fault, except one that was due to a rifle having a gunsmith work on the trigger who knew less than I, and buggered it up (later I find out he is trained as a fitter and turner only, not a gunsmith, good with barrels - lousy with everything else). I should have tested it beter though. Another was while spotlighting, round chambered and nervous as it was my first time out, and I forgot to raise the bolt after not taking a shot (I got a BIG talking to after that one). The other was duck hunting, my fingers were that cold and numb I didn't even feel the trigger as I lifted the gun to shoot, and let the shot off too early.
Bad as it is to fire off without meaning to, all were harmless due to obeying basic firearm safety rules.
I feel like the dud in my group of hunting mates as Im the only one I have ever witnessed fire off a shot without meaning to. Thats 15 years, 3+ mates about 500 rounds a year (hunting, we don't shoot competitively so the number is low compared to others).
I haven't had any issues for over 10 years now. Not saying youngsters are unsafe, but if they do make a mistake I promise they will learn from it 
I think guns have there place in society, whether it be the one I live in or the USA. The laws regarding gun ownership in this country IMO are about as good as it gets, as they allow people with a genuine reason to own them. The process in WA seems to be very strict as it should be. We have a shooting range 2km's from our house, my 12 year old asked to join so I checked it out. I must say the regulations and training process was impressive in terms of safety, the people in charge of the facility were thorough and motivated by seeing guns as sporting equipment that can have lethal consequences if misused. PR, I too don't like guns and my wife has experienced the tragic loss of a friend through stupidity when it came to gun safety, my father attended too many fatalities when was a copper but I still defend the right of an individual in my country and the USA to own them. I would rather my son do something else but I respect sport and anyone willing to dedicate their time to it and have allowed him to begin the training process at the club. I think my wife and I represent a group of people that when confronted with a situation that challenges our beliefs can actually change those through investigation, education and a more open mind. I appreciate that this is not everyones situation but have followed this debate with interest and wished to share our story.
