Californians Like to Shoot People: State Tops Nation in Gun Murders

By Dennis Romero Wed., Sep. 28 2011 at 8:05 AM

hi-fiction

When we think "gun crime" we think Deep South and toothless, pickup-truck driving yokels who'll shoot you for even looking at their property.

Stereotype.

We're wrong, because California, the self-obsessed, yoga-centric, surf-'em-if-you-got-'em state is also the capital of shoot-'em-up homicides. The UK's Guardian newspaper breaks down the numbers:

California had the highest number of gun murders last year - 1,257, which is 69% of all murders that year and equivalent to 3.37 per 100,000 people in the state. Big as that figure is, it's still down by 8% on the previous year.

A lot of people come to Hollywood to make a killing, but this is ridiculous.

At least our per-capita, gun-play rate isn't king, according the Guardian. No, that would, in fact, bring us back to the south, where assaults involving guns were tops in Tennessee and South Carolina.

Places for the top gun-related murder rates were Washington, D.C, Louisiana and Missouri.

So be thankful, Californians. We're not the absolute worst place in the nation for at least one thing.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

Tags:

California, crime, D.C., gun crime, guns, homicide, murder, national rankings

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All I know is that the murder rates went up where the mexican gangs moved in on the black neighborhoods.

There is no need for concealed carry laws here. When you see someone walking around with one pants leg pulled up, it means that he is NOT packing.

dukmoo

That really does not come as any big surprise now does it?anon-tools.no.tc

Josh

Need more proof that strict gun control laws absolutely do not work?

Bob

California has the highest number of gun murders. Big Fucking Deal. I bet it also has the highest number of rapes, suicides, old grannies, and domestic cats. California has the highest population, dumbshits, and so it has a lot more of things relating to people.

The per capita rate is addressed in the blog post like it's some sort of side note, rather than a neglected fact that tears apart the whole conclusion. Don't report on statistics when you don't have a basic understanding.

Ryan M

what a worthless statistic. california is the most populous state by 12 million people, of course they have the most murders.

Frans

So, let me see .. the state that accounts for 13% of the population of the US has 1,257 murders ",which is 69% of all murders that year" ... yeah, "of course they have the most murders" ... "what a worthless statistic" ... GET REAL!

The state with some off the strictest controls has a high murder rate. What a shock, the innocent can't protect themselves.

Adam Tod Brown

So you live in the state with the highest gang population in the nation and you think "Deep South" when you think about gun crime? Because only rednecks have guns, right?

Hooray for blatant ignorance.