SAVANNAH, Georgia (WTOC) – Georgia and South Carolina scored badly on a newly launched national firearms scorecard.
The Giffords Law Center report ranks each state based on death rates and firearms laws. The center is asking lawmakers in both states to take quick action.
“They have weak firearms laws and high firearm mortality rates,” said Allison Anderman, Legal Counsel at the Giffords Law Center.
Anderman said the annual Gun Law Scorecard tells a story, adding that those with poor grades – like Georgia and South Carolina – struggle to contain armed violence.
“That’s the only thing you can see year after year after year on our scorecard,” said Anderman. “High-scoring states have lower firearm mortality rates, and failing-scoring states have high firearm death rates.”
The Giffords Law Center said it bases its scores on death rates and firearms laws, but does not list specific state laws on its scorecard. Take Georgia, for example. With the 14th highest firearm mortality rate in the country, with just under 16 deaths for every 100,000 people, the center suggests that Georgia make three major changes:
- Require background checks for all sales of firearms.
- Require waiting periods for the purchase of weapons.
- Prevent domestic attackers from buying a weapon.
South Carolina also failed. The center recommends adding background checks for all firearms sales and community violence intervention programs in the state of Palmetto.
“I mean, it’s heartbreaking, because there are real people at the end of those decisions,” said Anderman. “We know what to do to decrease the levels of armed violence in this country. But what we don’t have, in all states, are courageous lawmakers who are willing to take on the arms lobby and armed extremists. ”
But a Georgia lawmaker says it’s not that fast.
“I don’t think the number of gun laws that are enacted in a state has anything to do with armed violence,” said Georgia Republican Congressman Buddy Carter.
Carter argues that the laws the center is suggesting are not really aimed at criminals and instead make it more difficult for people to defend themselves.
“Look, I’m totally for background checks. I think it should be practical. But putting obstacles and barriers in the way of law-abiding citizens who want to own guns, I don’t think that’s the answer, ”said Carter.
Carter also questions the center’s ratings. The scorecard appears to show a correlation between its scores and firearm mortality rates, but there are some outliers.
New Mexico, for example, has the fourth highest mortality rate from firearms. Taller than Georgia and South Carolina. But it received a C + rating.
“I don’t know where they got those figures from, but you can get caught up in the ratings,” said Carter. “I don’t think there are many weapons in America.”
Anderman believes that the facts are on the side of proponents of gun control and insists that stricter gun laws will help prevent future tragedies.
“Honestly, the real problem is people using guns against themselves or people from their own families,” said Anderman. “Access is important.”
If you want to take a look at the overview yourself, click on this link: https://giffords.org/lawcenter/resources/scorecard/#GA
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