Recently, I overheard a debate on the island in which one person said that there is a gun problem in this country. I would like to offer some perspective on that debate, if the perception of a “gun problem” is based upon the number of deaths caused by guns.

This comparison is from 2011 FBI data.

So-called assault rifles (like the AR-15) are a subset of rifles.

Rifles killed 323; blunt objects killed 496; hands, fists, feet, etc. killed 728, and knives killed 1,694.

In 2010, the most current data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car drivers killed 618 bicyclists and 4,280 pedestrians.

With this data in mind, the debate may continue with some facts for reference.

— Gregg Rocheford