We’re talking about the Seven Wonders of the World when one of my students asks, “Why doesn’t our country have more cool things?”
I open my mouth to extol some of the wonders of America when the student speaks again:
“Never mind that. Why does our country have so many guns?”
This was the day after a school shooting, so sadly, firearms were probably on her mind.
Also, she wasn’t wrong about our country having so many guns. The U.S. has the highest civilian gun ownership rate in the world, with an estimated 120.5 guns per 100 people.
We have more firearms than people in the U.S.
By comparison, the second-highest rate is in Yemen, with approximately 52.8 guns per 100 people.
Less than half our number.
Canada has 34.7 guns per 100 people.
Germany and France both have 19.6 guns per 100 people.
Australia has 13.6 guns per 100 people.
The United Kingdom has 4.6 guns per 100 people.
Japan has 0.3 guns per 100 people.
She certainly wasn’t wrong, but compared to extolling the wonders of America, explaining why we have so many guns is a far more difficult question to answer.
Not complicated. Just lengthy and tragic.
And not nearly so wondrous.
