Accidental anti-gun myths. (Correction, Please).

ITEM: The Hoyafor March 28th reported on a gun-control debate at Georgetown University quoting David Haffty of Hand-gun-Free America as saying: "'When we find a product that is harmful to the public, we ban it,' Haffty said. Haffty offered a litany of statistics supporting the need to eliminate handguns from society stating that there are 30,000 accidental gun deaths in America every year..."

CORRECTION: There are some 36 times more fatal motor-vehicle accidents than fatal gun accidents, according to recent statistics from the National Safety Council. Yet few are talking about eliminating automobiles. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control not long ago revealed that the number of accidental firearms fatalities dropped again, as it has for decades, to 866, even with more gun owners and concealed-carry permits.

To generate such large numbers (and even here, Haffty is exaggerating), one must include any deaths related to guns, everything from murders to justifiable homicides. More than two out of every three deaths in the U.S. involving guns are either suicides or drug-related murders--regrettable, but hardly accidents.

Indeed, official statistics (cited in John Lott's latest book, The Bias Against Guns) also reveal that bicycles, water buckets, and playing football are more dangerous to children than firearms. Fearing for our children's safety, we anxiously await the formation of another group of prohibitionists--Bucket-Free America.