In a commentary published in The Chronicle on April 22, state Sen. John Braun argues that the problem with gun violence in America is not an overabundance of firearms, but "violence period. Take away the ‘gun’ qualifier and the true constant is not an object. It's people."
Specifically, Braun continues, the gist of the problem is "behavioral health, which encompasses both mental health and substance abuse."
In the year 2019, Canada, with a population of 38 million, had a total of 875 gun-related murders and suicides. Australia, with 25 million, had 241; the Netherlands, with 17 million, had 85; and Japan, with 125 million, had 101.
The United States, with 331 million, had 37,040.
Is it Braun's belief that, per capita, Americans are five times crazier than Canadians, 12 times crazier than Australians, 22 times crazier than the Dutch, and 136 times crazier than the Japanese? Banzai!
Joseph Tipler
Centralia
