A shocking trend for Oregon: it is one of a handful of states whose gun deaths outpace motor vehicle deaths.
The study out of the violence policy center in Washington D.C. reveals that Oregon is one of ten states with that dubious distinction.
In 2009, 394 people died as a result of a motor vehicle crash in Oregon, whereas 417 people died from a wound from a firearm.
A trend that’s unsettling, but not surprising to this local mother. Kari McGrew says “Well, it’s not a good number. It doesn’t alarm me. I mean wee have a pretty poor economy. I can see how the deaths could be high. I don’t think guns kill people, I think people kill people.”
The study also revealed motor vehicle deaths are on the decline as a result of smart safety regulation of motor vehicles but firearms are the only consumer product not regulated by the federal government for health and safety.
While Oregon ranked in the top ten on that list, Nevada faired the worst with more than 150 more gun deaths than vehicle deaths.
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