The well-regulated militia.

[Downtown Hound]

114. This poll was conducted in the same way that political polls are done

So I'm far more likely to take it's word over yours. Plus, Illinois is one blue state out of 50. Do they do that in every state? That, and, nothing in anything you posted does a comparison with per capita gun ownership base on population size compared with rates 40 years ago. Even if more guns are being sold, the population is much bigger now than it was 40 years ago, so that is not proof of greater gun ownership relative to the population.

Also, gun homicides have been going up for the last few years. So if what you're saying is correct, and for the past few years gun ownership has been increasing, guess what? So has gun violence. Here's another article backing up what I said, so I can safely say that it is not laughable:

http://heedinggodscall.org/content/pfctoolkit-10

"The US has an estimated 283 million guns in civilian hands

Each year about 4.5 million firearms, including approximately 2 million handguns, are sold in the United States

An estimated 2 million second hand firearms are sold each year

The percentage of American households with a gun has been steadily declining (high of 54% in 1977 to 33% in 2009)

The average number of guns per owner has increased from 4.1 in 1994 to 6.9 in 2004.

More than 30,000 people are killed by firearms each year in this country

More than 30 people are shot and murdered each day

1/2 of them are between the ages of 18 and 35

1/3 of them are under the age of 20

Homicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-24 year-olds

And the primary cause of death among African Americans of that age group

Gun Homicides (average annually):

Less than 50: Japan

Less than 150: Germany, Italy, France, etc.

Less than 200: Canada

More than 10,000: USA"

So guess what? You don't know your ass from a hold in the ground. Have a nice day.