Gun violence affects half of US families - Survey

WASHINGTON - About half of American families have been affected by a gun-related incident while one in five said they have personally been threatened with a gun, according to a recent survey.

The survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation also found that about 54 per cent of US adults said they or a family member have experienced a gun-related incident, according to Anadolu Agency.

The survey showed 21 per cent were personally threatened with a gun while 19 per cent said a family member was killed by a gun, which includes death by suicide.

Some 17 per cent of respondents said they have personally witnessed someone being shot, 4 per cent indicated they have used a gun in self-defense and 4 per cent were injured in a shooting.

It added the survey showed that gun-related injuries and deaths "disproportionately" affect people of color in the US.

About 84 per cent of adults said they have taken at least one precaution against possible gun violence affecting their families.

According to the survey, four in 10 adults are living in a household with a gun.

The survey was conducted after the deadly school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, which killed three students and three adults.

More than 11,500 people in the US have died from gun violence as of April 11, Anadolu Agency cited the non-profit research group Gun Violence Archive said Tuesday.

There have been 147 mass shootings in the country in 2023 that have killed 72 children. - BERNAMA