I was looking up opiod deaths in Maryland and found this article ...
https://madison.com/gallery/news/na...ion_896db162-8e2f-56bc-809e-b5c34f2a818e.html
which indicated in 2016, these ran approx 30 per 100,000 and are on an upward trajectory. Screen capture is below.
Out of curiosity, I looked up firearm related deaths and found this article (again with the latest data being from 2016) ...
https://247wallst.com/special-report/2018/02/20/states-with-the-most-gun-violence-2
These are approx 12 per 100,000. Second screen capture is below.
What was interesting is the breakdown of the firearm related deaths in Maryland. Unlike most states, Maryland actually has significantly more firearm related homicides than suicides. It's a gross deviation from the national average. Maryland has this problem independent of strong gun control laws and despite being one of the wealthier states in the country.
To me this suggests a failure, in part, by elected officials to confront a problem that is likely interrelated - drug overdoses and violence in the same areas. Most obviously, in Baltimore city, we have had elected officials vilify law enforcement and even act in antagonism to them. It's clear that this method of governance has been ineffective and likely resulted in significant societal costs. Instead of ineffectual gun laws to give the appearance of effort, maybe they should consider other strategies. When your murder rate and drug overdose rate is out of whack with the nation and you have a wealthy state that is in the top ten for taxation (when adjusted for cost of living), you have the resources, but you're doing something wrong. Given these are premature deaths, this is gross negligence and/or incompetence on the part of elected officials.
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https://madison.com/gallery/news/na...ion_896db162-8e2f-56bc-809e-b5c34f2a818e.html
which indicated in 2016, these ran approx 30 per 100,000 and are on an upward trajectory. Screen capture is below.
Out of curiosity, I looked up firearm related deaths and found this article (again with the latest data being from 2016) ...
https://247wallst.com/special-report/2018/02/20/states-with-the-most-gun-violence-2
These are approx 12 per 100,000. Second screen capture is below.
What was interesting is the breakdown of the firearm related deaths in Maryland. Unlike most states, Maryland actually has significantly more firearm related homicides than suicides. It's a gross deviation from the national average. Maryland has this problem independent of strong gun control laws and despite being one of the wealthier states in the country.
To me this suggests a failure, in part, by elected officials to confront a problem that is likely interrelated - drug overdoses and violence in the same areas. Most obviously, in Baltimore city, we have had elected officials vilify law enforcement and even act in antagonism to them. It's clear that this method of governance has been ineffective and likely resulted in significant societal costs. Instead of ineffectual gun laws to give the appearance of effort, maybe they should consider other strategies. When your murder rate and drug overdose rate is out of whack with the nation and you have a wealthy state that is in the top ten for taxation (when adjusted for cost of living), you have the resources, but you're doing something wrong. Given these are premature deaths, this is gross negligence and/or incompetence on the part of elected officials.
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