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Gun Deaths Now Top Motor Vehicle Deaths In Nevada

Alexa Ard

Gun deaths have topped motor vehicle deaths in more than twenty states, including Nevada. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Billman has the details.

In 2014, there were 429 people in Nevada who died from firearms compared to 319 people who were killed by motor vehicle incidents. That's according to a new report released from the Violence Policy Center, or VPC, which advocates for more gun control.

The report uses data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which keeps track of gun deaths caused by suicide, homicide, and unintentional shootings.

The VPC started analyzing that data in 2009, when only 10 states had more gun deaths than motor vehicle deaths. Since then, that figure has grown to 21 states plus the District of Columbia.

Nationwide, there were more than 35,000 motor vehicle deaths in 2014, about 2,000 more the recorded number of gun deaths.

Michelle Billman is a former news director at KUNR Public Radio.
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