Shine spotlight on nation’s gun deaths

Pierre Coste, Henderson

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 2:04 a.m.

For an advocate of gun control for more than 50 years, Bob Herbert’s recent column in the Las Vegas Sun really hit home (“Will we keep turning away? Gun violence is the scourge of this nation, yet little is done,” April 15). I wonder if a concentrated effort to consistently publicize the vast number of domestic gun-related deaths — most of the 120,000 nonterror homicides since Sept. 11, 2001, according to Herbert — would gradually enter the consciousness of enough of our citizens to make a difference.

A few decades ago on every holiday weekend radio and TV news report announced the number of highway deaths that occurred. It started Friday night and was updated almost hourly through Sunday night. The total number of deaths was then compared with those of other holiday weekends. It was grisly reporting, which mercifully ended; but it did get people’s attention and may have contributed to improving highway and automobile safety.

Today gun massacres receive media attention and are temporarily horrifying. Could a concerted media effort be made to connect all gun deaths and publicize the aggregate numbers daily or weekly, if not hourly? A bit Draconian, but perhaps this would gradually influence enough citizens to support meaningful gun control.