Louisiana has found itself in the highest ranks of an undesirable category, according to a recent report.

The state is second in the nation in gun deaths per capita, behind only Alaska, according to a report from the Violence Policy Center. The study used 2013 data from the Centers for Disease Control and the Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. It found that states with high gun ownership lead the nation in gun deaths.

Alaska, in which 60.6 percent of households own guns, had a gun death rate of 19.59 per 100,000 residents. Louisiana, in which 45.6 percent of households own guns, had a gun death rate of 19.15. Other notable states were Alabama (57.2 percent ownership; 17.79 death rate), Mississippi (54.3 percent ownership; 17.55 death rate), and Wyoming (62.8 percent ownership; 17.51 death rate).

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Hawaii had 2.71 gun deaths per 100,000 residents and a gun ownership of 9.7 percent of all households. Other states with similar numbers were: Massachusetts (12.8 percent ownership; 3.18 death rate), New York (18.1 percent ownership; 4.39 death rate), Connecticut (16.2 percent ownership; 4.48 death rate) and Rhode Island (13.3 percent ownership; 5.33 death rate).

There are things that must be done to keep our state safe.

l First and foremost, Louisiana has to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. The state already has in place laws to keep guns out of the possession of convicted felons, but one look at Calcasieu Correctional Center’s book-in sheet will show that it’s an ongoing struggle.

l Keep guns out of the hands of unsupervised youth.

l Law-abiding citizens should practice safety when handling weapons.

For many Louisianians, growing up with guns around is a way of life in the Sportsman’s Paradise.

The numbers, though, show that, for some, guns are a means to violence. We as a state have to find a way to keep guns from those who would use them for harm. In so doing, Louisiana will be made a safer place.

(MGNonline)