Gun Deaths Will Exceed Traffic Deaths in US by 2015

A disturbing new study by Bloomberg finds that by 2015, the number of people killed by guns in the US will likely surpass the number of people killed in traffic accidents. It would be a first. Vehicle deaths are on the decline (down 22% between 2005 and 2010), but gun deaths have been increasing since hitting a low in 2000. By 2015, shooting fatalities are expected to be at nearly 33,000, while traffic fatalities will be around 32,000.

In 10 states, gun deaths were already outpacing traffic deaths in 2009, Slate reports. Those states range from Michigan, which had a high of 1,095 gun deaths compared to 977 motor vehicle deaths, to Alaska, which had a low of 104 gun deaths compared to 84 motor vehicle deaths. Click for the complete chart. (More deaths stories.)