The number of guns manufactured each year in the United States grew from 2.9 million in 2001 to nearly 5.5 million in 2010, which was one of the highest-volume years in history. Another 2.84 million foreign-made guns were imported in 2010.
The government estimated there were 310 million firearms in civilian hands in 2009 — nearly as many weapons as American citizens. More than 30,000 firearm fatalities occur in America each year. About one-half are suicides, one-third criminal homicides.
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