Calls for strict gun control following a deadly week in America come despite new statistics that show gun deaths plummeting as sales of firearms soar.

According to the industry's trade group, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, homicides by gun have dropped 43 percent since 1991. Other crime with a gun such as robberies have decreased even more, by 70 percent since 1993.

In a graphic display of the numbers, NSSF also showed that unintentional deaths with a gun have dropped 82 percent.

Along the way, gun sales have soared to 140 million a year.

And 41 percent of Americans say they have a gun in their home.



President Obama spoke twice this week about the need for more gun control in the wake of the Dallas police deaths and two deadly police shootings, in Louisiana and Minnesota.

But gun rights advocates suggested instead that having a gun is the answer to self protection.

"We're urging all of our customers, including members of law enforcement and civilians, to stay vigilant. The best defense against a mass shooting is to buy a gun, get trained to use that gun, and carry it all the time," said Justin Anderson, the marketing director of Hyatt Guns of Charlotte, N.C., one of the nation's biggest sellers.

NSSF said the statistics back Anderson up. "One thing is clear — punishing the law-abiding firearms owners in the U.S. and the federally-regulated firearms and ammunition industry for the criminal acts of terrorists and madmen cannot be justified by data."

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com