THE INFORMATION IN THE FOLLOWING FOUR PARAGRAPHS WAS DERIVED FROM "THE WORLD ALMANANAC AND BOOK OF FACTS 2001" PUBLISHED BY WORLD ALMANANAC BOOKS, NEW JERSEY -

IN 1999 THERE WERE 17,100 PEOPLE KILLED ACCIDENTALY IN FALLS, 10,500 WERE POISONED, 4,00 DROWNED, 3,100 BURNED TO DEATH, 3,200 CHOKED TO DEATH ON THEIR FOOD, 41,300 WERE KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENTS AND 700 WERE KILLED BY ACCIDENTAL GUNSHOT WOUNDS.

IN 1979 THERE WERE 1,208,030 "REPORTED" VIOLENT CRIMES IN AMERICA;... IN 1999 THERE WERE 1,430,690.

IN 1999 THERE WERE 1,947,200 VIOLENT CRIME ARRESTS FOR A TOTAL OF 14,031,070 ARRESTS FOR ALL FELONIES.

THE AVERAGE TIME SERVED FOR A VIOLENT CRIME IN 1999 WAS 3 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS BEFORE THE OFFENDER WAS RELEASED BACK INTO SOCIETY.

IN 1997 THERE WERE 18,210 HOMICIDES, 13,252 WERE COMMITED WITH A FIREARM.