I was confused by the map at first reading, because it indicated Vermont had a higher rate of gun deaths than New York, MA, or CT; and I had seen several statistical charts indicating that VT had a lower rate of violent crime than any state except the two Dakotas.

The answer is that, as the site takes pains to point out, the map shows rates for all gun deaths - homicides, suicides, and accidents. Vermont does have a low homicide rate. But we have long, cold, dark winters, without much to do except ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, and drink. And a lot of people don't do any of the first three. Good for getting in the right mood for suicide. AND we have a lot of people who live for deer season. But Vermont woods are mostly second-growth, with lots of underbrush and short visibility. So a lot of hunters feel the only way to get their deer is to shoot at anything that moves. That's an overstatement, but not as much of a one as it should be. We get a lot of accidental shootings in November.

P.