I've tried unsuccessfully numerous times to post this to the "wacked-out guy with a gun" thread, so I'm starting a fact-based new one.

This map shows the relative gun-homicide rates for the fifty states:

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/01/the-geography-of-gun-deaths/69354/#

And this list ranks the states according to the stringency of their gun laws:

http://www.bradycampaign.org/xshare/stateleg/scorecard/2011/2011_Brady_Campaign_State_Scorecard_Rankings.pdf

As the Atlantic article suggests, there's a fair correlation between lower rates and tougher laws.

Correlation is not proof of cause and effect, but when it matches what
"common sense" would expect, it's certainly evidence in that direction. Namely, that tougher gun laws can lower gun-death rates.

But draw your own conclusions. No ad-hominems, please.