Does your stats include smash and grab robberies of gun shops? That puts alot of guns in the hands of felons and mentally ill people who can't get guns the legal way. You're right about demographics. There's alot of hunters here that like to shoot for food and sport but city dwellers don't have many places to shoot except for ranges or unfortunately at their neighbors and/or anyone who they're carrying a grudge against. The more guns there are in certain places, the more guns law abiding people buy to protect themselves from dangerous people with guns. That makes no sense but when people get scared they do crazy things.