USA The deep red states of the south suffer per capita homicide and suicide rates two to three times greater than those in the Northeast and West Coast, and seven to nine times greater than those in the  greater New York City area. The New York metropolitan area is the country's safest region in terms of  gun deaths. Why? Mostly because it has the lowest level of gun ownership, with 78% of households  reporting no firearms in home, whereas in regions with high per capita gun deaths, about half of  households have guns. There is now majority support in every region for banning assault-style rifles and high capacity  magazines.                                      (From "The Week". June 30 2023)