Shasta tops in gun sales

Based on the annual average number of firearm background checks performed between 2007 and 2011, Shasta County leads the state in gun sales. The overall state average in annual gun sales per 1,000 residents is 18.78.

TThe average annual violent-crime rate (homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) in Shasta County was 534.5 crimes per 100,000 residents between 2001 and 2010. The overall state average was 520.3. The average annual firearm death rate (homicide, suicide and accidental death) per 10,000 residents in Shasta County during the same period was 1.4, while the state average was 0.9.

Source: From “Welcome to Shasta County, California’s gun-buying capital,” by Josh Richman and posted by Silicon Valley MercuryNews.com. Information gathered from the state departments of finance, justice and public health.