Gun deaths are likely to exceed traffic fatalities in the United States this year, according to an analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
While deaths caused by cars are in long-term decline, deaths by guns have been increasing by a small margin.
Bloomberg Government's analysis of the data has concluded that guns will become deadlier than cars for all age groups in 2015, The Economist reports.
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The majority of gun deaths result from suicides, accidents and incidents of domestic violence, while improved technology and tougher laws have led to fewer traffic fatalities.
The Economist adds that there are nearly as many civilian firearms as the 320m people in the US.
William Vizzard, a professor of criminal justice at California State University at Sacramento, tells the newspaper that the durability of guns means that this number is unlikely to drop.
"I compare a gun to a hammer or a crowbar," he says. "Even if you stopped making guns today, you might not see a real change in the number of guns for decades."
According to a report published in the Annual Review of Public Health, guns are already deadlier than cars in 13 states, including California, Arizona and Virginia.
In Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Utah gun suicides alone exceed the total number of traffic deaths.
The authors of the report concluded that "further research on the nature and prevention of firearm violence is sorely needed" and that "evidence-based interventions may lead to substantial reductions in death and disability from this important public health problem".
While cars and other vehicles are subject to licensing and registration, the New York Times says that guns remain "the only consumer product not regulated at the federal level for health and safety, in keeping with the wishes of the gun industry and compliant lawmakers".
