And the data backs up the impression that this happens more often in the US than in other countries. The Americas have by far the worst gun problem in the world, with the weapons used in 66 percent of homicides. That compares with 13 percent to 28 percent in other regions, according to a 2013 United Nations report.
The region, which includes North America, South America, and the Caribbean islands, also has the world's highest murder rate, at 16.3 per 100,000 people. The global average is 6.2 per 100,000, according to the report. Here's a chart of homicide mechanism by region.
To be fair, war and conflict-related killings are not included in the UN chart because they are "outside the realm of intentional homicide," according to the UN report. Therefore, the report doesn't account for all types of gun violence.
Still, even Europe is starkly different from the Americas when it comes to gun homicides. The largest share of homicides in Europe come from the "other" category. And at three murders per 100,000 people, the region is safer overall than the Americas.
Unsurprisingly, Europe also has a much lower gun-ownership rate than the US. Many European countries have fewer than 40 guns per 100 people, whereas the US has closer to 90 guns per 100 people.
Guns are used in an even greater share of murders in the US than across the Americas, at 68 percent:
U.S. gun lobby slams anti-gun 'elites' after Florida school mas...
