The Violence Policy Center out of Washington D.C. studied 2011 stats on gun deaths versus car deaths and 14 states had more gun deaths than car deaths, including Oregon.

Kristen Rand with the Violence Policy Center says they consider this a public health issue.

"Comparisons are often made between motor vehicles and guns and the point we're trying to make here is only 30 percent of households have guns, but 90 percent have a motor vehicle, yet gun deaths exceeded motor vehicle deaths in 14 states and the District of Columbia.  The answer is the public health approach we took to reduce car deaths and we need to apply it to gun deaths."

Rand says there were similarities in the states with higher gun deaths as compared to car deaths.

"Well most of the states where gun deaths exceed motor vehicle deaths have a higher rate of gun ownership and weaker gun laws.  We see nation wide two components.  States with lower rates of gun ownership and stronger gun laws have the lowest gun death rates."

Some of the other states with high gun death rates include Washington State, Colorado, Utah, Alaska, Arizona, Illinois and Maryland.