Austin Petersen made a claim that initially seems far-fetched, but studies are available to support it.

A 2023 Harvard study estimated 175,000 annual heat-related deaths in Europe, driven by strict energy regulations and low AC adoption (90% in the U.S. vs. 20% in Europe), compared to CDC data showing around 45,000 U.S. firearm deaths in 2023.

Europe’s environmental policies, including bans on certain AC units and high electricity costs (three times higher than the U.S. at $0.34/kWh), exacerbate heatwave mortality, as noted in a Reason.com article from July 2025, in contrast to the U.S.’s more permissive energy and AC market.

Recent 2025 heatwaves in southern Europe, documented by BBC Weather, have intensified this issue, with wildfires and temperatures exceeding 40°C, highlighting a surprising vulnerability in a region often seen as progressive on climate but lagging in heat resilience