Point – Counter Point
On using useless statistics to hammer a point home, the GOA says:
1 — Since the new laws went into effect, there has not been a single massacre of four or more people.
Well, not by guns, but there have been several using knives, carbon monoxide gas and arson reported by the Australian news media.
2 — Homicides committed with firearms have been declining since the 1997 ban took place.
To quote their reference, the Australian Institute of Criminology, “Homicides have been declining since 1969.” Also, keep in mind that Australia’s murder rate dropped 11%, while the U.S. murder rate dropped 32% — even though Americans bought 70 million guns during that same period.
3 — Since the gun ban, Australia has seen a drop in the use of firearms in armed robberies.
It is true, only 6% of the robberies in 2001 involved a firearm. However the robbery rate has risen 70% since the ban went into effect. Australia had a lower crime rate in 1992 than the U.S., now Australia’s combined rate of robbery, sexual assault, and assault with force is more than double that of the U.S. (See note.)
4 — Suicide rates using a firearm show a sharp drop after the gun ban.
Duuh! — It’s hard to shoot yourself when you don’t have a gun.
“Suicide rates did not fall, though there was a shift toward less use of guns.”
“The firearm related suicide rate had been falling for ten years before the gun ban.”
The total suicide rate in Australia is over 25% higher than the USA.
