Will Gun Control Make Us
Safe?
Debunking the Myths
The assumptions behind universal firearms registration
The “weapon instrumentality” hypothesis
Homicide Rates and Gun Ownership
Problems with “instrumentality” hypothesis
Do restrictive gun laws
create a safer society?
How can we measure improvements in public safety?
Gun crime has declined,
but not gun homicide
Handgun homicides
have increased
Problems with the public health approach
Defending the firearm registry
Defending the firearm registry
A police study of ‘crime guns’
How many ‘crime guns’ come from police/military?
National differences have diverse causes
A comparison of crime trends in selected countries with the US
Firearm laws have targeted legal owners
Very few firearms used in homicide are legally held
Robbery increased but (legal) gun ownership decreased
English homicide rates increased after 1997
Firearms violence in England increased
Violent crime rate increased in England and Wales
Comparing crime in
England and US (2004)
No change in homicide in Scotland
Murder declined in
Northern Ireland
Australian firearms legislation
Little change in homicide immediately following 1997
Firearms use in homicide declined following 1997
Violent crime continued to increase in Australia after 1997 firearms laws
Assault rates and robbery rates both rose in Australia after 1997
Murders continued to increase in Ireland
Robberies increased in Republic of Ireland
Trends in Jamaican criminal violence
Violent crime continued to increase
Econometric analyses of
the 1977 and 1991 Canadian firearm laws
Evaluating the 1977 Firearms Law: Homicide
Evaluating the 1977 Firearms Law: Robbery
Evaluating the 1991 and 1977 Firearms Law: Robbery
Research on the effectiveness of gun laws
Why is violent crime stable in Canada?
Sentenced Prisoners in
State and Federal Institutions
Increase in Concealed Carry Laws
Homicide and Violent Crime Rates Declined in US