Here's The Hard Evidence About Gun Control: It Works

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http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-the-hard-evidence-about-gun-control-2013-9



***SNIP

Guns and values
A cautionary note is needed; gun control in many respects is a branch of crime prevention. A need for effective crime prevention is not invalidated by the argument that criminals break laws. If we had figured that one out, we criminologists could all go home.

The objective is to secure the most effective series of gun violence prevention measures; reducing risks consistent with our other social values. All things being equal, the more guns in a society, the greater the frequency of gun violence. But those “other values” and other social changes are important too. The more cohesive, trusting, tolerant and responsible a society is, the less risk that gun ownership itself represents.

Societies undergoing rapid social changes, or riven with conflicts and divisions are likely to become increasingly dangerous when firearms are added to the mix. Unfortunately these societies are often the very places where private citizens seek firearms for “self-defence” purposes.


Firearm Homicide rates in selected societies: firearm homicide per 100,000 population. Data from Alpers and Wilson (GunPolicy.org), 2013

The societies above are selected to demonstrate the European range of gun homicide rates as compared with three other societies (Australia, Canada and India) and the USA. Norway, Sweden, Finland and Switzerland all have relatively high rates of gun ownership, likewise Canada and Australia, but nowhere near the US rates of gun violence. None of the European societies has been immune from the experience of “mass shooting” incidents and most have strengthened their guns laws as a consequence.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-the-hard-evidence-about-gun-control-2013-9#ixzz2fKv4dOIl
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-the-hard-evidence-about-gun-control-2013-9#ixzz2fKufsBWS

[gopiscrap]

1. Growing up in Europe I have been saying that for years!