NCJ Number
171521
Date Published
1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study identified the use of firearms in the context of all violent deaths in Australia over the last 10 years, the relative place of firearms as the means of suicide and homicide, and the difficulties of assessing the impact of firearm control on the level of violence; it suggests avenues to overcome these difficulties.
Abstract
The data do not show that increasing the availability of firearms has reduced violent deaths. There is mixed evidence that restricting the availability of firearms alters the overall violent death rate; the evidence strongly suggests that restricting the availability of firearms reduces firearm-related death rates. Restrictions on the availability of and access to firearms can be expected to reduce the number of other crimes. Research has shown that gun seizures in high gun-crime areas reduces gun violence without total displacement. The evaluation and monitoring of the impact of uniform legislation may require adherence to uniform procedures by various agencies. Toward this end, this paper recommends uniform procedure for classification and recording of deaths by coroners; recording on death certificates the type of firearm used; uniform procedures for police recording the type of firearm used in various crimes; and uniform procedures for recording firearm-related injury cases treated in various hospitals. 4 tables, 4 figures, and 14 references