Gun Control Telling the Emperor he has no clothes Political marketing Academic freedom The NRA and methodology September 11th opened eyes Terrorists, not gun owners

Criminal violence means guns. Myth Number 1 Criminal violence means guns.

Criminal violence means guns? Violent Crimes (1994) TOTAL WITH FIREARMS Homicide 596 196 [32%] Attempted murder 918 306 [33%] Assault 236,364 5,959 [3%] Sexual Assault 31,690 50 [< 1%] Other sexual offences 3,812 0 Abduction 1,130 0 Robbery 28,888 7,371 [26%] Total violent crimes 303,398 18,204 [6% of violent crimes]

Criminal violence means guns? Total deaths with firearms 1,031 100% Suicide with firearm 818 79% Murder with firearm 159 15% Firearm accident 45 5% Legal intervention 9 1% 1997 statistics

Criminal violence means guns? Suicides (1997) Total suicides 3,671 Firearms 818 [22%]

Criminal violence means guns? Accidental Deaths (1997) Total accidental deaths 8,801 Motor vehicles 3,042 Falls 2,622 Surgical/medical misadventures 193 Firearms 45 [1%]

Women are the victims of gun violence. Myth Number 2 Women are the victims of gun violence.

Women are the victims? Homicide in Canada (1994) Total homicides 596 Involving a firearm 196 [32%] Victims Male 398 [66%] Female 198 [33%] Spousal homicides 85 Women killed by conjugal intimate 65 Women killed by conjugal intimate w/firearm 24 Source: Special request, Senator Anne Cools, her testimony to The Supreme Court of Canada

Women are the victims? Homicide in Canada (1999) Total 536 Victims Involving a firearm 165 [30%] Committed during another criminal offence 152 Victims Male 67% Female 33% Consumed alcohol/drugs 38% Known criminal record 41% Accused Consumed alcohol/drugs 50% Known criminal record 62% Previous conviction for violent offence 60% Known history of spousal violence 74%

Gun ownership leads to violence Myth Number 3 Gun ownership leads to violence

Gun ownership violence? Household Ownership of Firearms CITY/TOWN SIZE HANDGUN FIREARM Over 500,000 1% 11% 10,000 – 499,999 4% 24% Under 10,000 6% 44% Source: Mauser and Buckner (1995)

Gun ownership violence? Regional Variations in Violent Crimes (1994) CANADA RURAL URBAN Total violent crimes 95,993 9,740 86,253 Involving firearms 5,929 370 5,559 Percent 6.2% 3.8% 6.4% Source:special request, Stats Can Incident-Based Survey [1995].

Gun ownership violence? Urban and Rural Firearm Deaths in Canada (1991) CITY/TOWN SIZE HOMICIDE RATES Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver 2.64 50,000 + 2.15 49,999 – 10,000 2.06 9,999 – 1,000 1.68 Less than 1,000 2.32 Source: Canadian Firearms Centre Report, Urban and Rural Firearm Deaths in Canada

Guns are not used in self-defence in Canada Myth Number 4 Guns are not used in self-defence in Canada

Guns used in self-defence?

Gun control keeps us safe. Myth Number 5 Gun control keeps us safe.

Gun control keeps us safe? Trends in handgun homicides in Canada (rates as percent of gun homicides and total homicides)

Gun control keeps us safe? History of gun law in Canada 1935 handguns registered 1977 required a police permit to purchase a firearm [Firearms Acquisition Certificate] ban a large variety of weapons, including fully automatic firearms eliminated protection of property as a legitimate reason for registering handguns introduced penalty for “unsafe storage” of firearms introduced requirements for Firearms and Ammunition Business Permits

Gun control keeps us safe? 1991 registration of semi-automatic military-style rifles ban of converted automatic rifles ban of high-capacity magazines ban of “non-sporting” ammunition new FAC requirements: applicants have to: complete the firearm safety course, Fill out the long application form (35 questions), provide a passport-type photograph obtain two references (one a wife or spouse) mandatory 28-day waiting period increased regulations for firearms dealers specific regulations for safe storage, handling and transportation of firearms introduction of firearm safety course for FAC applicants

Gun control keeps us safe? 1995 prohibition and confiscation of over half of all registered handguns (so called “Saturday Night Specials”) introduction of firearms owners licences POL – Possession Only Licence PAL – Possession and Acquisition Licence new requirements for PAL: applicants have to: have separate rifle and handgun safety courses fill out the long application form (35 questions) provide a passport-type photograph obtain two references (Plus spouse or former spouse) new stricter regulations for safe storage, handling and transportation of firearms

Gun control keeps us safe? 1995 (continued) regulation of shooting clubs, shooting ranges, and gun shows new regulations for export and import of firearms broadening of police powers of “search and seizure” suspects of Firearms Act required to testify against themselves licensing of firearm owners January 2003 All firearms required to be registered

Gun control keeps us safe? Brief Summary of Evaluation Studies of Canadian Firearms Legislation Dependent Significant Variable Effect Scarff (1983) Homicide rate Yes Sproule and Kennett (1988) Homicide rate No Mundt (1990) Homicide rate No Mundt (1990) Armed robbery rate No Mauser and Holmes (1992) Homicide rate No Mauser and Maki (1998) Armed robbery rate No Department of Justice (1996) Homicide rate Yes

Gun control keeps us safe? Evaluating 1977 Canadian Gun Legislation: Homicide Rate

Gun control keeps us safe? Evaluating 1977 Canadian Gun Legislation: Robbery, Armed Robbery, and Robbery with Firearm

US vs. Canada Comparison Sources: Juristat, "Homicide in 1992" vol.14, No 4. Crime in the United States1992, FBI

Gun control keeps us safe?

Gun control keeps us safe?

Gun control keeps us safe?

Gun control keeps us safe?

Conclusions Ready, aim, fire Fire, aim, ready Fear and freedom Cultural diversity Thanks to Nora and Ted Sterling