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During a 3 month amnesty period in 2017, Australians turned in a wide variety of illegal weapons. In that country, it's a good idea to take advantage, because the penalty for getting caught with those weapons could be a $280,000 fine and 14 years in prison.
The amnesty program was the first major initiative in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre where a lone gunman killed 35 people with a military-style semiautomatic rifle.
Prime Minister John Howard at that time banned rapid-fire rifles and shotguns and tightened gun licensing. Additionally, the government bought back and destroyed more than one million firearms.
In the wake of these reforms:
Mass shootings in Australia dropped to zero
Gun suicides declined by an average of 4.8% per year
Gun-related homicides declined by an average of 5.5% per year.
But gun suicides are down and that's what important. Treat the cause, mental illness.
Homicides were dropping before this too.
Mass shootings went from less than one per year to zero. The previous 18 years before the 1996 gun control 13 cases.
Mass shootings - the killing of 4 or more people at one time
During a 3 month amnesty period in 2017, Australians turned in a wide variety of illegal weapons. In that country, it's a good idea to take advantage, because the penalty for getting caught with those weapons could be a $280,000 fine and 14 years in prison.
The amnesty program was the first major initiative in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre where a lone gunman killed 35 people with a military-style semiautomatic rifle.
Prime Minister John Howard at that time banned rapid-fire rifles and shotguns and tightened gun licensing. Additionally, the government bought back and destroyed more than one million firearms.
In the wake of these reforms:
Mass shootings in Australia dropped to zero
Gun suicides declined by an average of 4.8% per year
Gun-related homicides declined by an average of 5.5% per year.
It also ushered in an increase in rape, robbery, property crimes and assaults.
There is a trade off and Australia didn't have the second amendment to deal with.
That just goes to show that it can be done, and the doom and gloom that gun huggers predict doesn't happen. A lot of Americans are simply obsessed with guns, and have enjoyed the ability to buy just about any type of weapon their little hearts desired for way too long. We are seeing the results right now of that cowboy of the old west mentality.
Not sure what the outcome of this will all be, but it looks like enough Americans have had it that some good changes are heading our way. Now, if we can get our legislators (who are beholding to the NRA) to get off their butts, we might see similar results to what Australia has seen.
It also ushered in an increase in rape, robbery, property crimes and assaults.
There is a trade off and Australia didn't have the second amendment to deal with.
You know, I read every word of that article,and couldn't find one word about the allegations you make about those increases. Do you have a link ?
What I did read was that weapons like automatic weapons and even rocket launchers were turned in. How a rocket launcher is going to stop a rape or assault is beyond me. And, if you need an automatic weapon to protect you, you need to learn how to shoot straight. I could do it with my revolver.
During a 3 month amnesty period in 2017, Australians turned in a wide variety of illegal weapons. In that country, it's a good idea to take advantage, because the penalty for getting caught with those weapons could be a $280,000 fine and 14 years in prison.
The amnesty program was the first major initiative in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre where a lone gunman killed 35 people with a military-style semiautomatic rifle.
Prime Minister John Howard at that time banned rapid-fire rifles and shotguns and tightened gun licensing. Additionally, the government bought back and destroyed more than one million firearms.
In the wake of these reforms:
Mass shootings in Australia dropped to zero
Gun suicides declined by an average of 4.8% per year
Gun-related homicides declined by an average of 5.5% per year.
Oh, the lack of critical thinking and looking at the whole picture...
the 57,000 illegal weapons were previously legal weapons prior to the PA law change. It only accounted for around 10%-25% of all those weapons previously legally owned, the remainder were not handed in by their owners.
Australia has had mass shootings (as defined by the FBI since then, but zero as defined by the Australian Government) Monash University stands out, but there was also Childers Palace Massacre (10+ backpackers burned to death in an arson attack), Churchill (more people killed in an arson attack), there was the Lindt Siege in Sydney too, if you use the medias definition there's a lot more mass shootings, including the Lin Murders, Wright Street Bikie murders. In fact they typically average one mass homicide (as defined by the press every year, and one mass shooting as defined by the FBI every 5 years)
Gun related suicides declined, but, overall the suicide rate had no appreciable decline directly associated with the gun ban, implying that suicides just switched to other means (like hanging or intentional overdose, which saw increases, again not surprising given that one tool was removed).
Gun related homicides did decline, but still make up 20% of all homicides in Australia, but again, the overall homicide rate, which was already in decline in Aus (and also the US at the time), did not accelerate, or appreciably alter its path. To correct the opposite sides arguments homicides didn't increase however serious crimes did see a rise and still are at higher rates than prior to 1996.
Further when you compare US and Australian overall crime stats including homicide and violence, the US had greater falls in violent crime and homicide (over the same period) than Australia did, without any gun ban, there's a shocker for you.
This isn't news, its come up several times a year since about 1999, and it's been debunked again and again and again. Further why do people trot out "gun homicide" like it means anything, is someone deader when shot than stabbed? Would gun control be a success if there were 0 gun homicides, but the homicide rate climbed to 100/100,000, would we feel safer in our beds knowing we might not get shot, but killed by a home invader with a knife, or a baseball bat.
You know, I read every word of that article,and couldn't find one word about the allegations you make about those increases. Do you have a link ?
Why do you think that is ? Are they promoting gun defense. No just one side of the issue like always.
In fact, according to the Australian government’s own statistics, a number of serious crimes peaked in the years after the ban. Manslaughter, sexual assault, kidnapping, armed robbery, and unarmed robbery all saw peaks in the years following the ban, and most remain near or above pre-ban rates. The effects of the 1996 ban on violent crime are, frankly, unimpressive at best.
What I did read was that weapons like automatic weapons and even rocket launchers were turned in. How a rocket launcher is going to stop a rape or assault is beyond me. And, if you need an automatic weapon to protect you, you need to learn how to shoot straight. I could do it with my revolver.
All you have proven is you can read. Anyone can learn to do that. Take it a step farther and recognize when someone is presenting a one sided view. Chose to read more than what reinforces what you want to believe.
Location: Formerly Pleasanton Ca, now in Marietta Ga
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GearHeadDave
During a 3 month amnesty period in 2017, Australians turned in a wide variety of illegal weapons. In that country, it's a good idea to take advantage, because the penalty for getting caught with those weapons could be a $280,000 fine and 14 years in prison.
The amnesty program was the first major initiative in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre where a lone gunman killed 35 people with a military-style semiautomatic rifle.
Prime Minister John Howard at that time banned rapid-fire rifles and shotguns and tightened gun licensing. Additionally, the government bought back and destroyed more than one million firearms.
In the wake of these reforms:
Mass shootings in Australia dropped to zero
Gun suicides declined by an average of 4.8% per year
Gun-related homicides declined by an average of 5.5% per year.
Wait , all this happened while all those weapons were still out there that weren't turned in the first time?
After that gun related deaths only dropped by 5%?
Sounds like it was largely ineffective .
You know, I read every word of that article,and couldn't find one word about the allegations you make about those increases. Do you have a link ?
What I did read was that weapons like automatic weapons and even rocket launchers were turned in. How a rocket launcher is going to stop a rape or assault is beyond me. And, if you need an automatic weapon to protect you, you need to learn how to shoot straight. I could do it with my revolver.
Revolver has 6 rounds. It's not enough against criminal that has ak-47 or even Glock with 17 rounds.
I have no idea if you have been in a gunfight situation, but all your skills are going down at least one level because of the adrenalin, unless you are a highly trained SEAL.
You need that ar-15, I'm telling you.
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