The results are in on the first year of Australia's ban:Wednesday June 7, 2000 12:55 AM EST
http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2000/6/7/00224
Australian Gun Ban Results: Deadly!
Just over a year ago, Australia followed in the footsteps of mother country Great Britain and made law a total ban on hand guns.
The gun ban and confiscation program cost the Australian government more than $500 million. Sometimes using deadly force, authorities there collected 640,381 personal firearms.
And now the results are in: Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent (in a country that has a low homicide rate).
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent.
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent).
In the state of Victoria, homicides with firearms are up 300 percent.
Figures over the previous 25 years show a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms - since the gun ban this has changed for the worse.
There has been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults on the elderly.
Australian politicians are on the spot and at a loss to explain how no improvement in "safety" has been observed after such monumental effort and expense was successfully expended in "ridding society of guns."
An e-mail circulating the Web reveals the harmful effects of the Australian gun ban, noting that "you won't see this data on the evening news or hear your governor or members of the state Assembly disseminating this information."
Another Australian offers a warning: "Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws only affect the law-abiding citizens. Take note, Californians and other Americans, before it's too late!"
Seems the Aussies have good intentions but details just have not worked out as planned. Not to fear, we here in the US are smarter than they are and we will do it right.
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Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.
Barry Goldwater--1964
http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2000/6/7/00224
Australian Gun Ban Results: Deadly!
Just over a year ago, Australia followed in the footsteps of mother country Great Britain and made law a total ban on hand guns.
The gun ban and confiscation program cost the Australian government more than $500 million. Sometimes using deadly force, authorities there collected 640,381 personal firearms.
And now the results are in: Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent (in a country that has a low homicide rate).
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent.
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent).
In the state of Victoria, homicides with firearms are up 300 percent.
Figures over the previous 25 years show a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms - since the gun ban this has changed for the worse.
There has been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults on the elderly.
Australian politicians are on the spot and at a loss to explain how no improvement in "safety" has been observed after such monumental effort and expense was successfully expended in "ridding society of guns."
An e-mail circulating the Web reveals the harmful effects of the Australian gun ban, noting that "you won't see this data on the evening news or hear your governor or members of the state Assembly disseminating this information."
Another Australian offers a warning: "Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws only affect the law-abiding citizens. Take note, Californians and other Americans, before it's too late!"
Seems the Aussies have good intentions but details just have not worked out as planned. Not to fear, we here in the US are smarter than they are and we will do it right.
------------------
Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.
Barry Goldwater--1964