Daily Archives: January 6, 2016

Gun control in the USA

Whitehouse.gov: What the President is Doing to Keep Guns Out of the Wrong Hands. January 5th, 2016.

“Too many communities across the country are still suffering from the heartbreaking consequences of a gun in the wrong hands. In the past decade, more than 100,000 people have died as a result of gun violence. Many of these crimes were committed by people who never should have been able to purchase a gun in the first place.
[…]
The President has a responsibility to do everything in his power to reduce gun violence. This week, he will.”

New York Times: How They Got Their Guns.

“The vast majority of guns used in 15 recent mass shootings, including at least two of the guns used in the San Bernardino attack, were bought legally and with a federal background check. At least eight gunmen had criminal histories or documented mental health problems that did not prevent them from obtaining their weapons.”

New York Times: I Went After Guns. Obama Can, Too..
By John Howard, former Australian Prime Minister (January 16,2013).

“In the 18 years before the 1996 reforms, Australia suffered 13 gun massacres — each with more than four victims — causing a total of 102 deaths. There has not been a single massacre in that category [in the 17 years] since 1996.”

Business Insider: Australia enacted one of the largest gun reforms ever nearly 2 decades ago — and gun deaths plummeted.

“In 1996, a man named Martin Bryant became the worst killer in Australia’s history. After walking into a cafe in Port Arthur, Tasmania, he killed 35 people and wounded 23 others with a semiautomatic rifle and another semiautomatic assault weapon.

As a result, Australia enacted one of the largest gun reforms in recent history — and gun deaths plummeted. The changes remain the gold standard for advocates of gun control today.”

Links via MetaFilter: There’s a lot of heartache.

Previously: December 7, 2015, December 3, 2015.