The
Failed Experiment - Gun Control and Public Safety in Canada, Australia,
England and Wales
New Gun Control Study released by Fraser Institute
Op/Ed by tOM Trottier
The Fraser Institute of Canada released a paper in November 2003 entitled "The Failed Experiment - Gun Control and Public Safety in Canada, Australia, England and Wales" (PDF file, 297 kb, 25 pages) written by Gary A. Mauser that condemns anti-gun legislation and lauds US rules in 35 states that encourage citizens to carry concealed handguns. But why does the author talk so much of increases and decreases? Because the absolute numbers still show there's more gun violence in the US than almost anywhere else.
The author uses misleading graphs with different scales for the US, the UK, and Australia. He also examines how independent variables "affect" the homicide rate. However, he doesn't provide any linkages. He could as well be using the increase in the use of the internet, or the price of sirloin steak. There is no theoretical structure that supports any connection.
This pseudo-scientific article is unrefereed and misleading.
One of the objectives of gun registration is to avoid allowing many people to legally possess guns, including former violent criminals and the mentally unstable. Without registration, how do you do this?
Contributions of facts and analysis to the gun debate are welcome. But pseudo-science is just noise.
tOM Trottier
Ottawa, Ontario
tOM@Abacurial.com
"They that
can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve
neither liberty nor safety."
~ Benjamin Franklin
tOM Trottier
is a computer
consultant in Ottawa who enjoys bridge and photography. He sometimes gets
mad at the injustices of the world and wishes people could compromise
for the sake of peace.
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Page updated December 5, 2003