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Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Handguns: we're succumbing to mob ru - (nf)
Message-ID: <3203@utzoo.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 18-Sep-83 00:12:34 EDT
Article-I.D.:    utzoo.3203
Posted: Sun Sep 18 00:12:34 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 18-Sep-83 00:12:34 EDT
References: <316@inmet.UUCP>, <614@utastro.UUCP>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Lines: 28


	England has handgun control. London has fewer murders than
	any American city of comparable size or density.  I don't
	have the figures to hand, but as I recall the difference
	is an order of magnitude.  British authorities have no doubt
	that there is a relation.

	Also, some Canadian cities (perhaps the whole country) also
	have handgun control.  The Canadian city/cities in the
	Great Lakes metropolitan area have fewer murders than the
	American cities.   Could there be a relation?
 
Canada has quite strict handgun-control laws, and Canadian cities
generally do have lower murder rates than nearby American cities.
But don't forget two things:

1. Canadian cities have lower rates for *all kinds* of crime -- not
	just handgun-related crimes -- than nearby American cities.

2. Many large American *cities* (e.g. Detroit) have quite severe handgun-
	control laws.  These have the predictable effect, to wit
	making life difficult for honest collectors, target shooters,
	etc. while having no noticeable effect on criminals.

It just ain't that simple, folks.
-- 
				Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
				{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry