Connecticut

[beandip]

Gun crime soars by 35%

(UK Daily Mail) – The Government’s latest crime figures were condemned as “truly terrible” by the Tories today as it emerged that gun crime in England and Wales soared by 35% last year.
Criminals used handguns in 46% more offences, Home Office statistics revealed.
Firearms were used in 9,974 recorded crimes in the 12 months to last April, up from 7,362.
It was the fourth consecutive year to see a rise and there were more than 2,200 more gun crimes last year than the previous peak in 1993.
Figures showed the number of crimes involving handguns had more than doubled since the post-Dunblane massacre ban on the weapons, from 2,636 in 1997-1998 to 5,871.
Unadjusted figures showed overall recorded crime in the 12 months to last September rose 9.3%, but the Home Office stressed that new procedures had skewed the figures.
With new recording procedures taken into account the actual overall rise was just 2%, the Home Office said.
Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said: “These figures are truly terrible.
“Despite the street crime initiative, robbery is massively up. So are gun-related crimes, domestic burglary, retail burglary, and drug offences.

______________________________

why yes, banning guns works so well.

“The only word for this is failure: the Government’s response of knee-jerk reactions, gimmicks and initiatives is not working and confused signals on sentences for burglary will not help either.

[fred41]

Unfortunately little children are correct: Monsters do exist.
But they're not in closets or under beds...they are all around us...they look like us...they act like us (well..not always)...but they are monsters.
How else to explain killing little children. Kindergartners. Absolute innocents.

There will be no justice served, either for punishment or revenge.
...because this monster killed himself. Unfortunately that was not the first thing he did, but the last.

I am not a religious man, at least not for a very long time. I no longer believe in a "God"...or that Jesus was his son...or in heaven and hell.

But I hope the parents of the dead children do, because that is the only solace they may have - believing that their small and innocent children are now in heaven.
...and that the monster is being punished in a medieval version of hell (perhaps something from a Bosch painting)..at least until their anger dissipates (if it ever does).

We'll learn more in the coming days about what happened and perhaps some of the underlying reasons.
...and we'll have discussions on gun ownership...and perhaps the proper treatment of the mentally ill...
and how to handle monsters.
Dialogue on these matters is a good thing.

...but right now this is just really, really sad.

[maxpower]

Almost without exception since 1996 all "school shooters" have been on prescription drugs. Ya know....the new faddish ones prescribed for ADD and such bullshit symptoms / nonsense. Well, gee, read the side effects of these drugs which PERMANENTLY alter your brain.

The drugs come before the guns. But no, we'd rather have some intellectually lazy knee jerk lib-tard reaction and spout off about guns.

Yea.....ban guns.

Oh yea, "spoons made me fat"

What a dearth of vacuous minds......................................

I think you need to look up the definition of "dearth." Or "vacuous."

[robertlouis]

Gun crime soars by 35%

(UK Daily Mail) – The Government’s latest crime figures were condemned as “truly terrible” by the Tories today as it emerged that gun crime in England and Wales soared by 35% last year.
Criminals used handguns in 46% more offences, Home Office statistics revealed.
Firearms were used in 9,974 recorded crimes in the 12 months to last April, up from 7,362.
It was the fourth consecutive year to see a rise and there were more than 2,200 more gun crimes last year than the previous peak in 1993.
Figures showed the number of crimes involving handguns had more than doubled since the post-Dunblane massacre ban on the weapons, from 2,636 in 1997-1998 to 5,871.
Unadjusted figures showed overall recorded crime in the 12 months to last September rose 9.3%, but the Home Office stressed that new procedures had skewed the figures.
With new recording procedures taken into account the actual overall rise was just 2%, the Home Office said.
Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said: “These figures are truly terrible.
“Despite the street crime initiative, robbery is massively up. So are gun-related crimes, domestic burglary, retail burglary, and drug offences.

______________________________

why yes, banning guns works so well.

“The only word for this is failure: the Government’s response of knee-jerk reactions, gimmicks and initiatives is not working and confused signals on sentences for burglary will not help either.

The figures you quote are ten years old.

Have a look at the table below and check where the US stands in respect of ownership and homicide, then check England and Wales. Scotland, the other component of mainland Britain, had no firearm homicides for the period shown.


Gun homicides and gun ownership listed by country

The Guardian 22 July 2012

Where are the world's guns - and which countries have the highest rates of firearms murders?


The Aurora shooting has re-lit the arguments over gun control in
the US.

How does the US really compare on firearms? The world's crime figures are collected by the UNODC through its annual crime survey. It has a special section of data on firearm homicides - and provides detailed information by size of population and compared to other crimes. It is not a perfect dataset - some key nations are missing from the data, including Russia, China and Afghanistan. But it does include the US, UK and many other developed nations.

The Small Arms Survey is also useful - although it is from 2007, it collates civilian gun ownership rates for 178 countries around the world, and has 'normalised' the data to include a rate per 100,000 population.

It shows that:

With less than 5% of the world's population, the United States is home to roughly 35–50 per cent of the world's civilian-owned guns, heavily skewing the global geography of firearms and any relative comparison

So, given those caveats, we can see which countries have the highest ownership rates for firearms - and which have the highest gun murder rates.

The key facts are:

• The US has the highest gun ownership rate in the world - an average of 88 per 100 people. That puts it first in the world for gun ownership - and even the number two country, Yemen, has significantly fewer - 54.8 per 100 people
• But the US does not have the worst firearm murder rate - that prize belongs to Honduras, El Salvador and Jamaica. In fact, the US is number 28, with a rate of 2.97 per 100,000 people
• Puerto Rico tops the world's table for firearms murders as a percentage of all homicides - 94.8%. It's followed by Sierra Leone in Africa and Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean

The full data is below - what can you do with it?
Data summary
Gun murders and ownership

Click heading to sort table. Download this data
Country

% of homicides by firearm

Number of homicides by firearm

Homicide by firearm rate per 100,000 pop

Rank by rate of ownership

Average firearms per 100 people

Average total all civilian firearms

SOURCES: UNODC & Small arms survey
Albania 65.9 56 1.76 70 8.6 270,000
Algeria 4.8 20 0.06 78 7.6 1,900,000
Angola 34 17.3 2,800,000
Anguilla 24 1 7.14
Argentina 52 1,198 3.02 62 10.2 3,950,000
Armenia 13 9 0.29 52 12.5 380,000
Australia 11.5 30 0.14 42 15 3,050,000
Austria 29.5 18 0.22 14 30.4 2,500,000
Azerbaijan 6.5 11 0.12 115 3.5 290,000
Bahamas 61.2 52 15.37 98 5.3 17,000
Bahrain 0 0 0 18 24.8 180,000
Bangladesh 43.6 1,456 1.12 169 0.5 700,000
Barbados 40 8 2.99 76 7.8 21,000
Belarus 2.5 12 0.12 79 7.3 710,000
Belgium 39.5 70 0.68 34 17.2 1,800,000
Belize 52.3 68 21.82 62 10 29,000
Benin 137 1.4 120,000
Bermuda 0 0 0
Bhutan 115 3.5 22,000
Bolivia 119 2.8 260,000
Bosnia and Herzegovina 24.7 18 0.48 34 17.3 675,000
Botswana 102 4.9 87,000
Brazil 70.8 34,678 18.1 75 8 14,840,000
Brunei 0 0 0 137 1.4 5,400
Bulgaria 29.7 51 0.67 88 6.2 480,000
Burkina Faso 149 1.1 148,000
Burundi 145 1.2 200,000
Cambodia 36.7 187 1.44 109 4.3 600,000
Cameroon 119 2.8 340,000
Canada 32 173 0.51 13 30.8 9,950,000
Cape Verde 96 5.4 9,500
Central African Republic 153 1 40,000
Chad 149 1.1 109,000
Chile 37.3 353 2.16 59 10.7 1,750,000
China 102 4.9 40,000,000
Colombia 81.1 12,539 27.09 91 5.9 2,700,000
Comoros 127 1.8 11,000
Congo 122 2.7 100,000
Congo, Dem Rep 33.2 248 1.56 137 1.4 800,000
Costa Rica 57.3 201 4.59 64 9.9 430,000
Côte d´Ivoire 124 2.4 400,000
Croatia 34.7 17 0.39 26 21.7 950,000
Cuba 4.4 27 0.24 104 4.8 545,000
Cyprus 26.3 5 0.46 6 36.4 275,000
Czech Republic 11 20 0.19 38 16.3 1,600,000
Denmark 31.9 15 0.27 54 12 650,000
Djibouti 119 2.8 22,000
Dominican Republic 65.5 1,618 16.3 99 5.1 450,000
East Timor 177 0.3 3,000
Ecuador 68.7 1,790 12.73 142 1.3 370,000
Egypt 69.1 453 0.57 115 3.5 1,900,000
El Salvador 76.9 2,446 39.9 92 5.8 400,000
England and Wales 6.6 41 0.07 88 6.2 3,400,000
Equatorial Guinea 29 19.9 100,000
Eritrea 169 0.5 20,000
Estonia 3.9 3 0.24 65 9.2 123,000
Ethiopia 174 0.4 320,000
Fiji 169 0.5 4,000
Finland 19.8 24 0.45 4 45.3 2,400,000
France 9.6 35 0.06 12 31.2 19,000,000
Gabon 46 14 190,000
Gambia 157 0.8 123,000
Georgia 13.3 24 0.55 79 7.3 330,000
Germany 26.3 158 0.19 15 30.3 25,000,000
Ghana 174 0.4 80,000
Greece 34.9 29 0.26 23 22.5 2,500,000
Grenada 0 0 0
Guatemala 84 5,009 34.81 49 13.1 1,650,000
Guinea 145 1.2 110,000
Guinea-Bissau 129 1.6 25,000
Guyana 61.3 85 11.46 45 14.6 110,000
Haiti 164 0.6 190,000
Honduras 83.4 5,201 68.43 88 6.2 500,000
Hong Kong 0 0 0
Hungary 5 7 0.07 93 5.5 560,000
Iceland 0 0 0 15 30.3 90,000
India 7.6 3,093 0.26 110 4.2 46,000,000
Indonesia 169 0.5 1,000,000
Iran 79 7.3 3,500,000
Iraq 8 34.2 9,750,000
Ireland 42 21 0.48 70 8.6 360,000
Israel 11.7 6 0.09 79 7.3 500,000
Italy 66.7 417 0.71 55 11.9 7,000,000
Jamaica 75.6 1,080 39.4 74 8.1 215,000
Japan 1.8 11 0.01 164 0.6 710,000
Jordan 38.8 26 0.49 58 11.5 630,000
Kazakhstan 12.5 210 1.34 142 1.3 200,000
Kenya 86 6.4 740,000
Korea, North 164 0.6 130,000
Korea, South 1.7 14 0.03 149 1.1 510,000
Kosovo 30 19.5 415,000
Kuwait 18 24.8 630,000
Kyrgyzstan 8.3 28 0.54 156 0.9 45,000
Laos 145 1.2 71,000
Latvia 4.6 5 0.22 32 19 280,000
Lebanon 36.5 31 0.76 28 21 750,000
Lesotho 122 2.7 47,000
Liberia 13.2 17 0.43 129 1.6 51,000
Libya 40 15.5 900,000
Liechtenstein 100 1 2.82
Lithuania 2.5 6 0.18 160 0.7 135,000
Luxembourg 42.9 3 0.62 41 15.3 70,000
Macedonia 62.5 25 1.21 20 24.1 490,000
Madagascar 157 0.8 150,000
Malawi 160 0.7 92,000
Malaysia 13.4 64 0.24 133 1.5 370,000
Maldives 62.5 5 1.63 85 6.5 21,000
Mali 149 1.1 143,000
Malta 0 0 0 55 11.9 48,000
Mauritania 129 1.6 50,000
Mauritius 2 1 0.1 44 14.7 180,000
Mexico 54.9 11,309 9.97 42 15 15,500,000
Moldova 3.3 8 0.22 83 7.1 300,000
Monaco 0 0 0
Mongolia 1.4 3 0.11 126 1.9 50,000
Montenegro 21 23.1 150,000
Morocco 101 5 1,500,000
Mozambique 99 5.1 1,000,000
Myanmar 111 4 2,000,000
Namibia 51 12.6 260,000
Nepal 13.3 84 0.3 159 0.8 205,000
Netherlands 30.7 55 0.33 112 3.9 510,000
New Zealand 13.5 7 0.16 22 22.6 925,000
Nicaragua 42.1 338 5.92 77 7.7 395,000
Niger 160 0.7 93,000
Nigeria 133 1.5 2,000,000
Northern Ireland 4.5 5 0.28 25 21.9 380,000
Norway 8.1 2 0.05 11 31.3 1,400,000
Oman 17 25.4 650,000
Pakistan 57 11.6 18,000,000
Panama 75 569 16.18 26 21.7 700,000
Papua New Guinea 145 1.2 71,000
Paraguay 56.1 466 7.35 37 17 1,000,000
Peru 50.8 757 2.63 33 18.8 750,000
Philippines 49.9 7,349 8.93 105 4.7 3,900,000
Poland 7.1 35 0.09 142 1.3 510,000
Portugal 33.8 44 0.41 72 8.5 900,000
Puerto Rico 94.8 692 18.3
Qatar 16.7 1 0.14 31 19.2 520,100
Romania 1.3 5 0.02 160 0.7 160,000
Russia 68 8.9 12,750,000
Rwanda 164 0.6 58,000
Saint Kitts and Nevis 85 17 32.44
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 30 6 5.49
Saudi Arabia 7 35 6,000,000
Scotland 93 5.5 280,000
Senegal 125 2 230,000
Serbia 33.1 45 0.46 5 37.8 3,050,000
Seychelles 96 5.4 4,600
Sierra Leone 87.7 128 2.28 164 0.6 34,000
Singapore 5.9 1 0.02 169 0.5 22,000
Slovakia 11.2 10 0.18 73 8.3 450,000
Slovenia 15.4 2 0.1 47 13.5 270,000
Solomon Islands 0 0 0 174 0.4 1,800
Somalia 66 9.1 750,000
South Africa 45 8,319 17.03 50 12.7 5,950,000
Spain 21.8 90 0.2 61 10.4 4,500,000
Sri Lanka 21.1 291 1.48 133 1.5 300,000
Sudan 93 5.5 2,000,000
Suriname 48 13.4 60,000
Swaziland 86 6.4 72,000
Sweden 33.9 37 0.41 10 31.6 2,800,000
Switzerland 72.2 57 0.77 3 45.7 3,400,000
Syria 112 3.9 735,000
Taiwan 15.9 128 0.56 106 4.4 725,000
Tajikistan 15.6 15 0.22 153 1 65,000
Tanzania 137 1.4 550,000
Thailand 39 15.6 10,000,000
Togo 153 1 60,000
Trinidad and Tobago 72.1 365 27.31 129 1.6 21,000
Tunisia 178 0.1 9,000
Turkey 16.9 535 0.77 52 12.5 9,000,000
Turkmenistan 2.4 5 0.1 114 3.8 180,000
Uganda 10.5 280 0.87 137 1.4 400,000
Ukraine 4.5 100 0.22 84 6.6 3,100,000
United Arab Emirates 24 22.1 1,000,000
United States 60 9,146 2.97 1 88.8 270,000,000
Uruguay 46.5 93 2.8 9 31.8 1,100,000
Uzbekistan 133 1.5 1,200,000
Venezuela 79.5 11,115 38.97 59 10.7 2,850,000
Vietnam 52.9 834 0.99 128 1.7 1,100,000
West Bank & Gaza 72.4 105 2.95 118 3.4 125,000
Yemen 2 54.8 11,500,000
Zambia 11.7 28 0.35 68 8.9 230,000
Zimbabwe 65.6 598 4.78 106 4.4 400,000

[robertlouis]

Hmm. That didn't work too well. Here's the web link.


http://http://www.guardian.co.uk/new...hip-world-list

[broncofan]

We've discussed this before. People do awful things and certainly someone driving to a school and blowing away little children had to have a mind filled with malice. But he also had to have the means to do it. When guns are not within reach it takes more than malice to commit a crime.

Someone who is out of control with anger or who hates the world cannot go to their local school and start mowing people down unless they can get their hands on equipment designed to take life. Now we may find that not all of these attacks could be prevented with better gun control but it stands to reason that some of them could. Some people would not kill if they could not easily come by the means to do it.

Hopefully we have this conversation more often in this country and on intelligent terms. Either that or we listen to those like Beandip who have no sense of decency, no understanding of cause and effect (see his unthoughtful and vague comments about psychiatric meds) and are basically political deviants who don't mourn for dead children but fear they may be used as an excuse to take away their beloved armaments.

[robertlouis]

We've discussed this before. People do awful things and certainly someone driving to a school and blowing away little children had to have a mind filled with malice. But he also had to have the means to do it. When guns are not within reach it takes more than malice to commit a crime.

Someone who is out of control with anger or who hates the world cannot go to their local school and start mowing people down unless they can get their hands on equipment designed to take life. Now we may find that not all of these attacks could be prevented with better gun control but it stands to reason that some of them could. Some people would not kill if they could not easily come by the means to do it.

Hopefully we have this conversation more often in this country and on intelligent terms. Either that or we listen to those like Beandip who have no sense of decency, no understanding of cause and effect (see his unthoughtful and vague comments about psychiatric meds) and are basically political deviants who don't mourn for dead children but fear they may be used as an excuse to take away their beloved armaments.

Great post Broncofan.

As for Beandip - if he's happy to compare US gun homicide rates with the likes of Colombia and Vietnam, that's up to him. But surely the more valid comparisons should be with stable western democracies, not rogue or dysfunctional states.

[broncofan]

Great post Broncofan.

As for Beandip - if he's happy to compare US gun homicide rates with the likes of Colombia and Vietnam, that's up to him. But surely the more valid comparisons should be with stable western democracies, not rogue or dysfunctional states.

I agree. I think the comparison would be to countries with similar social structures, similar gdp per capita, but without every other person running around with guns. The comments about the psychiatric medications are also very unhelpful because he does not mention which ones he objects to. Lithium for bipolar disorder? Anti-psychotics for schizophrenia? Anti-depressants for depression? Stimulants? First of all many of these medicines lower rates of violence and the use of stimulants in those with ADHD do not appear to be associated with violence unless there is a co-morbidity like bipolar disorder or unless they are misused.

I think anyone with a conscience who has ever worried that they could lose control understands intuitively the nature of the problem we're dealing with. The more distance you put between an unstable mind and the means of taking life, the safer everyone is. The problem is that death is too easy to procure!

[Ben]

Eighteen little children killed today in the worst school massacre in American history. Together with eight adults. A man with a handgun.

Will it change anything/ Will America's slavish obsession with guns be challenged by this slaughter of the innocents?

C'mon all you gun fans. Are you celebrating your freedom to bear arms tonight?
Tell us bewildered Brits about how its "people not guns that kill people."

But it won't change anything will it? The NRA lobby is too powerful.

I consider myself of the left. But I'm opposed to outlawing guns.
Anyway, President Obama would have to come forward. He, as the President, would have to lead the way.
But the gun lobby is very strong in America, it's very powerful. You'd have to tackle that. (My cousin is English. He doesn't think anyone should own a gun or guns. So, we've had deep debates about the issue. Again, I'm not opposed to gun ownership. But we certainly have to address some deep social problems.
Michael Moore pointed out that Canada has more guns per capita. So, what's going on? Is it the culture? Inequality? Lack of public health care?)

[Ben]

Obama Tearfully Mourns Children Killed in Sandy Hook Mass Shooting