This issue has been a topic of
debate for many years among both specialists and ordinary citizens, each side
has its supporters and opponents, and no consensus has been reached yet. I
belong to those who believe that weapons are only a tool in the hands of
criminals, not the motive for their actions, and strengthening controls on the
legal circulation of weapons complicates the lives of law-abiding gun owners,
not criminals. Recently, in the course of analyzing statistical data, I
received confirmation of my opinion.
Active statements and actions
of public authorities of different countries, as well as their police services
and other law enforcement agencies to strengthen control over the circulation
of weapons began mainly in the last 5-7 years. These measures were prompted by
a large number of high-profile crimes related to attacks on schools and other
educational institutions committed in previous years.
While working on the new
edition of the handbook on crimes and
terrorist acts in educational institutions (the new edition will be available
soon, follow the announcements on the blog, social networks on the website), I
conducted a comparative analysis of crime statistics for the period from 2020
to 2024 inclusive, in comparison with previous periods and in dynamics since
2000. Studying the statistics for the period from 2020 to 2024 inclusive, I
noticed that measures to increase gun control did produce results, the
proportion of crimes committed with firearms did decrease. In the total list of
serious crimes committed in schools and other educational institutions, the
share of firearms use decreased slightly, by 2.4% compared to the previous
period (2015-2019), in the list of crimes falling under the signs of mass
murder and terrorist acts, the decrease was already 10.9%, and amounted to less
than half (44.3%) of the total number, and this is already a significant
indicator. However, the total number of such crimes, especially serious crimes,
falling under the signs of mass murder and terrorist acts did not become less,
on the contrary, it increased by 17.9%, criminals began to use rifles and
pistols less, but began to use knives, axes and hammers more often, their share
in the commission of crimes increased by 10.1%.
Skeptics will say that
comparing the statistics of two five-year periods is not enough to draw
conclusions. I agree, to give another example. China is a country where the
availability of firearms is negligible, legal gun trafficking is based on
personal permits and is under strict government control. However, despite such measures, in the period
from 2000 to 2024 inclusive, in educational institutions in China were
committed 48 (a share of 15.8%, worldwide in this period were committed 303
crimes), especially serious crimes falling under the signs of mass murder and
terrorist acts in which suffered 715 (164 killed, 551 injured) people. Of these
48 crimes, in only 2 cases (4.2%) criminals used firearms, in the remaining incidents
they used:
- cold weapons (knives, axes,
hammers, etc.) - 40 cases;
- explosive devices - 3 cases
- incendiary mixtures - 3
cases;
- vehicles - 1 case
- chemical poisoning
substances - 1 case.
As I think the conclusion is
quite obvious - a weapon for a criminal is just a tool, the availability of
which does not affect his intentions. Without access to a rifle, shotgun or
pistol, a criminal will use a knife, an axe, an improvised explosive device, a
Molotov cocktail, a car, poison gas or a toxic chemical compound.
Controlling the legal
circulation of weapons may be a useful measure if it is applied within
reasonable limits, but it does not solve the problem, and the threat level is
not reduced. Statistics confirm this, the number of attacks on educational
institutions is not decreasing, which means that the problem requires a
completely different solution.
Author - Roman Grishin
#SafeandSoundSchools #SchoolSafety #School #Safety #ChildrenSafety #ChildSafety
#opinion #weapon #weaponcontrol
#guncontrol #gun
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