Accidents & Violence, Annals Internal Medicine, Author Interviews / 15.03.2018
Since Semi-Automatic Rifles Outlawed, Australia Has Had Zero Mass Shootings
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Simon Chapman AO PhD FASSA Hon FFPH (UK)
Emeritus Professor in the School Public Health
University of Sydney
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Since major gun law reforms in 1996, Australian has seen zero mass shootings (five or more deaths, not including the perpetrator).The law reforms outlawed semi-automatic rifles, those often favored by mass killers.
In the 18 years prior to the reforms, Australia experienced 13 mass shootings. The National Rifle Association and others have suggested that the 22 year absence of mass shootings may simply reflect that these events are rare and statistically unlikely to occur regardless of any policy.
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