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I. Post-ban violence and murders are down, not up.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Reports from 1960-2010, the US rate of violent crime and murder per 100,000 people has been down steadily not just during the previous ban, but since its expiration as well.
US violent crime rate per 100,000 people:
1994: 713.6
1995: 684.5
1996: 636.6
1997: 611.0
1998: 567.6
1999: 523.0
2000: 506.5
2001: 504.5
2002: 494.4
2003: 475.8
2004: 463.2
2005: 469.0
2006: 473.6
2007: 466.9
2008: 457.5
2009: 431.9
2010: 403.6
US murder rate per 100,000 people:
1994: 9.0
1995: 8.2
1996: 7.4
1997: 6.8
1998: 6.3
1999: 5.7
2000: 5.5
2001: 5.6
2002: 5.6
2003: 5.7
2004: 5.5
2005: 5.6
2006: 5.7
2007: 5.6
2008: 5.4
2009: 5.0
2010: 4.8
Their numbers aren't out yet for 2011, but the FBI's preliminary report indicates violence and murder continued to drop in 2011.
This is confirmed by the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) numbers on firearm homicides and accidental deaths per year from 1994-1998 and 1999-2010.
US Accidental firearms death rate per 100,000 people:
1994: 0.52
1995: 0.46
1996: 0.42
1997: 0.36
1998: 0.31
1999: 0.30
2000: 0.28
2001: 0.28
2002: 0.26
2003: 0.25
2004: 0.22
2005: 0.27
2006: 0.22
2007: 0.20
2008: 0.19
2009: 0.18
2010: 0.20
US intentional firearm homicide rate per 100,000 people:
1994: 6.66
1995: 5.84
1996: 5.21
1997: 4.86
1998: 4.28
1999: 3.88
2000: 3.84
2001: 3.98
2002: 4.11
2003: 4.11
2004: 3.97
2005: 4.18
2006: 4.29
2007: 4.19
2008: 4.01
2009: 3.75
2010: 3.59
The CDC's numbers on firearms injuries from 2001-2011 also shows an overall steady downtrend.
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II. Gun production and sales are overwhelmingly up
According to the FBI, NICS background checks for gun purchases have been significantly up in the past decade. It's not a perfect indicator, as sales of used guns require such a check, but it should give a general idea of firearms sales.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has also confirmed gun production has gone up significantly during the same time.
Even more interesting, according to their Annual Firearms Manufacturers And Export Reports, the sale and transfer of NFA items like suppressors and short-barreled rifles has jumped tremendously in recent years, as can be seen below.
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III. Conclusion
Law-abiding citizens have been free to purchase firearms, "high-capacity" magazines, suppressors, and other items covered by the previous AWB since its expiration in 2004. They have taken ample advantage of the opportunity.
If we're to believe Sen. Feinstein, then firearms-related crime and deaths should have gone up since 2004, and reverted to 1994 levels or worse. However, crime and firearms-related injuries and deaths today are lower now than in 1994 or 2004.
The evidence presented above fails to support her point of view, and might even contradict it. Her bill may be well-intentioned, but going by the data it will have no real effect on crime and murder. It will definitely, however, hinder millions of law-abiding gun owners across the nation.
I understand and agree with the urge to reduce violence in our country, but a bill punishing innocent citizens will not make any meaningful progress towards that goal.
Please review the info from the FBI, CDC, and ATF and decide based on the evidence here. Let rational minds prevail.
I submitted the above letter via this handy tool on the congress.org website.
I suggest you do the same, but first please check out the above research and decide based on other current info from neutral organizations. Not the NRA, not the Brady Campaign, not the Cato Institute, not the Joyce Foundation, not the NSSF, or the VPC, or anyone funded by them to push an agenda, like prof. Hemenway of Harvard.
Stick with reports and studies from non-political organizations like the FBI, ATF, CDC, and NIJ, and decide for yourself.
