Reply #62: The FBI/DOJ does collect "type of weapon used" data... [View All]

[benEzra]

When a car fatality occurs in the United States, more than 100 pieces of data are collected, everything from the make of the vehicle to details of the road conditions. Such statistics contribute to safety features, age restrictions and what all. Lawmakers, law enforcement, gun makers, private owners and families rely on the information for policy or protection purposes.

Despite having the largest number of crime deaths by firearms in the world, the US does not consistently collect data on the use of assault weapons, hand guns or other firearms used during a crime, accident or suicide. Outcome? Here's an example. Before assault weapons were banned no one had any idea how much a problem they were or how to compare the benefits of their ban. So party A claims they are safe and party B claims they are bad. In fact, consistent statistical reports in all areas of the US on all firearms are suspect b/c no information is reported consistently using the same format for comparison.

The FBI/DOJ does collect "type of weapon used" data...you can find it here:

2004 figures: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_04/offenses_reported/offense_tabulations/table_20-22.html

2005 figures: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_20.html

Most so-called "assault weapons" are rifles; all rifles combined account for less than 3% of homicides, despite the popularity of modern-looking self-loading carbines like AR-15's, civvie AK lookalikes, and SKS's among civilian gun owners.

The #1 firearm used in violent crimes, per BATFE data and corroborated by data from other agencies, is the old-fashioned .38/.357 revolver. The #1 long gun is generally the 12-gauge hunting-style shotgun, which can be sawed off into a compact package. "Assault weapons" don't even rate.

FWIW, "assault weapons" were never banned; the 1994 Feinstein law merely outlawed the marketing of civilian firearms under any of 19 military-sounding names, mandated that NEW civilian AR-15 type rifles and such could not have adjustable stocks or screw-on muzzle brakes, and raised the price on replacement handgun magazines. Didn't outlaw anything.