Do tougher gun control laws reduce armed robberies?
In 1990, 74% of all robberies involved weapons other than firearms[16]. The number of armed robberies for the period 1974 (prior to Bill C-51) and 1988 has remained almost the same and any decrease in robberies involving firearms has been counterbalanced by the increasing use of other weapons[17]. Victim injury is much more frequent, and substantially more serious, if armed robbery is carried out with some weapon other than a firearm[18]. Other weapons require close personal contact with the victim. [16] Juristat Service Bulletin Vol.12 No.10, “Robbery in Canada”, (Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, May 1992) p.1, p.5. [17] Ibid.,pp.1-4 and Robert J. Mundt, op. cit. [18] Don B. Kates Jr. op. cit., p.121; and Juristat Service Bulletin Vol.11 No.12, “Weapons and Violent Crime”,(Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Aug. 1991), p.12.
