On Australian Firearms

“In the continuing debate over how to stop mass killings in the United States, Australia has become a familiar touchstone... ‘Firearm suicides fell more in states that had more guns bought back than in states with fewer guns bought back,’ Ms. Neill said in an email. ‘Firearm homicides also fell more in states with more guns bought back, but the effect was smaller than for firearm suicides.’ The data also indicates that overall homicide and suicide rates fell in the decade after 1996, meaning Australians did not respond to the gun control measures by killing one another or themselves using other weapons at higher rates. Over all, Mr. Leigh and Ms. Neill estimate that at least 200 lives are saved annually because of Australia’s gun buyback program.”

"How a Conservative-Led Australia Ended Mass Killings" - http://nyti.ms/1OC1T0u.