Aboriginals were greatly over -represented. Similar findings applied to victims. Gun accidents had declined steadily since 1915.8 US criminologists also found no correlation between legal gun ownership and crime. Murder was commonest in the group with fewest legal guns-black inner city teenage males, who had a rate eight times higher than their white counterparts. Criminals were rarely shot, the mere threat by the armed victim usually being all that was necessary to forestall the attack.
Most murders occur between family members and acquaintances.
Violent criminals also have, however, family and friends and, in most domestic murders, there is a long history of prior sub-lethal criminal violence. While the buy-back would reduce the number of legally owned guns, any objective review would have raised serious doubts whether it would succeed in reducing suicide and violent crime. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a 3 per cent increase in murder for 1997 and an 11.5 per cent decrease for 1998, giving a total two-year decrease of 8.5per cent. This is, however, within the normal range of annual fluctuations as shown by AIC figures over 20 years,1975-95.17 Armed robbery increases were 44 per cent and 20 per cent, for a total increase of 72 per cent. Total suicides increased, largely due to hangings and car exhaust gas inhalation.