Where the US ranks in the world

[GMC man]

Here is a report that" Correlating Gun Control Laws Worldwide and Crime Discloses Surprises" I thought everyone would find this interesting. Go 2A

Correlating Gun Control Laws Worldwide and Crime Discloses Surprises « Sapphire Sky

[Moonman]

The Gentleman states at the end "HE WAS SUPPRISED THE MURDER RATE IN RUSSIA WAS DOUBLE THE US."

HELLO!!!!!!!!!

Must be an out of touch academic type.

[calmex]

I lived in Canada until I was 32 years old and was an avid shooter and collector all my adult life. I have lived in Mexico for 23 years now. There is no way (I will not even bother capitalizing the "no way" so as to not appear too fanatic about the issue) that Mexico is more "gun free" than Canada.

In fact, Mexico is not even half as "gun free" as Canada.

In fact, Mexico is not even one third as "gun free" as Canada.

In fact, Mexico is not even a quarter as "gun free" as Canada.

In fact, Mexico is not even "playing handball on the wall of Canada's gymnasium" when it comes to gun freedom.

There is hardly even a basis for comparison between the availability of firearms for the common man when talking about Mexico and Canada. Yet, according to that study, Mexico is more "gun free" (by almost double, 3.8 for Mexico opposed to 2.0 for Canada) than Canada. The problem is, I really live here and shoot and collect guns -- something I also did in Canada for many years so I would say I have qualified knowledge as opposed to an opinion on the matter.

I'm not saying to throw the whole study out, but I am saying that they got something that should be pretty basic completely,100%, 90 degrees wrong. And it makes me go "hmmmmm." I realize they are using "other people's" data to make their graph, but obviously some of the "other people's" data is just dead wrong.

Much of Mexico's violence problem stems from the fact that the "common man" cannot arm himself to defend himself -- whereas in Canada the common man certainly can if he (or she) just wants to jump through a few hoops. It's much harder than that here I'm afraid.

[eb07]

I went into the documents for you and here is what i found as to why they ranked them that way. I don't have any experience like you do either way, just posting what they had.

Canada requires all firearms to be registered, and all firearms owners to be licensed. Licensing requires extensive background checks. Firearms must be kept locked and unloaded. In 2009, a legislative attempt was made to eliminate the long gun registry, but it failed. The right to own firearms is not guaranteed by law. (See: Guns in Canada: Facts, Figures and Firearm Law, retrieved June 4, 2011,Canadian Firearms Registry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, retrieved June 4 2011,Gun control - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, retrieved June 4, 2011, and Gun politics in Canada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, retrieved June 4, 2011) (2.0 + 0.0 + 0.0 = 2.0)

Citizens may purchase arms for self-protection or hunting only after receiving approval of a petition to the Defense Department, which performs extensive background checks. Allowed weapons are restricted to relatively small, non-military caliber and must be purchased from the Defense Department only. Collector permits are easy to obtain and allow ownership of a wider range of firearms including military firearms. However, this entails regular visits by the local military authority to inspect the storage location. Open and concealed carry are legal with a license. However, carry licenses are hard to obtain, and since 2002, they cannot be obtained at all for “military caliber” pistols (e.g., 357 Magnum, or .38/9mm or larger calibers) (-25% from 'carry' sub-score. Transportation licenses are required for transporting guns, and transportation must be with the firearm unloaded and in a case. There do not appear to be any explicit storage requirements for individuals. Full-auto firearms are illegal. The right to own firearms is guaranteed by law. (See: Gun politics in Mexico - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Mexican Gun Laws, retrieved August 25, 2009, Gun politics in Mexico - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, retrieved June 6, 2011,Gun politics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, retrieved August 25, 2009, and Guns in Mexico: Facts, Figures and Firearm Law, retrieved June 6, 2011) (3.0 + ((0.6 + 0.6) * 0.75) + 0.0 = 3.9)

[calmex]

I don't see how they can rate Mexico above Canada except perhaps "on paper". The Mexican Constitution guarantees the right to own firearms. But who cares? If the Mexican Army and Police say you can't have one -- and they are corrupt and don't give a rat's behind about the law -- then you are skewered. A legal, registered firearm in Mexico is hard to get. In some areas, it is very hard to get one. I happen to be in an area that is not so bad, we have some decent clubs around here and we are growing in membership and the Army is quite cooperative with us. That is not a common story in Mexico.

The Canadian Bill of Rights might not guarantee your right to own a firearm, but they are easy to get and reasonably easy to register. Also, the long-gun registry in Canada has been abolished, as of last year.

I think that the people doing the survey have based a lot of weight on the "firearms ownership is guaranteed by law", which sounds really nice until you realize that "the law" means whatever the local authorities want it to mean in this country. Yes, in Canada handguns have to be registered, and there are extensive background checks. Firearms must be stored locked and unloaded, but of course, it's easy to get around that and say you loaded it when you became suspicious you would need it.

But move to Canada (although you'll freeze) and go through the hassle and dance the dances they want you to, and you'll get your gun. Move to Mexico and try. Unless you move to the right place, and meet the right people, you will probably have some nightmarish experiences trying to get one.

I base my comments on how easy -- or hard -- it is to actually accomplish the act of buying and having a legal firearm in your possession in both countries (assuming we're trying to be above-board legal here), and in my experience there is no comparison. Canada is hands-down easier.

But they are right to say that firearms ownership is not a guaranteed right in Canada, it's not. It might be a guaranteed right in Mexico, but for the vast majority, you can only wish them good luck with that.

I would like to add that "Collector Permits" are not actually that easy to obtain here in Mexico, and amongst the shooting community it's sort of taken as a given that "collectors" maintain their status by ratting to the Military -- Mexico's firearms control authority -- about anything and everything going on in the Mexican Shooting World. Many Clubs actually don't like allowing "collectors" to join. I know of some that won't allow it. It would be wrong to say that "all collectors are snitches", but it's a common sentiment. I know a couple "collectors" here in Mexico that I feel I can absolutely trust, but the rest, I don't tell them much. People can't talk about things they don't know, you know?