the big melt: how one democracy changed after scrapping a third of its firearms

7/29/2019 The Big Melt: How one democracy changed after scrapping a third of its firearms

1/7

I ya, va ai hav aaiay u h avaiabi-

iy a piva iiviua. I phaiz h w democracies b-

au, ay I ha, h ui i whih v hav up-

p gu ai a buybak a iahip. Thy iu h

Ui Kig, Bazi, Agia, a Auaia, whih i ya -

y a hi i pivay w gu.

May bv iu i h ia ay gu y by

ig i h Auaia Naia Fia Buybak a 659,940 wy p-

hibi wap (Auaia 2002). Y h aua ub piva wap

y i w ia a w v ii. A ui i h ay by

Rba P (i hi vu), i h a 1990 a Auaia a a -

ii ag w ui giai, h piay a pup

whih wa u h ik a hig. Ow iig wa igh

qui p gui a p a gu; h a a a

16

Th Big MHw O Day Chag a Sappig

a Thi I Fia

Phiip Ap

Phiip Ap i a aju aia p a h Syy Sh Pubi Hah, h

Uiviy Syy.


2/7

206 Philip Alpers

a wa ii i a; api- i a hgu w

ba, bugh bak, a y; a aiig a w gi

ui aia aa (Auaia 1996). Tw aiwi, ay

u gu buybak a h hai, bu ui w h ub a-

iia, vuay, a up u ui ai

uquai.

I h v ya up Jauay 1988 a b h P Ahu hig

i 1996, ix gu aa (v vii h a) ha aay ai

h iv 40 Auaia (Chapa, Ap, a. 2006). Aig ai-

i h pi ia pubih uig h wy-u ya ha w,

w kw ha 38 a, iy, a a a ai a a ii-u bi a 3,062 wk. F h p i whih ub w

pubih, a a 948,388 a w u pi u-

i. O h, 67,488 (7.1%) w b h a g-gu buybak

whih w h 1996 P Ahu agy. I h 199697 Naia Fi-

a Buybak api- g gu (aiy i-auai i bu a

-aig a pup-ai hgu) a i h 2003 Naia Hagu

Buybak whih w, Auaia gav up ui 728,667 wy

phibi a i u ak-vau pai.Havig au h a h Auaia xpi wih au-

ay, I hav u ha a a 219,721 aiia a w u

uia ub whih ui w ha b uai a agy

ugiz. Ahugh h Auaia iiiaiv wa ib

a a buybak i whih gu w iv ah pai, a h

wap ha i ui i 1988, ay i u yi

aia u i w (Ap a Wi 2013). Suh wa h wig i

pubi pii ha ag ub gu w awuy h a

h , v wh h wa bigai .

Thi ay ju u a ii wap y i vaiv. I

pubih p 20 gu ai w u u a -

a w uab iu h ub ha i ui

(Ap a Wi 2013). I aii, ay a iz by pi a

y, xap by u , a iu i ay a.

Tw a wap ai iu -a i hi pubih -a wihu paai. Takig i au h uaii, i

iky ha Auaia a y w v a ii a


3/7

The Big Melt 207

ha i, bw v a ix a p 100 pp. A y ap

ia h ub a i Auaia a h i h P Ahu

hig i 3.2 ii (Ru a Muz 2003, 130). Thi ugg ha

p-aa ui u h aia k a by

-hi. I w ap a quy i ia 270 ii pivay

w gu i h Ui Sa (Kap 2007, 47), a iia i ha u-

y wu qui h ui 90 ii a.

Thi i ay ha uh a aiv ui i h aia kpi

u b i h Ui Sa. Bau w juiii ha h

a pb giaiv ia ig a aiu a

ai hav iv h agi bu. Th Auaia xpi augg ha a ui i h avaiabiiy a igh y b p-

ay, a va va yp wy ba a wa w by a

ug pa buyig.

Auaia g ha a a auauig iuy. Gu a

u hi k vaaiy h Ui Sa. I h ya

h ai Auaia buybak, a ip biy ub a w

pa hi ba, u ui-h i a hgu wih w

ig-h pa. Bu i h w ya ha w, aua gu i-p ah ju 20 p ha 199697 pak. F w ya h a

ai aga a h bga v. By i-2012, wig a ay

-ya upwa i gu buyig, Auaia ha k h aia

aa piva gu pP Ahu v. Thy i hi by ipig

1,055,082 a, a avag 43,961 ah ya i ui pga

bga (Ap, Wi, a Ri 2013) (hi a xu 52,608 hagu

ip aw a h -iviia u). T hi hu

b a h aia k iii a, whih by ii a b

u. Ahugh ai ag-a gu uggig Auaia a -

, a a uh i a vi-. Bu a uy h

Auaia Iiu Ciigy, uig a -gva

a a iz i i, a iuia u. Sug-

g gu p a uh a ppi v iii a i

hi ia ai ha gay ip a ha w ubquy

iv h bak ak by awu w (Bik 2012, 4143).A ag pubi hah b ha b bh bv a ipu. A

piy hag k i h wak h P Ahu aa, h ik


4/7

208 Philip Alpers

a Auaia yig by guh ha 50 p a ay a ha

v (Ap, Wi, a Ri 2013a). Th ub gu hii

69 i 1996 (hi a xu h 35 vii h a a P Ahu)

30 i 2012 (Ap, Wi, a Ri 2013b). I h a b h u-

y hag ii, 100 pp i i v a hig (Chapa,

Ap, a. 2006). Fwig h 1996 au giai pi-

ay ig u gu aa, Auaia ha a

hig. Fia-a ah ha aa a hai i u, y

h aia a gu hiiwhih b P Ahu wa aay -

h h U.S. aha w pug 0.13 p 100,000, 27 i w

ha ha h Ui Sa (Ap, Wi, a Ri 2013).Th phiv ipa uy h Auaia ivi

u ha h buybak a p i h a uii a a

80%, wih igia -a ah a. Th -

a hii i iia agiu bu i pi. Ipa ay

iui auaiy, h auh a u ha h ag a i -

a ah u i a wh a w bugh bak. Thi

uy w i uvy u ugg ha Auaia ha ay hav

i ub gu-wig huh a h ia ha, by wihaw-ig a uh a a, hi ai ay 23 ii pp ha av

i 200 ah by guh a US$500 ii i ah ya (Ligh

a Ni 2010).

Th vi i a ha wig gu aw , Auaia ba

ay i iky b ki wih a a (Ap, Wi, a R-

i 2013a). Tha ai, auaiy a aa p a a iu i

Auaia a i ay uiy paiz by h gu ba. Ca h

iig ipai i ha Auaia gu ah a w aay i-

ig pi i aj pubi hah ivi. Takig hi i au,

uy u vh ha h a p 100,000 a a

ah, a hii a a uii a a a ub hi

xiig a i a h vi gu aw (Chapa, Ap, a.

2006).

A uvaiig uy ip iay h a piia ig

u h ppi, ay ha h gu buy-bak a iiv gi-aiv hag ha iu a hii i Auaia (Bak a

MPha 2007). I a ai h Naia Ri Aiai Aia,

h auh hi uy wa qu a ayig Th ig w


5/7

a . . . h piy ha a i. Th wa a iig

ah whih ha iu (Sih 2007). A hi pap i i

ha Auaia w gu aw i hav ay ag

uig a hii uii a (L a Suai 2010). Th w

i ui a hi hgy hav i b haviy

iiiz (Ni a Ligh 2007, Hway 2009, 2011).

T a, ui ha g u. I ig vi

ubiui uii hii, h iiia uy ipa

hw ha Auaia ivi w w by ipa

a h h (Chapa, Ap, a. 2006).

Th Auaia xpi, aayz by 35 ah i a ig higp, ak a aia a hag i aiu, bh a a h

wh w h. L by a vaiv gv, Auaia aw ha, b-

i a a ai, ah a ijuy by guh u b a aab

pubi hah ivi a w vhia ah, uk iv-

ig, ba-a ia, a h pa HIV/AIDS. Th bui

a ijuy pvi a hig w pubi hah. A iuy a

i -i gup u ia, h ppagai a, a quai-

igiu bjiwv i a b. Bu h uu i a h (Mzaaia, Hway, a Luwig 2013). Wih gu vi, a wih HIV/

AIDS, wa--i i uh a vi, ba, a ibui a wih

i b ui away aw g-pv pubi hah pu. Giv h

ppuiy a h , gu ijuy pvi a av iv a ivy

a iig a k-pp ga a xpiv aa-

ig hi-a i b pi.

cnoledments

Th auh hak Bia Ga a Ai Ri, ki a wiig

ah a GuPiy.g.

references

Ap, Phiip, a Mau Wi. 2013.Australian Firearm Amnesty, Buyback andDestruction Totals: Ofcial Tallies and Media-reported Numbers, 19872012. Sy-y: GuPiy.g, Syy Sh Pubi Hah. hp://www.gupiy.g

The Big Melt 209
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210 Philip Alpers

/u / _wa /5337 -ap -auaia -ia -ay -buybak-a-ui-a.

Ap, Phiip, Mau Wi, a Ai Ri. 2013. Guns in Australia: Facts,

Figures and Firearm Law (Imports). Syy: GuPiy.g, Syy Sh Pub-i Hah. hp://www.gupiy.g/a/paya/10/a_ip_ub.

Ap, Phiip, Mau Wi, a Ai Ri. 2013a. Guns in Australia: Facts,Figures and Firearm Law (Total Number o Gun Deaths). Syy: GuPiy.g,Syy Sh Pubi Hah. hp://www.gupiy.g/a/paya/10/a_ub__gu_ah.

Ap, Phiip, Mau Wi, a Ai Ri. 2013b. Guns in Australia: Facts,Figures and Firearm Law (Number o Gun Homicides). Syy: GuPiy.g,Syy Sh Pubi Hah. hp://www.gupiy.g/a/paya

/10/ub__gu_hii.Ap, Phiip, Mau Wi, a Ai Ri. 2013. Guns in Australia: Facts,

Figures and Firearm Law (Compare Australia: Rate o Gun Homicide). Syy: GuPiy.g, Syy Sh Pubi Hah. hp://www.gupiy.g/a/pa/10/a__gu_hii/31,66,69,87,91,128,178,192,194.

Auaia. 1996. Resolutions rom a Special Firearms Meeting. Caba: AuaiaPi Mii Cui.

Auaia. 2002. The Australian Firearms Buyback: Tally or Number o Firearms Col-lected and Compensation Paid. Caba: Cwah Ay-GaDpa.

Bak, Jai, a Saaa MPha. 2007. Gu Law a Su Dah: Di hAuaia Fia Lgiai 1996 Mak a Di? British Journal oCriminology47:45569.

Bik, Saaha. 2012. Firearm Trafcking and Serious and Organised CrimeGangs. Caba: Auaia Iiu Ciigy Rah a Pubi PiySi 116.

Chapa, Si, Phiip Ap, Kigy Agh, a Miha J. 2006. Aua-ia 1996 Gu Law R: Fa Fa i Fia Dah, Fia Suii aa Da wihu Ma Shig. Injury Prevention 12:36572.

Hway, Davi. 2009. Hw Fi Nhig. Journal o Public Health Policy30:26068.

Hway, Davi. 2011. Th Auaia Gu Buybak. B: Hava Ijuy C- Rah C Bulletins 4.

Kap, Aa. 2007. Cpig h Cu: Civiia Fia. I Small Arms Survey2007: Guns and the City, 3871. Cabig: Cabig Uiviy P.

L, Wag-Shg, a Say Suai. 2010. Th Auaia Fia Buybak a IE Gu Dah. Contemporary Economic Policy28:6579.

Ligh, Aw, a Chii Ni. 2010. D Gu Buybak Sav Liv? Evi Pa Daa.American Law and Economics Review 12(2):462508.

Mzaaia, Daiuh, Davi Hway, a Davi S. Luwig. 2013. Cubig GuVi: L Pubi Hah Su.Journal o the American MedicalAssociation 12. Pubih i: Ja. 7, 2013. i:10.1001/jaa.2013.38

Ni, Chii, a Aw Ligh. 2007. Wak T a Sg Cui: AR-aayi Gu Dah a h Auaia Fia Buybak. Caba: Th
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compare/10/rate_of_gun_homicide/31,66,69,87,91,128,178,192,194http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/compare/10/rate_of_gun_homicide/31,66,69,87,91,128,178,192,194http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/compare/10/rate_of_gun_homicide/31,66,69,87,91,128,178,192,194http://www.gunpolicy.org/http://www.gunpolicy.org/http://www.gunpolicy.org/http://www.gunpolicy.org/http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/compare/10/rate_of_gun_homicide/31,66,69,87,91,128,178,192,194http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/compare/10/rate_of_gun_homicide/31,66,69,87,91,128,178,192,194http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/compareyears/10/number_of_gun_homicideshttp://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/compareyears/10/number_of_gun_homicideshttp://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/compareyears/10/total_number_of_gun_deathshttp://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/compareyears/10/total_number_of_gun_deathshttp://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/compareyears/10/firearm_imports_numberhttp://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/compareyears/10/firearm_imports_numberhttp://www.gunpolicy.org/documents/doc_download/5337-alpers-australian-firearm-amnesty-buyback-and-destruction-totalshttp://www.gunpolicy.org/documents/doc_download/5337-alpers-australian-firearm-amnesty-buyback-and-destruction-totals


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Auaia Naia Uiviy, C Ei Piy Rah. EPS Jour-nal, Diui Pap 555.

Ru, P, a Jy Muz. 2003. Auaia: A Maiv Buybak Lw-ik

Gu. I Evaluating Gun Policy: Eects on Crime and Violence, i by JLuwig a Phiip J. Ck. Wahig, DC: Th Bkig Iiui.Sih, Bai. 2007. Di Bub! Americas 1st Freedom. Faiax, VA: Naia Ri

Aiai Aia, 8(2):3454.

The Big Melt 211

the big melt: how one democracy changed after scrapping a third of its firearms

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