Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
Former Coalition for Gun Control convenor, Simon Chapman, omits a
crucial fact about mass shootings after Australia's 1996 prohibition of
semi-automatic firearms and pump action shotguns. While Australia has not
had a mass shooting in over 14 years, nor has Australia's close neighbour
New Zealand. This observation cannot be attributed to pre-existing
differences: the rate of mass shootings did not differ between countries
in the period 1980-1996. In New Zealand, the types of firearms Australia
banned are still widely used by citizens for target shooting and hunting.
The comparable period of time without mass shootings in both countries,
despite their different legislative approaches to firearms ownership, does
not support the view that prohibition of certain types of firearms in
Australia is responsible for the absence of mass shootings.
References
Chapman S. Australian and US gun deaths compared. BMJ 2011; 342:d1005.
(15 February).
Competing interests:
Dr McPhedran and Dr Baker are affiliated with the International Coalition for Women in Shooting and Hunting (WiSH). They do not receive any financial reward from this association.
10 April 2011
Samara McPhedran
Chairwoman
Jeanine Baker
International Coalition for Women in Shooting and Hunting (WiSH)
Australian mass shootings: Are the gun laws responsible?
Former Coalition for Gun Control convenor, Simon Chapman, omits a
crucial fact about mass shootings after Australia's 1996 prohibition of
semi-automatic firearms and pump action shotguns. While Australia has not
had a mass shooting in over 14 years, nor has Australia's close neighbour
New Zealand. This observation cannot be attributed to pre-existing
differences: the rate of mass shootings did not differ between countries
in the period 1980-1996. In New Zealand, the types of firearms Australia
banned are still widely used by citizens for target shooting and hunting.
The comparable period of time without mass shootings in both countries,
despite their different legislative approaches to firearms ownership, does
not support the view that prohibition of certain types of firearms in
Australia is responsible for the absence of mass shootings.
References
Chapman S. Australian and US gun deaths compared. BMJ 2011; 342:d1005.
(15 February).
Competing interests: Dr McPhedran and Dr Baker are affiliated with the International Coalition for Women in Shooting and Hunting (WiSH). They do not receive any financial reward from this association.