As usual, Foxy is making the most sense. "As a society we need to focus on the individual and what drives gun crime." Many people cite the American example. Austalia's homicide rate is about 1 per 100 000 (all rates are per 100 000). The US has a rate of 4.9. As bad as that is, there are a number of poorer, less newsworthy countries with much higher rates. The rate in El Salvador is 108. Even in America, the rate varies markedly. Certain suburbs of big American cities have a rate over 90, while other suburbs have less than one. Both examples suggest that money and the hope of having a good life seem to account for much more that availability of guns. President Trump is unlikely to bring many factories back, but he has reminded everyone of the importance of jobs with a living wage.
Secondly, cancer and heart problems each kill 160 out of 100 000 Americans per year. Changes in health insurance can save more American people than better gun laws.

Hi benk, Foxy always makes the most sense. The only acceptable murder rate is 0.00 per 100,000, anything else is unacceptable. There is nothing to be gained by comparing Australia's homicide rate to that of anyone else, particularly some lawless state like El Salvador. Nor is there anything to be gained by pointing to some unrelated statistic like deaths from cancer.

What comfort would there be for the family of Ian Turner, to tell them; "Well how lucky it was for Ian that we are not living in El Salvador, or you know, Ian could have contracted cancer and died."

You say <<Changes in health insurance can save more American people than better gun laws.>>

I say; Changes in health insurance and gun laws can save even more Americans than changes in health insurance alone. i don't think America should have a problem with multi-tasking, do you.

Dear Benk and Paul,

Here are two links that are worth reading, in case
you haven't read them earlier. The first is the
stand that the Australian Medical Association has
taken on the National Firearms Agreement 2017.
And the second link is the agreement itself:

http://ama.com.au/position-statement/firearms-2017

And -

http://www.ag.gov.au/LegalSystem/Firearms/Documents/2017-national-firearms-agreement.pdf

I have no problem with current gun laws or multi-tasking, but I think that the interest that some Australians take in American gun laws is mis-placed. If we wanted to make the world safer place, there are worse places than America to worry about. If we are worried about Americans, fixing their health insurance system will save more lives. If we are worried about the American murder rate, anything that brings hope and jobs to poor suburbs will save more lives.

We need to use the data to understand where the problem lies.

Hi Foxy,

I have little dis-argument with the AMA position on firearms, I can live with that.

Maybe those here who are antagonistic towards gun control laws, Issy and leoj could have a look at the AMA's stated position, and see if they agree or disagree, offer improvements, if seen as necessary in their view. As can anyone else.

Paul,

" There is nothing to be gained by comparing Australia's homicide rate to that of anyone else, ...."

Well said!