The 2006 rate of violent crime involving the use of firearms in Canada remained stable for the fourth consecutive year, according to a new study examining trends in gun violence. Handguns made up nearly two-thirds of all firearms used.
Statistics Canada has just released its 2006 Study Firearms and Violent Crime. The study shows, according to
the Daily, that the 2006 rate of violent crime involving the use of firearms in Canada remained stable for the fourth consecutive year, according to a new study examining trends in gun violence.
Across the country police services reported just over 8,100 victims of violent gun crime, ranging from assault to robbery and homicide, accounting for 2.4% of all victims of violence. Handguns made up nearly two-thirds of all firearms used.
Weapons other than hand guns were used to commit violent crimes; for example,
Knives 6.2%
Clubs/blunt instruments 3.0%
However, the use of guns in the commission of violent crimes by youth is on the rise. The rate of youth aged 12 to 17 accused of a firearm-related offence has risen in three of the past four years, increasing 32% since 2002. Robbery was the main firearm related crime committed by young adults.
In 2006, 1,287 young people were accused of a violent offence in which a gun was used. They accounted for 2.8% of all youth accused of violence; in contrast, 1.8% of adults accused of a violent offence had used a firearm.
Canada’s largest cities generally had the highest rates of gun violence in 2006. Vancouver had the highest rate among all census metropolitan areas (CMAs), followed by Winnipeg and Toronto.
Among youth, however, the rates of violence involving firearms were highest in Toronto and Saskatoon.
Statistics Canada Says Young Adult Gun Use Rises
Email
Print
Share
del.icio.us
facebook
newsvine
reddit
stumbleupon
technorati