Talk:Overview of gun laws by nation

RfC for last sentence in lead

The following discussion is an archived record of a request for comment. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this discussion. A summary of the conclusions reached follows.

No Consensus was reached (6 - 6) whether the new lead statement about the effects of gun control laws should be included in this article. Split between those (like myself) who felt it was not relevant to THIS article topic (Overview of Gun laws) and those who felt it was on topic. ---Avatar317^(talk) 23:19, 29 October 2019 (UTC)

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Should the last sentence in the lead According to 2016 and 2017 reviews covering 10 countries, stronger laws regulating firearms are associated with decreased firearm homicide rates.[4][5]", appended to the lead in July 2019 stay in the lead? or in the article at all anywhere? (this is currently the only place in the article where that information is mentioned) ---Avatar317^(talk) 05:42, 28 September 2019 (UTC) 21:48, 3 September 2019 (UTC)

Please read the lead before answering.

• No - As I said on my previous edits and multiple other editors have also stated, it is not relevant to THIS article. (It IS relevent to the Gun control article and is already present in that article.) ---Avatar317^(talk) 21:48, 3 September 2019 (UTC)
• No - I don't think we should go down that rabbit hole in this article. Frankly, the lede itself could use some heavy trimming as it continues to stick one foot into the gun control article. May His Shadow Fall Upon You ^Talk 18:20, 4 September 2019 (UTC)
• No - let's keep the politics out of this article. People are likely to come here seeking information. Let them have it without the clutter. Adoring nanny (talk) 23:10, 8 September 2019 (UTC)
• Yes Definitely. This is a discussion about the effects of these laws. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 12:31, 10 September 2019 (UTC)

THIS article is not a discussion of the effects of the laws, nor does it provide justification(s) for the laws; it is merely a listing and description of what laws exist. ---Avatar317^(talk) 23:11, 10 September 2019 (UTC)

And this is one sentence on the effects of these laws based on recent reviews of the topic in major journals. It is within topic. Should it also be in other places? Maybe. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 23:25, 10 September 2019 (UTC)

So what you are saying is that we should BROADEN THE SCOPE of this article to also include the EFFECTS of gun laws? (which this article did not include until you added this disputed sentence) Should we also include the ~50 studies listed in the Gun control article in this one, and thereby duplicate ~60% of that article into this one? ---Avatar317^(talk) 03:56, 12 September 2019 (UTC)

A one sentence overview of the effects of gun laws based on the best avaliable sources is perfectly appropriate. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 04:38, 14 September 2019 (UTC)

• yes agree w/ Doc James--Ozzie10aaaa (talk) 12:55, 10 September 2019 (UTC)
• Yes (coming over from WT:MED) it seems that the coverage is WP:DUE based on sources cited, but the tone should clearly represent reliable sources for the statement made. Bears directly on the article topic. Just because a topic is politically charged doesn't mean it's off-limits, we just need to care for NPOV. — soupvector (talk) 14:49, 10 September 2019 (UTC)
• Yes Central to the topic obviously. Roxy, the dog. wooF 14:55, 10 September 2019 (UTC)
• Yes In an article examining the differences in gun control laws by nation, a fact related to the difference in effect of those gun laws in different nations is surely on-topic. As long as the fact is reliably sourced, WP:NPOV requires "representing fairly, proportionately, and, as far as possible, without editorial bias, all of the significant views that have been published". I'm not sure it's in quite the right place, but it surely belongs in the overview (which is what the lead serves as in these sort of articles). --RexxS (talk) 23:08, 10 September 2019 (UTC)
• Yes, per Doc James and the other WP:Med editors. Flyer22 Reborn (talk) 02:58, 11 September 2019 (UTC)
• No I thought this was so self-evident that I deleted just now - without first checking here - opps. My thoughts are in line with User:Avatar317. This is an article on what the laws are, none of the content refers to the effect of these, nor should it. It is reasonable to make some general note of the intent of the laws, but any comment on the effect should go as a WL to a fuller article. -Snori (talk) 07:24, 11 September 2019 (UTC)
  • I though it was so self-evidently relevant to the topic that I restored it. This article is an overview and discusses divers aspects of gun laws by nation, such as their effects on the levels of gun ownership from one jurisdiction to another and the procedures that have to be followed to obtain a gun licence in different countries. An examination of the correlation of gun laws with homicide rates is just as relevant to any overview. --RexxS (talk) 12:31, 11 September 2019 (UTC)
• Comment: Is it really only 10 countries?--Jack Upland (talk) 08:06, 11 September 2019 (UTC)
  • The content of our article covers many more, but of the two research papers on the effects, the second covers just 10 countries - and the first is US-only. - Snori (talk) 20:59, 11 September 2019 (UTC)
    • When research is done, it is quite usual to take a sample of a population for which data is available. Statistical techniques are then used to estimate the accuracy of the conclusions drawn from the sample when extrapolated to the population as a whole. There are 195 counties in the world and it is not surprising that not all of them would be covered by research. It's worth noting that the systematic review pmid:26905895 states its methodology clearly: it found 5,039 studies of which 130 studies, representing 10 countries, eventually met its inclusion and exclusion criteria. This is a high quality review with unimpeachable methodology, and there's no point in Wikipedia editors trying to offer amateur criticism of it. If you wish to challenge its conclusions or its applicability, you need to be bringing to the table equally respectable sources that reach an opposing conclusion or that offer meaningful criticism of the methodology. So far I've seen no evidence of either. --RexxS (talk) 22:24, 11 September 2019 (UTC)
      • I have no criticism of either study, just clarifying. -Snori (talk) 22:31, 11 September 2019 (UTC)
        • Well, I'm sorry, but I have a problem with presenting a worldwide view based on a survey of only 10 countries. The countries are: the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Brazil, and Colombia. This sample is heavily weighted to English-speaking countries, and includes no Asian countries.--Jack Upland (talk) 23:42, 14 September 2019 (UTC)
          • I'm sorry you have a problem, but it should come as no surprise that the English Wikipedia relies heavily on sources in English. The solution is to find other review articles that survey the languages and countries you're interested in. In the meantime, your objection to a source based only your personal view of its methodology carries no weight. --RexxS (talk) 01:16, 15 September 2019 (UTC)
• No: In a article taking a global view of a topic, a survey of only 10 countries is not significant.--Jack Upland (talk) 23:26, 14 September 2019 (UTC)

Ah they did a systematic review meaning that they found all the studies that were present... Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 06:36, 19 September 2019 (UTC)

OK, but so what? There's not enough evidence to make a global statement. Whereof you do not know, thereof you must be silent.--Jack Upland (talk) 09:00, 19 September 2019 (UTC)

Nonsense. We report what the sources say, not make amateur analyses of them. The quality of the source is more than good enough to support the conclusion that "stronger laws regulating firearms are associated with decreased firearm homicide rates". Find equally good sources that reach a different conclusion if you want to argue the issue. --RexxS (talk) 18:07, 19 September 2019 (UTC)

In most areas we present a world view based on evidence from one or two country. That fact that we have evidence from 10 countries is fairly impressive. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 23:59, 19 September 2019 (UTC)

Per study: "Laws restricting the purchase of (e.g., background checks) and access to (e.g., safer storage) firearms are also associated with lower rates of intimate partner homicides and firearm unintentional deaths in children, respectively." Keyword: INTIMATE. It does not find a lower rate of firearm homicides in general but only a specific subset of those deaths. It is wrongly generalized to lower firearm homicides in general. Abatementyogin (talk) 22:47, 25 September 2019 (UTC)

Did you miss what the study said in the previous sentence? The study, viewable at pmid:26905895 clearly states "... the simultaneous implementation of laws targeting multiple firearms restrictions is associated with reductions in firearm deaths". That is a lower rate of firearms deaths in general. The specific restriction on purchasing is the one associated with lower rates of intimate partner homicides. Legislating safer storage of firearms is associated with lower rates of firearm unintentional deaths in children. Your misreading of the source leads to your incorrect conclusions. --RexxS (talk) 23:47, 25 September 2019 (UTC)

For the last time, the vast majority of firearm deaths are suicides, not homicides. The study found a reduction in firearm suicides which constitute the vast majority of gun deaths. Hence why there there was a decline for overall gun deaths. The only category for firearm homicide that declined were intimate partner homicides which are a small subset of homicides. The vast majority of homicide victims are male and are not domestic-related.Abatementyogin (talk) 21:39, 29 November 2019 (UTC)

• Comment: If the statement is kept in this article, it needs to be modified because it is not properly supported by the sources.

The 2017 Lee et al study studied the US only to find an association with stricter laws and reduced firearm homicides. Evidence Review We evaluated peer-reviewed articles from 1970 to 2016 focusing on the association between US firearm laws and firearm homicide. Findings We found evidence that stronger firearm laws are associated with reductions in firearm homicide rates.

The 2016 Santaella-Tenorio et al study covered 10 countries, but found no correlation with *overall* firearm homicide reduction, only reduction of deaths, and reduction of firearm homicides for the special class of intimate partner homicides. It is misleading and false to lump these two studies together to attempt to support the statement as it stands now. ---Avatar317^(talk) 02:48, 27 September 2019 (UTC)

Then perhaps you think it should read "A 2016 systematic review of 130 studies in 10 countries found that stronger laws regulating firearms are associated with reductions in firearm-related deaths, including suicides,(Santaella-Tenorio) and a 2017 systematic review found that in the US stronger firearm laws are associated with reductions in firearm homicide rates.(Lee)" It would not be difficult to write a more detailed summary of the sources after the conclusion of this RfC. --RexxS (talk) 12:54, 27 September 2019 (UTC)

If the RfC decides that it is relevant, yes, I would be happy with your statement; it fairly and accurately summarizes the sources. ---Avatar317^(talk) 22:50, 27 September 2019 (UTC)

• No This article is clearly simply a summary of gun control laws in different nations, not an article about the effects of said laws. And even if it was, the statement in question wouldn't belong just tacked onto the end of the lede. Tchouppy (talk) 17:25, 14 October 2019 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

• Just curious, as a relative newbie, about this RFC closure - does it fit the recommended pattern? This seemed somewhat contentious, and the closing editor was involved. Also, I didn't think that the basis of resolution was counting !votes. Not stirring the pot, just trying to learn. — soupvector (talk) 05:18, 30 October 2019 (UTC)

I understand that consensus is not a vote; but most closures I've seen note the number of opinions on each side. Do you disagree with my closing statement? Or think it is not correct or accurate?

I closed it because it seemed that we were not getting any new comments after two rounds on the bot that invites uninvolved editors in. Do you think it should remain permanently open? The discussion seemed to have reached a natural (and impasseble) end. ---Avatar317^(talk) 21:41, 30 October 2019 (UTC)

Uruguay

The cited source, "Decreto N° 377/016", was abolished by the new "Decreto N° 345/020" in accordance with article 53 (https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/decretos/345-2020). Also, I feel that the table should display the following clarifications

1 under "Semi-automatic rifles" column: limited to .22 caliber. 2 under "Handguns" column: limited to 9mm caliber in pistols and .45 caliber in revolvers.

Unfortunately, it seems I'm not able to change the sheet myself.

Maryland following "Moore"?

In the "Comparison" section, South Sudan, Yemen, and 39 states are shown in blue—meaning that they require a permit to purchase a handgun.

Recently, though. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Maryland Shall Issue v. Moore that the state's permit to purchase law is unconstitutional. (Although her 7-day waiting period and state-police, background check laws remain in effect.)

Ought Maryland to be changed from green to blue on the bottom map? 00:57, 22 November 2023 (UTC) Pine (talk) 00:57, 22 November 2023 (UTC)

GunPolicy.org Sources

As of January 6, 2024, the GunPolicy.org website is no longer active. Going to it now redirects to a login page with the message, "This site has closed due to a lack of funding." Therefore, all of the citations linking to pages on that site should be re-edited to include Internet Archive and/or ghostarchive links. 73.222.50.208 (talk) 22:09, 6 January 2024 (UTC)

Table discrepancies

Hi,

Just noticed some inconsistencies in the colouring and the language of the comparison table, namely:

Az, Ar, Cr, Kz, Kg, Tj, Uk, Uy should be light green in the "good reason" column as they don't require a good reason for some guns, but not others (similar to how New Zealand is labeled now).

Also, in the "Personal Protection" column, the difference between "justification" and "proof of threat to life" is minimal, shouldn't it be a note under "justification"?

The Philippines' colouring scheme is out of whack in "Personal Protection", "long guns", and "hand guns", it should be yellow for "may issue".

For the USA, shouldn't the constitutionally protected sections ("Good Reason", "Personal Protection", and "Concealed Carry") be blue? As well, shouldn't "Open Carry" be blue as most states are permitless? "Fully Automatic" is also shall-issue as far as I'm aware, it just requires a tax-stamp and registration, however there is still the import ban.

Another things, maybe for the max-penalty column, dark red boxes should have white text for visibility?

Thanks. 2A02:2488:321B:A900:2B84:8705:3395:790D (talk) 08:46, 5 May 2024 (UTC)

Expand Israel Category

There has been a push to loosen gun control in Israel following the 7 October attack. I am unsure of the specific details, but if legislation was passed regarding gun control in Israel following 7 October, this article should be updated to reflect that. Thank you JohnR1Roberts (talk) 00:55, 27 May 2024 (UTC)

Inaccuracy in the image "Handgunlaws-2024-03-16.svg" showing a comparison of handgun controls.

Great Britain is marked as having prohibited licences of handguns to civilians. Putting aside the fact that any type of prohibited firearm can be licenced to civilians with proper authority (as I am assuming this is the case for every country), there are specific exemptions to the general ban on handguns which allow them to be held on a normal firearms certificate, the standard licence for rifled firearms. These exemptions, in practice, are such that collectors are able to own and keep at home handguns which are of a not commonly produced calibre, that collectors are allowed to own and fire handguns of any calibre providing they are kept at a designated site, and that people are able to own, keep at home, and fire handguns licenced for the purpose of humane dispatch of animals. Source: Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997, ss. 2-7. The map should be updated as it reflects an inaccurate state of law in the UK; there is nothing on the map that suggests that excluding sporting use as a 'good reason' for ownership is comparable to a total prohibition on civilian ownership. Os2kddd (talk) 17:06, 26 November 2024 (UTC)