A (temporary) going-away post....the FBI Uniform Crime Reports 2010 are out.

[benEzra]

I'm going to be out of the loop for a few weeks, but I wanted to post this first. The FBI Uniform Crime Reports for 2010 are out, and I am always interested in the breakdown by weapon type (usually Table 20 in the UCR).

There's not much change from the last few years. Once again, rifles are the least likely class of weapon to be used in homicides, ranking behind shotguns, fists/feet, blades, impact weapons, and handguns.

Table 20 - Murder, by State, Types of Weapons, 2010

Total murders...........................12,996.....100.00%
Handguns.................................6,009......46.24%
Firearms (type unknown)..................2,035......15.66%
Other weapons (non-firearm, non-edged)...1,772......13.63%
Edged weapons............................1,704......13.11%
Hands, feet, etc...........................745.......5.73%
Shotguns...................................373.......2.87%
Rifles.....................................358.......2.75%

If one assumes that the handgun/shotgun/rifle breakdown in the "firearm, type not recorded" row is similar to the breakdown where the type was recorded, then the percentages with "unknowns" rolled in would look something like this:

Total murders...........................12,996.....100.00%
Handguns.................................6,950......53.48%
Firearms (type unknown)..................2,035......15.66%
Other weapons (non-firearm, non-edged)...1,772......13.63%
Edged weapons............................1,704......13.11%
Hands, feet, etc...........................745.......5.73%
Shotguns...................................431.......3.32%
Rifles.....................................414.......3.19%

The 6-year trend in rifle homicides, 2005-2010:

2005: 442
2006: 436
2007: 450
2008: 375
2009: 348
2010: 358

I don't have much commentary here, except to say that I think the AWB concept is dead beyond resurrection.