The likelihood that a shooting will be fatal is directly related to the caliber of the firearm used, according to a new study released Friday by Northeastern University and Duke University. The researchers conclude that in their sample of 367 shooting cases in Boston during a five-year period, there would have been nearly 40 percent fewer deaths if only low-caliber weapons had been used.
“Our study gets to the heart of the notion that ‘guns don’t kill people; people kill people,’” said Anthony Braga, a Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice at Northeastern. “That slogan is based on the contention that gun control is ineffective because if a person wants to kill someone, they will find a way to do it, no matter what types of weapons are available.”
