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| A publication of the
Justice Center | Alaska Justice
Statistical Analysis Center | ||
Alaska Justice Forum 11(1), Spring 1994
Issue contents | Complete issue in Adobe Acrobat PDF format
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"Guns and Crime in Alaska, 1987-1992"
This table and chart illustrating the use of firearms in crime in Alaska are based on UCR data for Alaska and for the U.S. on the use of firearms in the commission of the crimes of murder, robbery, and aggravated assault. (Rape is not included because UCR data do not indicate the weapon used in commission of rape.) The type of firearm—handgun, rifle, shotgun, or type unknown—is specified in cases of murder, but not for robbery or aggravated assault.
Because the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)—upon which the accompanying article, “Guns and Crime,” is based—surveys victims, it reflects data both on crimes reported to the police and those that were not reported. It does not obtain information on murders. The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system administered by the FBI includes only those crimes reported to the police and includes murders. Hence, comparison between the data presented in this table and chart and the previous article should be done cautiously.
Moreover, data on the use of firearms in violent crime in Alaska should be considered carefully, as reporting inconsistencies and variation in the number of crimes—particularly murder—committed from year to year may affect statistical significance.
