Gun crimes 'like infectious disease'
October 31, 2003
THE spate of fatal shootings sweeping Sydney's southwest should be treated like an infectious disease, the anti-gun lobby said today.
National Coalition for Gun Control chair Samantha Lee said yesterday's shooting was just the latest in the onset of the disease.
"Research from the United States has shown that gun violence among urban youth follows a pattern similar to that of an infectious disease epidemic, and like infections, it's contagious," Ms Lee said in a statement.
The murder of Ahmad Fahda, 25, in a daylight execution at a Punchbowl service station yesterday in front of horrified onlookers was the latest in a series of shootings in the area.
Ms Lee called for a ban on all handguns to reduce their accessibility and availability.
She also advocated a handgun summit to develop policy recommendations on how to prevent the further spread of gun crime.
Copyright 2003 Nationwide News
