It would be helpful if there was a precise way to determine exactly in what way Argentine gun laws are more effective than those in the US.
Any adult citizen or permanent resident in Argentina can legally own a gun if they fulfill the requirements to obtain a permit.
The law makes criminals out of everyone in possession of a firearm without a permit. There are undoubtedly many Argentines who have guns but not permits and the vast majority of them would never use their gun to commit a crime.
Are the Argentine laws "somehow" more effective in keeping guns out of the hands of those who would use them to commit a crime against others?
It's a difficult question to answer but, while we're on the subject, it's worth taking a look at the statistics regarding tourist murders in Argentina in the past few years. The facts of those relatively few cases are well known and easy to research:
Two French tourists murdered after being sexually assaulted in Salta in July, 2011
Murder weapon: handgun
http://www.argentina...rench-tourists/
A French tourist murdered in Plaza San Martín on Februay 8, 2012.
Murder weapon: knife
http://www.argentina...aza-san-martin/
The comments that follow the above article are a must read.
German tourist murdered in Mar del Plata on March 10, 2013.
Murder weapon: a stone.
http://latinamericac...el-plata/27130/
New Zealand tourist (not an Aussie as first reported)shot dead by thieves in Argentina
Murder weapon: a gun
The current tally is 3 to 2. Guns appear to be the weapon of choice for killing tourists in Argentina, but not by a wide margin.
If anyone has information regarding other tourists that have been murdered in Argentina I hope they will add to these statistics.
I also hope the list is already complete.
