In 1996 there were 516 gun deaths. In 2010 there were 236. That's a 46% reduction. So I was wrong. Apologies.
There are 2.7 million registered guns now but there were only 2.1 million in 1996 so you are correct.
But from 1996 to 2001 nearly 700'000 automatic and illegal guns were handed in. A further 1 million guns have been handed in since then. Just so you know, the Aussie military only has 250'000 guns.
In Australia there are 15 guns per 100 people. In the USA there are 101 guns for every 100 people. And there are 32'000 gun deaths a year in the USA. Per population that is more than 10 times the rate of gun deaths compared to Australia. So 10 times the amount of guns means 10 times the rate of human gun death. Yeah, let's follow their lead and get more guns ;). Surely that'll make us safe.
And I like to look at the facts lotsalandies, not postulate without fact checking.
Guns in Australia: Firearms, armed violence and gun law