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Creative lamp shade beadting orono WççkUy TiMes, Wednesdây, Mây 8, 1991-17 TodaRy's teenage girls facing more problems Home Show the exhibit of Eleanor Magdar displayed some fine work in the restoration of lamp shades through coloured beading and design. Handguns actually boost murder rate, study f ind., By Sally Jobnston Residents of te United States are about fifteen times more likely thai Canadien residents to die by te bullet, according to research by two Trent University psychology professors. Ca-nada's stricter gun controls are ntunquest-ionably" te reason for the difference between te two couniries, says Caterine Sproule,-, one of the researcbers. "Handguns are a negligible cause of homicides in Canada, while in the United States tey are a mnajor cause," she says. In e comparison of Arnerican aid Canadien homicide rates between 1977 aid 1983, Sproule aid hier colleague Deborah Kennet sbowed that each year an average 0.28 out of every 100,000 Canadien were killed wit handguns compared wit 4.05 of every 100,000 Americais. The researchers were nt surprised bhat their study showed the overal Americen homicide rate was bigher tan Canada's. "lt's widely accepted that te U. S. is a more violent Society," says Sproule. But she aid Kennett were not prepared for te massive difference in te metods of murder. "Sixty-f ive per cent of tbe difference in homicide rates between Canada aid te United States is acoounted for by te use of haidguns," she adds. In the United Sttes, handguns accouint for more killings than do oter Pypes of fireaniis or non-sbooting methods. The opposite is the case in Canada, where more people are killed by beating aid stabbing than wit haidguns or other fireanus. Sproule aid Kennett point to the differences in the gun control laws in te two countries to explain tuis. Handguns in Canada are restricteti by te federal Criminel Code. Canadiens cai legally own one only if tey obtain a fireerrns acquisition certificate from tbe police. Generally, tis permit is issued only to security guards, gun collectors aid members of rifle aid pistol clubs. The certificate entitles an individuel to purchase eiter a bandgun or certain types of semi-autometic weepons (those that fire single shots but reload automatically). Fully automatic f irearns, so-called machine guns, whicb fire bullets in rapid succession as long as te finger is pressing te trigger, are prohibited ,i Canada, except for e few gun Jectors. Itfs generally mucb easier to buy a baidgun in the United States, says Sproule. Gun control laws there are determined by each state, aid even in states wbere handguns are restricted people often obtain theni front states with more liberal laws. Indguns facilitate murder because, -<ce semni-automaiics, they can bu easily concealed, and because if's easy to u-se then, seys Sproule. Its much harder to strengle someone than to shoot them." Sproule says teàt te "typical- American homicide" involves two you-ng men in a bar brawl. The, fight escalates and one mai bas a hanidgun in his pocket. He pulls it out and fires. 'There would have been a less leta' altercation if be didn't have a gun." This study supports ti-eir earlier research, in çwhich they exeniined te effect of Canadas new legislaion, restricting te owner-ship of ail firearnis, aid te abolition of the deat penatyin 1976. Th-at study showed a significant decrease in te use of al firearnis in homicides from an average 1.38 victinis per 100,000 population eech year between 1972 aid 1976 to an average 1.10 victinis per 100,000 between 1977 and 1982, The researcbers were unable. to get statistics specifically for bandguns. Stili, Sproule says their findings support te federal governient's proposel to further tighten gun controls. Sproule also wents semni-automatics to bu benned. "These are Rambo-style weapons. They have no use oter than for kffling people," she states. (Catmadian Science News) Beaver St. reconstruction (Contlnued from page 1) supplementary funds, $859,700, allotted to the Durhanm East riding this year by the provincial govemment. A couple of years ago the Town had proposed te reconstruction of Beaver Street but due to residents objecting to the loss of trees the project was placed on hold. According to Walter Evans flrter meetings were held wit the area residents and a plan was agreed upon which allows a narrower roadway and the few trees to bc elimninated are to be replaced wit trees of good size. A section of Robert Street from Beaver to Mill is also included in the project. The Town is matching the $250,000 provincial gran with a similar amount from te Lot Levy Reserve Fund. By SaIIy Johnsten 111 Caiada's teenage girls are burdened wit new won'ies, such as career concenis aid the fear of sexuel abuse, in addition to 'traditionel' teen problenis, a new study reports. Pollution aid pregnancy are issues that wonry the girls just as much as school grades aid pimples, says the report by the Canadian Teachers Federation <CTF). The environment, politics, AIDS, drugs, suicide, divorce, and body weight are also common areas of concern among female high school students. The study, coordinated by Heather- jaie Robertson, the CTPs director of professional development services, contains the comments of 961 girls aged il to 19 who completed a questionnaire aid attended discussion groups et school. Robertson suggests that today's teenege girls aren't necessarily more, gloomy about life than were previous generations. Rather, they niay be dealing wit a new set of issues, such as careers aid drugs, laid on top of the usuel teenage concens witb faniily, school and their bodies, shte says. When the Rirls were esked about three things that they had thought about in the lest week, the responses were wide-rangipyg. D "Acid rain pollution aid my social life." * "Deatb. Boys. School." * "AIDS. the amnount of teenaged g'irls getting raped, drugs and alcohol." Ninety-two per cent of the young women surveyed agreed that womnen now have ai equal chance to 'make it' in the world, but adritted feeling somne fears about their career possibiities. "We've been assuming girls need career awareness to convince tbem that il is unliely they will bc flnancially supported indefinitely as aduits,, Robertsojn says in the report. "Ibis goal bas apparently been acbieved. The girls bave career goals and plais but they tend to feel quite hopeles about their acievement" One problemn is that the girls feel pressures aid ihnitations to wbicb tbey believe boys are not subject because the social sys:em- stiil discriniinates in favour of men, Robertson says. Ini addition, somne girls from depressed ereas feit that rising unemployment aid the collepse of many industries could block their 39 King St. West Bowmanville - 623-5747 career aspirations or perhaps prevent them from working a: all One gil's only contribution to the discussion was tbat sbe feared she would inevitably live in poverty, the report states. The girls believe they are more concerned with their career thai previous generations, says the report. Leaving aside possible inequalities in career chances, they also feel boys have ai unfair advaitage in sexuel relationships. "There are double standardls for guys aid girls regarding sex. Guys are cool while girls are sluts," said one girl. Despite increased openness with information on sexuality, many of the young women are confused aid frustraed in flnding aisweri to their questions. The report indicates that many of the girls are sexually active. In written comments, several worried about being pregnant aid oters mentioned baving abortions. Physical aid sexuel abuse was a prime concern axnong those surveyed. Severai voiced fears of being raped aid others waited to know how to (Contlnued page 18)