Of course criminals get guns any way they can, both through legal and illegal means. Making it harder to get legally makes it less likely they will have a gun. For example, we know that about 60% of guns used in crimes in Chicago come from legal purchases outside of Chicago’s jurisdiction. If it was so easy to get a gun via illegal methods, why get it legally? But forcing background checks on private gun sales will decrease the number of criminals with guns by allowing the seller to know a criminal is trying to buy his/her gun. Wouldn’t you want to know?

You’re missing a big part of the issue by focusing only on crime. Injuries and deaths from guns without criminal intent are a much bigger issue. Guns in the home are a health hazard.

Ask me if you need citations for that information.

I’m not saying any of your data is from the NRA. I’m saying many groups with an agenda do try to skew the data to claim that the gun laws in Australia led to higher crime rates. You could make a case it’s possible, but that’s like saying climate change could be due to something other than human pollution. It’s possible, but the best research suggests otherwise.