Massachusetts is known nationally for its strict gun control laws, but firearm-related gun violence has increased significantly. According to a 2011 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) analysis conducted for the Globe, there were 122 homicides committed with firearms, or 67 percent of all homicides that year. There have also been increases in other firearms-related crimes. During this period, aggravated assaults with firearms increased by 26.7% (12th highest) and robberies with firearms increased by 20.7% (15th highest). Therefore, this is evidence that gun control laws actually increase gun violence rather than reduce it. On the other hand, after the school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, a group of specialists called for new gun controls in Massachusetts, expanding background checks and banning potentially dangerous people from purchasing rifles and shotguns (Levenson) . However, even if the restrictions target gun owners or the types of weapons they can purchase, it is unlikely that gun violence in the United States can be stopped. While gun control laws are built on the principle of making a nation safer by limiting its citizens' access to firearms, stricter gun regulations will effectively prevent illegal gun acts. Indeed, criminals will not be stopped just because firearms are illegal. For example, Norway, by American standards, is one of the strictest regimes in the world. In 2011, Anders Breivik killed 69 people in Norway. However, the strict regulation of firearms in this state is irrelevant when considering the actions of Anders Breivik (Tisdall). Additionally, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the data was on mass shootings, showing that a lot of gun violence also occurred…half of the paper…preventing future mass shootings. Works Cited Dao, James. “Aurora Gunman's arsenal: shotgun, semi-automatic rifle, and, finally, a pistol.” www.nytimes.com. Np, July 23, 2012. Web. Feinstein, Diane. “2013 Assault Weapons Ban.” United States Senator Dianne Feinstein. Np and Web. Good, Chris. “The Case Against Gun Background Checks.” ABC News. ABC News Network, April 10, 2013. Web.Levenson, Michael. “Following Newtown Massacre, Massachusetts Panel Recommends State Gun Laws Be Tightened.” Boston.com. The New York Times, February 3, 2014. Web."Number of deaths due to firearm injuries per 100,000 population." Kaiser Family Foundation. Np, nd Web.Tisdall, Simon. “Norwegian gun laws prove easy to ignore.” Guardian News and Media, 24 July 2011. Web.United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Division of Criminal Justice Information Services. GPO, 2011. Web.