OTTAWA, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The homicide rate in Canada and the rate of killing by gun dropped in 2006, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday.
During the year, police departments across the country reported 605 homicides, including 190 involving firearms. The homicide rate was 1.85 per 100,000 population.
The country's homicide rate peaked in the 1970s at about 3 per 100,000 and has been inching down since then to a low of 1.73 in 2003. The rate increased slightly in 2004 and 2005 before dropping about 10 percent in 2006.
The rate of firearms homicides dropped 16 percent, although the percentage involving sawed-off rifles and shotguns doubled.
While the homicide rate was down, the rates of other violent crimes -- including attempted murder, assault and robbery -- went up in 2006 as they did in 2005.
Only 17 percent of homicide victims were killed by strangers. In about one-third of homicide cases the killer and the victim were acquainted; in 17 percent they were spouses; and in 19 percent they were relatives.
In 12 percent of the cases, the killer and victim knew each other through criminal activity.
