Guns

Guns

36% of American households possess guns, decrease from 50% in last 20 years (more female based households)

31% of adults own a gun This percentage constant over the last

40 years Number of guns has increased—now

about 200 million + in circulation

Guns

How is it that the number of guns has increased but the percentage owning guns remains constant

Two reasons: (1) growth in adult population in US; and (2) gun owners now own more guns (gun-owning households average 4.5 guns, a major increase)

Guns

Increase in handguns in gun-owning households

Most households that have a handgun also own rifle and/or shotguns

Only 13% of gun owners state that their guns are for self-protection only

Generational tradition

Demographics

Most owners are male Reside in rural areas or small towns Older and higher income West has highest rate, followed by

South, then Midwest, Northeast lowest

Deaths by guns

30,000 to 40,000 per year Most are homicides and suicides A small percentage (about 5%) are

accidents or unknown The rest are about evenly split between

homicides and suicides (usually slightly more suicides)

Deaths

Nearly as many people die by guns as by auto accidents (deaths by auto accidents have declined)

Gun accidents are also declining Homicide rates have remained relatively

constant The majority of homicides occur with

handguns (around 70%)

Homicides

Victims and perpetrators using guns in homicides tend to be male, African American and young

Homicide is the leading cause of death for black males ages 15-34, ten times higher than for white males, and 50 times higher than for white females

This rate has increased significantly

Injuries

Not all gunshot wounds end in a fatality 6 times as many are shot and are

wounded Unknown number are shot at but not

wounded Even larger number are threatened

Conflicting groups

Gun owners older white males, as are many NRA members

Victims of gun violence are young urban black males

Different concerns at stake

Current gun laws

Federal: various taxes imposed Certain types of machineguns, shotguns

and silencers must be registered Laws for manufacturers involved in

interstate or foreign commerce Prohibition of transport of firearms in

interstate commerce to felons or fugitives from justice

Federal

Interstate transfer of stolen firearms or those with mutilated serial numbers is forbidden

State laws

Vary considerably About ½ require a license to sell

handguns Some require permit to purchase License to possess Waiting period between purchase and

delivery

State laws

License to carry Many prohibit carrying a concealed

handgun Some require license to carry in a

vehicle About ½ prohibit carrying a loaded gun

in a vehicle A few require registration

Limitations

Federal laws do not affect local purchase

The variation in state laws makes it possible to circumvent state laws by going to another jurisdiction

Mail order houses Large black market of guns Too small for police to track (not cars)

Do guns make a difference?

Issues Self-defense Are criminals deterred? Will they seek

more vulnerable-looking victims? Crime rates Lethality of crime

Self-defense

Do people successfully defend themselves?

NCVS indicates it is unusual, < 1% of violent crimes

3% against intruders in the home Kleck comes up with much higher

estimates based on other surveys

Self-defense

Based on surveys, there are reliability problems

One problem: self-defense usually is used to refer to a law-abiding person who is preyed upon

Surveys may include people engaged in delinquent and criminal acts who carry in self-defense

Do guns deter criminals?

Some states have passed laws allowing concealed weapons, and crime rates have dropped

However, crime rates also dropped in states without such laws

A survey of imprisoned felons indicates that they consider the possibility of armed victims

Deter?

Do they then decide not to commit the crime? Look for victims unlikely to be armed? Change or develop more elaborate techniques? (I.e., take extra precautions to ensure no one is at home)

Do guns affect crime rates?

Probably little effect on nonviolent crimes

Does not appear to affect overall volume of violent crime

However, does appear to affect the lethality of our violent crime

Lethality

More than 90% of LE officers killed with a gun

All presidential assassinations Multiple murders (postal shootings,

school shootings, etc.) Robberies and assaults have a greater

probability of death if a gun is used

Lethality

This tells us little about non-lethal attacks

Mandatory sentencing for crimes involving guns were found to reduce crime rates in 3 states (may substitute less lethal weapons)

However, injury rates may rise

Lethality

On the other hand, may prevent injury to victim in cases of self-defense

Do more guns mean more crime? Suicides and homicides more likely in

homes with guns More guns, more homicides committed

with guns Prevalence of gun ownership highly

correlated with the percentage of homicides and suicides

More crime?

Criminals tend to obtain guns from people they know rather than from gun dealers—easier in a place where there are more guns

Loans and temporary arrangements may be very common

A high percentage of crimes involving guns are stolen—again the # of guns

Public health perspective

Very high rate of gun deaths in the US How does one reduce injury and death Suicides would probably be reduced if

guns in homes were reduced, and public health advocates want restrictions on guns

Less clear with respect to homicide Emphasis on reducing deaths

Welfare economics

Is it worthwhile to try to reduce the number of guns?

Self-defense issue important, as is the deterrent effect on criminals

2nd amendment issue

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Some argue that it no longer applies (we now have a military and police, which was not the case when the Constitution was framed)

2nd amendment

Supreme Court generally has not struck down any laws regulating guns

Meaning depends on the viewer Some argue that we should have the

right to guns, but that this would carry certain responsibilities, such as training, proper storage, safety regulations

Proposed policies

Taxes, fees: more expensive Limiting the number of guns one could

buy, usually per month. This would prevent buying guns and selling them illegally to inner city youth

“buy back” programs Public education and training programs

Proposals

Requiring licensing Development of national data base to

keep guns from certain individuals (not only felons—mentally ill, for example)in combination with waiting periods

Limiting certain types of weapons—automatic, teflon-coated bullets, etc.

Proposals

Safety requirements on guns (parallel safety features on cars)

Using technology to eliminate guns from certain places (I.e., bars, schools, etc)

Prosecuting illegal carrying of concealed weapons (MA’s Bartley-Fox amendment)

Proposals

Stepped-up activities against illegal marketing activity

Increased cooperation among law enforcement agencies

Use of lawsuits against gun manufacturers who make and sell unsafe products

Challenge

Determining what works Disagreement about which values

should be most important