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
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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