Cost-Benefit of Point-of-Contact (POC) Versus Non-POC Firearm Eligibility Background Checks

• NCJ Number: 222674
• Author(s): Dr. James M. Tien; Michael F. Cahn; David M. Einstein; Robin C. Neray
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 80 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2001-RU-BX-K002
• Agencies: BJS-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

The report assesses the cost-benefit of firearms purchase eligibility background checks.

Abstract

The findings indicated the following: a fraction of the firearm eligibility checks submitted by the State point of contacts (POCs) to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) replicated previously submitted checks regarding the same purchase transaction. With regard to buyer demographics, in both Georgia and Oregon, denied female purchasers exhibited a marked preference for handguns as compared to their male counterparts. By broadening their name search algorithm, the Oregon POC casts a very wide net when checking the names of prospective firearm purchasers against their Computerized Criminal History (CCH). As a result, their transactions result in hits on one or more State files for more than 70 percent of all purchase applicants; this is in contrast to the less than 30 percent of Oregon’s transactions resulting in hits on one or more of the NICS files. The average rate at which denials are appealed to NICS and are reversed is consistently around 28 percent across non-POC and partial-POC States. State POCs add value to the overall efficacy of firearm eligibility checks; it is estimated that POCs are able to increase deniability by 19.5 percent, in comparison to non-POC denials. The costs of performing firearm eligibility background checks across the two State POCs and the non-POC States are derived in terms of a parameter S, the percent of total NICS costs that pertain to automated system checks of the three NICS databases. Given these costs, one can also determine an added benefit-cost percent, assuming an added benefit percent of 19.5 percent. For example, assuming a plausible S of 25 percent, the added benefit-cost percent is 27.8 percent, thus justifying the maintenance of POCs. Five recommendations for improving the effectiveness of firearms eligibility background checks are suggested. Exhibits, references