NCJ Number
64994
Journal
JOURNAL OF URBAN LAW Volume: 51 Dated: (1974) Pages: 491-524
Date Published
1974
Length
34 pages
Annotation
HANDGUN USE SHOULD BE ABOLISHED, AS THESE WEAPONS SERVE FEW LEGITIMATE PURPOSES AND STUDIES INDICATE THEIR ABOLISHMENT WOULD REDUCE CRIME.
Abstract
GOVERNMENT REPORTS SHOWED 90 MILLION FIREARMS IN CIVILIAN HANDS IN 1968, ALTHOUGH THE FIGURE MAY BE HALF THE TRUE TOTAL. MOREOVER, SALES OF LONG GUNS DOUBLED AND SALES OF HANDGUNS QUADRUPLED BETWEEN 1962 AND 1968. GOVERNMENT RESEARCHERS ALSO ESTIMATE HANDGUNS CONTRIBUTE TO 86 TO 96 PERCENT OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS, HOMICIDES, AND ROBBERIES IN LARGE U.S. CITIES. ALTHOUGH OPPONENTS OF GUN CONTROL LIST HUNTING, SELF-DEFENSE, SPORT SHOOTING, AND COLLECTING AS THE LEGITIMATE USES OF FIREARMS, THE ARTICLE ALLEGES THAT HANDGUNS USED IN SELF-DEFENSE OFTEN KILL THE WRONG PEOPLE AND ARE RARELY USED IN SPORTS SHOOTING OR HUNTING. HANDGUN USE SHOULD BE ABOLISHED BECAUSE IT GREATLY ENDANGERS PUBLIC SAFETY. FURTHER, STUDIES COVERING THE PERIOD 1967-1970 CONCLUDE THAT STRICT HANDGUN CONTROL LEGISLATION AS IN NEW JERSEY WOULD ELIMINATE 4,200 TO 6,400 GUN DEATHS ANNUALLY, ALTHOUGH OTHER TYPES OF CRIME MIGHT NOT BE AFFECTED. OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE FEDERAL AND STATE FIREARMS LAWS, REGULATION VERSUS ABOLISHMENT OF HANDGUNS, CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES RAISED BY THE ABOLISHMENT OF HANDGUNS, AND PROCEDURES FOR ABOLISHMENT. IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT HANDGUNS ARE STRICTLY REGULATED, THEIR AVAILABILITY WOULD REMAIN WIDESPREAD. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)