NCJ Number
180467
Journal
Alaska Justice Forum Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 1999 Pages: 1-8
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This document reports the results of a telephone survey of all 38 Chief Law Enforcement Officers (CLEO) throughout Alaska to determine the effectiveness of training and the overall knowledge of the Brady Act.
Abstract
Enacted in 1994, as an addition to the Gun Control Act of 1964, the Brady Act expressly prohibits the sale of handguns to individuals who fall under certain classifications. Assessment of how well the Brady Act works in Alaska included examining training of the individuals responsible for compiling background checks on applicants for handgun purchase and the results of applicant denials. Only 50 percent of the CLEOs surveyed said they had received any training materials; at no time was any information distributed that gave detailed definitions for each category of applicants who could be denied handgun purchase under the Brady Act. Sixty percent of CLEOs had contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms or the Federal Bureau of Investigation for help, but only 31 percent found them to be any help. Brady Act enforcement has been switched from local to national level. Figure