NCJ Number
47861
Date Published
1973
Length
28 pages
Annotation
STATISTICS CONCERNING THE AVAILABILITY AND USE OF HANDGUNS IN THE U.S., GUNS AND VIOLENCE, AND THE CORRELATION BETWEEN GUN CONTROL AND GUN CRIMES ARE PRESENTED TO SUPPORT AN ARGUMENT FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION.
Abstract
THIS REPORT, PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY, IS CONCERNED WITH VIOLENT CRIMES COMMITTED USING HANDGUNS BOTH NATIONWIDE AND IN NEW YORK CITY. STATISTICS ARE FIRST PRESENTED WHICH ILLUSTRATE THE EXTENT TO WHICH HANDGUNS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. THE FIREARMS MARKET; NUMBERS SOLD EACH YEAR; BASIC FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BUYING GUNS (E.G., AGE, IDENTIFICATION) ARE EXAMINED. U.S. HANDGUN OWNERSHIP IS THEN COMPARED WITH THAT OF 10 OTHER COUNTRIES; THE U.S. RANKS HIGHEST OF ALL. AN OVERVIEW OF GUNS AND AND VIOLENCE THROUGHOUT THE NATION CONTAINS INFORMATION ON NUMBERS OF GUN DEATHS, NUMBERS OF CRIMES COMMITTED USING GUNS, AND POLICE KILLINGS BY FIREARMS. THE PROBLEM IN NEW YORK CITY IS THEN EXAMINED. DATA SHOW THAT NEW YORK'S STRINGENT STATE AND LOCAL GUN CONTROL LAWS HAVE ACTED TO CURB THE NUMBER OF GUN CRIMES IN THE CITY, HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO ASSERTED THAT THE ABSENCE OF EFFECTIVE NATIONAL CONTROAL HAS UNDERMINED LOCAL EFFORTS. POLICE KILLINGS IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE TYPES OF WEAPONS USED ALSO EXAMINED. EVIDENCE IS PRESENTED WHICH SHOWS A CORRELATION BETWEEN GUN CONTROL AND GUN CRIMES. THE U.S. GUN CRIME RATE IS COMPARED WITH THOSE OF OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE STRICT CONTROLS, AND THE RATE HERE IS SHOWN TO BE MUCH HIGHER. REGIONS WITHIN THE U.S. ARE ALSO COMPARED; DATA SHOW THAT THE SOUTH, WITH THE HIGHEST GUN OWNERSHIP AND WEAKEST LAWS, LEADS THE NATION IN THE PERCENTAGE OF HOMICIDES COMMITTED WITH FIREARMS AND IN THE RATE OF ACCIDENTAL GUN DEATHS. FINALLY, IDEAL PROVISION WHICH SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO A FEDEARL GUN CONTROL LAW (BASED ON EXPERIENCE WITH FIREARMS ABUSE IN NEW YORK CITY) ARE OUTLINED. THESE SUGGESTED PROVISIONS INCLUDE A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL FIREARMS BE REGISTERED; A BAN ON THE DOMESTIC MANUFACTURE, ASSEMBLY, OR SALE OF HANDGUNS NOT SUITABLE FOR SPORTING USE; AND A REQUIREMENT THAT GUN MANUFACTURERS, TRANSPORTERS, AND SELLERS TAKE APPROPRIATE SECURITY MEASURES TO GUARD AGAINST FIREARMS THEFTS. (VDA)