NCJ Number
46015
Date Published
1976
Length
143 pages
Annotation
THIS SURVEY OF FIREARMS ABUSE AND EFFORTS AT CONTROL IN OHIO AND U.S. FOCUSES ON WHETHER STRICTER GUN CONTROL IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST RATHER THAN ON HOW STRICTER CONTROL CAN BE ACHIEVED.
Abstract
THE REPORT PROVIDES FACTUAL INFORMATION REGARDING SUCH QUESTIONS AS WHETHER THE EMPHASIS OF GUN CONTROL MEASURES SHOULD BE ON HANDGUNS OR WHETHER RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED; WHETHER THESE EFFORTS SHOULD BE CONCENTRATED AT LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL LEVELS; WHETHER MANUFACTURE, SALE AND POSSESSION OF CERTAIN GUNS SHOULD BE PROHIBITED OR PERMITTED WITHIN A FRAMEWORK OF STRICT LICENSING AND REGISTRATION; AND WHETHER 'SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIALS' ARE ANY LESS DANGEROUS THAN OTHER HANDGUNS. DATA ON GUN OWNERSHIP IN OHIO AND THE U.S. AND ON GUN PRODUCTION, SALE, USE, AND LICENSING PATTERNS ARE DISCUSSED. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FIREARMS AND VIOLENCE IN THE U.S. AND OHIO IS EXAMINED, AND THE ROLE OF FIREARMS IN SUICIDE, ACCIDENTS, AND SUCH CRIMES AS MURDER, ROBBERY, RAPE, AND ASSAULT IS DOCUMENTED. GUNS AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, GUNS FOR PROTECTION, AND THE COSTS OF GUN ABUSE IN THE U.S. AND OHIO ARE ALSO EXAMINED. THE SCOPE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING GUN CONTROL LAWS ON THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS AND PROPOSALS FOR TIGHTENING THE GUN CONTROL ACT ARE EVALUATED, AS ARE PROPOSALS FOR REGISTRATION, RESTRICTION OF POSSESSION, AND THE BANNING OF HANDGUNS. PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS REVIEWED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING LEGISLATION, ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)