NCJ Number
55183
Date Published
1976
Length
69 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY REVIEWS THE PROBLEM OF HANDGUNS AND HANDGUN CONTROL, CURRENT FEDERAL AND STATE FIREARMS LEGISLATION, AND THE OPINIONS OF 122 HEADS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES REGARDING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF GUN CONTROL.
Abstract
THE FIRST SECTION DOCUMENTS THE PROLIFERATION OF GUN OWNERSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES AND FINDS THAT HANDGUNS ARE USED IN 54 PERCENT OF MURDERS, WHILE SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES FIGURE IN 14 PERCENT. OF THE 147 POLICE OFFICERS KILLED BETWEEN 1965 AND 1974, 96 PERCENT WERE KILLED BY GUNS. MAPS CORRELATE GUN OWNERSHIP AND CRIME RATES. THE PROS AND CONS OF GUN CONTROL ARE GIVEN, AND A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION IS PRESENTED. THE SURVEY OF 200 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WAS CONDUCTED BY THE PLANNING AND RESEARCH DIVISION OF THE BOSTON, MASS., POLICE FORCE. THE FINDINGS ARE BASED ON 122 QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES RECEIVED; 54 WERE FROM MUNICIPAL POLICE CHIEFS, 39 FROM STATE POLICE OR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTORS, AND 29 FROM COUNTY SHERIFFS. ALL SURVEYED DEPARTMENTS HAD 200 OR MORE SWORN OFFICERS. IT WAS FOUND THAT ONLY 12.3 PERCENT OF POLICE ADMINISTRATORS FAVORED A BAN ON PRIVATELY OWNED HANDGUNS AND NEARLY ALL APPROVED OWNERSHIP OF LONG GUNS. THEY ALSO APPROVED THE POSSESSION OF GUNS IN THE HOME OR BUSINESS. THE CARRYING OF HANDGUNS ON THE PERSON RESULTED IN THE GREATEST DISPARITY OF OPINION. THE LARGEST OPPOSITION TO THE CARRYING OF HANDGUNS CAME FROM HIGH VIOLENT CRIME JURISDICTIONS AND LARGE POLICE FORCES. NEARLY ALL FAVORED BANNING 'SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIALS' AND NEARLY ALL FELT SOME SORT OF LICENSING AND PERMIT SYSTEM RUN BY STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WAS THE PREFERRED FORM OF GUN CONTROL. TABLES PRESENT SURVEY DATA. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE REFERENCES AND DATA ON GUN-RELATED INCIDENTS, VIOLENT INCIDENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND ESTIMATED EFFECTS OF HANDGUN REGULATION ON VIOLENT INCIDENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS.(GLR)