NCJ Number
79102
Journal
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Volume: 455 Dated: (May 1981) Pages: 92-109
Date Published
1981
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This article argues that gun control policies must strike a balance between conserving the legitimate use of handguns and reducing criminal use.
Abstract
Current Federal law seeks to accomplish this objective by discriminating between safe and unsafe gun owners -- allowing the former and prohibiting the latter from owning guns. However, an important practical problem soon arises containing guns within the entitled sector. Analysis of the current supply system suggests that gun offenders acquire guns from many different sources: purchases from licensed dealers, private transfers, thefts, and black markets. Among these, legitimate purchases seem most important in supplying assaulters, while thefts seem to be the most important in supplying armed robbers. The 'black market' appears difficult to distinguish from the other sectors. To the extent it is distinct, it seems to be populated primarily by small-scale, impermanent enterprises rather than by durable firms. Analysis of how existing institutions might be deployed against this system leads to the conclusion that local enforcement capacities and Federal regulatory efforts are the most important capacities to develop. Federal criminal investigative capabilities are important only for limited purposes, such as part of the effort to mobilize local police; as substitutes for local police in areas where they are unwilling to pick up the local burden; or for use in a small number of cases that involve large, interstate illegal firms. The most important institutions for containing guns in the entitled sector are local police departments. Tables and 18 footnotes are provided. (Author abstract modified)