NCJ Number
158365
Date Published
Unknown
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This policy paper of the Pacific Center for Violence Prevention views violence from a public health perspective and proposes interventions and prevention measures that comply with a public health model; the primary focus is on addressing the instrumentality of violent behavior that inflicts the most severe injuries as well as deaths, i.e, firearms.
Abstract
In discussing the dimensions of the link between firearms and violence, the paper addresses suicides, unintentional deaths, homicides, and associated events. Other sections focus on bearing arms, manufacturing protectionism, why handguns are particularly problematic in exacerbating youth violence, and the cost of firearm injury. The paper prefaces its policy recommendations with the acknowledgement that firearm use is not a primary factor in causing violence; however, firearms do make violent acts more lethal and injurious. Three policy recommendations are proposed to reduce firearm-related violence. First, remove pre-emption language to allow cities and counties the power to regulate firearms; second, ban the possession, sale, and ownership of handguns and assault weapons; and third, restrict ammunition availability by caliber and quantity. Activities associated with these recommendations may include the development of and adequate funding for an agency to oversee all firearm sales, manufacturing, and injuries; increased fees for licenses to sell firearms; and the allocation of greater fiscal responsibility to firearm manufacturers and dealers through taxation, the establishment of insurance requirements, and extension of private causes of action. Further, all market supports for firearm manufacturing should be removed. 7 figures and 114 references