NCJ Number
48117
Journal
HARPER'S Volume: 255 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 37-44
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE OPERATIONS, SALES, AND REPORTING PRACTICES OF SOME MAJOR HANDGUN MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS ARE EXAMINED, ALONG WITH THE MARKET FOR AND USES MADE OF THE WEAPONS THEY PRODUCE AND SUPPLY.
Abstract
THE FIREARMS INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THE MOST SECRETIVE IN THE COUNTRY. NO ONE ACTUALLY KNOWS HOW MANY GUNS ARE MADE IMPORTED, OR SOLD EACH YEAR. THE GUN COMPANIES DO NOT PUBLISH THE FIGURES, AND THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS THE INDUSTRY TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS IN SECRET. THE GENERAL IGNORANCE ABOUT THE NUMBER OF GUNS BEING SOLD IS COMPOUNDED BY THE SPECIFIC IGNORANCE ABOUT WHAT KINDS OF GUNS ARE BEING SOLD, WHO MAKES THE PROFITS, HOW THE GUNS GET SHIPPED, HOW MANY GET STOLEN, HOW AND WHERE THEY GO, AND TO WHOM. OPPONENTS OF STRICT GUN CONTROL LAWS HAVE LONG INSISTED THAT 'SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIALS' -- CHEAP, SMALL HANDGUNS -- ARE THE TYPICAL GUNS USED IN CRIME. HOWEVER, A STUDY OF A SAMPLE OF GUNS SEIZED BY POLICE FROM CRIMINALS IN NINE MAJOR CITIES SHOWED THAT SMITH AND WESSON, AND COLT, MAKERS OF HIGH-QUALITY HANDGUNS, PRODUCED THE WEAPONS USED IN CRIMES MORE OFTEN THAN ANY OTHER BRANDS. RG INDUSTRIES, A SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL COMPANY, WAS THIRD. BY TRACING THE HISTORY OF THE HANDGUNS SEIZED, THE STUDY ALSO FOUND TO CONTROL TWO TYPES OF GUN BLACK MARKETS: THE FIRST IS THE MARKET IN STOLEN GUNS, WHICH ACCOUNT FOR 20 TO 30 PERCENT OF ALL GUNS USED IN CRIME; THE OTHER OFFERS HANDGUNS PURCHASED IN STATES WITH FEW RESTRICTIONS ON BUYERS, TRANSPORTED AND SOLD UNDERGROUND IN STATES WITH GREATER RESTRICTIONS. COLLECTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE GUN INDUSTRY IS ESSENTIAL IF EFFECTIVE GUN CONTROL LAWS ARE TO BE MADE. UNDER FEDERAL LAW, THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND FIREARMS (ATF) IS SUPPOSED TO MONITOR AND REGULATE GUNMAKERS. HOWEVER, THE INFORMATION THEY RECEIVE IS SPARSE AND INACCURATE, AND THE LAW IS WEAK. GUN COMPANIES ARE NOTORIOUSLY RELUCTANT TO GIVE OUT ANY INFORMATION ON THEIR SALES VOLUME. THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES A VISIT HE MADE TO THE RG INDUSTRIES PLANT IN MIAMI. HE SPOKE WITH THE COMPANY'S PRESIDENT UNDER THE PRETEXT THAT HE WAS INHERITING A SPORTING GOODS STORE AND WAS INTERESTED IN CARRYING RG'S PRODUCTS (CHEAP HANDGUNS). HE WAS GIVEN A TOUR OF THE PLANT AND WAS TOLD THAT RG SOLD APPROXIMATELY 350,000 GUNS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE COMPANY HAD REPORTED TO ATF THAT IT HAD SOLD ONLY 100,000 GUNS DURING THAT PERIOD. IN CONTRAST, THE AUTHOR ALSO SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY THAT OWNS SMITH AND WESSON. THIS MANUFACTURER KEEPS RECORDS OF WHERE ITS GUNS GO AND HAS ACTUALLY SUPPORTED A PROPOSAL THAT GUN OWNERS BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A LICENSE. IT IS, HOWEVER, JUST AS SECRETIVE ABOUT SALES FIGURES AS THE OTHERS. THE MANUFACTURER'S SECURITY IS BETTER THAN MOST, ALTHOUGH A STUDY HAS FOUND THAT MANY GUN THEFTS FROM SMITH AND WESSON AND ITS SHIPPERS AND DISTRIBUTORS GO UNREPORTED. THE AUTHOR RECOMMENDS THAT MANUFACTURERS BE FORCED TO PROVIDE STATE-BY-STATE SALES BREAKDOWNS, TO REPORT ALL THEFTS, AND TO TAKE ADEQUATE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS. (VDA)