 |
|
Effects of Limiting Handgun Purchases on Interstate Transfer of Firearms
Douglas S. Weil, ScD;
Rebecca C. Knox, MPH, MSW
JAMA. 1996;275(22):1759-1761.
Abstract
| |
Objective.
—To determine the effect of limiting handgun purchases to 1 per month on the illegal movement of firearms across state lines.
Design.
—Data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms firearms trace database were obtained for traces requested for firearms recovered in connection with criminal investigations. The analysis incorporates data on date and location of purchase for 14606 firearms purchased prior to (September 1989 through June 1993) and after (July 1993 through March 1995) enactment of a Virginia law limiting handgun purchases to 1 per month.
Main Outcome Measures.
—Odds of tracing a firearm acquired prior to implementation of the law to Virginia vs another state in the Southeast compared with the odds for firearms acquired after the law took effect.
Results.
—For firearms recovered anywhere in the United States, 3201 (27%) of 11 876 acquired prior to the implementation of the law and 519 (19%) of 2730 purchased after the law was enacted were traced to Virginia (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58-0.71). For traces initiated in the northeast corridor (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts), 1103 (34.8%) of 3169 of the firearms acquired before the 1-gun-a-month law took effect and 142 (15.5%) of 919 firearms purchased after implementation were traced to Virginia (OR, 0.34; CI, 0.28-0.41).
Conclusion.
—Gun control policies involving licensing, registration, and restricting the number of purchases represent efforts to limit the supply of guns available in the illegal market. This study provides evidence that restricting handgun purchases to 1 per month is an effective means of disrupting the illegal interstate transfer of firearms.
(JAMA. 1996;275:1759-1761)
Author Affiliations
From the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, Washington, DC.
Footnotes
Reprints: Douglas S. Weil, ScD, Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, 1225 I St NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005.
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Policies to prevent firearm trafficking
Vernick and Webster
Inj. Prev. 2007;13:78-79.
FULL TEXT
Explaining Variation in Gun Control Policy Advocacy Tactics among Local Organizations
Zakocs and Earp
Health Educ Behav 2003;30:360-374.
ABSTRACT
How the Law Affects Gun Policy in the United States: Law as Intervention or Obstacle to Prevention
Vernick and Mair
J Law Med Ethics 2002;30:692-704.
Relationship between licensing, registration, and other gun sales laws and the source state of crime guns
Webster et al.
Inj. Prev. 2001;7:184-189.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Research Note: Firearms Tracing Data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms: An Occasionally Useful Law Enforcement Tool but a Poor Research Tool
Kopel and Blackman
Criminal Justice Policy Review 2000;11:44-62.
ABSTRACT
The Future of Firearm Violence Prevention: Building on Success
Wintemute
JAMA 1999;282:475-478.
FULL TEXT
Support for New Policies to Regulate Firearms -- Results of Two National Surveys
Teret et al.
NEJM 1998;339:813-818.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Regulation of Firearms
Hemenway
NEJM 1998;339:843-845.
FULL TEXT
A Critique of the Epidemiologic Study of Firearms and Homicide
BLACKMAN
Homicide Studies 1997;1:169-189.
ABSTRACT
Effectiveness of Legislation Limiting Handgun Purchases
Blackman
JAMA 1996;276:1036-1036.
ABSTRACT
Strategic Thinking About Gun Markets and Violence
Cook and Cole
JAMA 1996;275:1765-1767.
ABSTRACT
|
