Finals (Gun Laws)
Link between gun and violence
430,000 violent crimes were committed in US in 2000 by offenders armed with a gun 2004- guns involved in the death in nearly 30,000 individuals in US
1774?
52% male "wealthholders" owned gun at time of death Recent survey = 46% of US households own a gun
Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1995
Federal crimes for an individual carrying a gun to travel on public sidewalks, streets,/ highways that pass within 1,000 feet of the property line of a k-12 school
What level are gun control legislation made at
Federal, state, and local states pass the majority of gun control laws and strictest control are enacted by municipal govts.
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1994
Federally mandates a 5 DAY WAITING PERIOD before a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer may sell, deliever, or transfer a handgun to an unlicensed individual However, the waiting period applies only in states without an acceptable alternate system of conducting background checks on handgun purchasers
Gun Control Act of 1968
Regulates interstate commerce in firearms by prohibiting interstate firearms transfers expect among licensed manufacturers, dealer, & importers
Majority Gun in US
Rifles and Shotguns
2 distinct subcultures of gun owners?
Thosoe who own for sporting purposes & Those that own for protection purposes
Highest gun ownership?
groups where violence is low
Concern about firearms
gun availability increased violence
2004
gun involved in death of 29,569 americans. through homicide, suicide / accident
where does American Gun Ownership stem from
rural, hunting subcultures
Issue with gun control and gun ownership with 2nd amendment
"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
Laws that are effective
- gun registries and intensive police patrols directed at illicit gun carrying in high-violence neighborhoods MAY DETER CRIMES Bans on felon guns possession and background check
Types of gun laws legislation
-Bans or restrictions on specific firearms or ammunition -Restrictions on firearms acquisition -Waiting periods for firearm acquisition -Firearm registration and licensing of firearm owners -Concealed weapon and open carry laws -Child access prevention laws -Zero tolerance laws for firearms in schools -Sentencing laws that provide for enhanced penalties in cases involving the illegal use of firearms
problems with assessing gun laws
-not many good (methodologically rigorous) studies that have been done -lack of reliable measure -using inappropriate comparisons -# and variety of firearms & crime prevention laws
National Firearms Act of 1934
1 federal law aims at regulating guns imposed a tax on the manufacture and transfer a certain firearm and the mandatory registration of those firearms
How many firearms
200-250 million firearms in circulation in US Estimate of 4.5 million new firearms sold each year
impacts of gun laws on violence
2003 study by CDC= out of 51 states examined at least 1 out of 8 different type of gun laws, there is insufficient evidence to determine if any law were effective
Carrying firearms in state park
Allowed in 32 states prohibited in 18 states
Gun control legislation purpose
control access to firearms & deter the use to commit violence/ other crimes
Castle Doctrine legislation?
enacted in 25 (southern and western) states 23 states have no restriction carrying a firearm for personal protection in restaurants serving alcohol 18 states have a partial ban 9 states have a complete ban
What does Cook and Ludwig believe will deter gun usage
increased police patrol and gun registration
Gary Kleck and Don Kates Suggest
narrowing targeted guns controls measures like ban on felon gun possession and background checks may be effective
What is Lethality effect? How is it produced
produced by a gun use by an aggressor it is an attack with a gun (gunshot wound) is more likely to result in death than an attack from a knife
Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program
provided $3 billion in funding in 1996
Community Oriented Policing Programs
provided several billions of dollars in funding in 1994
David Farrington and Brandon Welsh review finding
randomized experiments in criminology were relatively rare (found 83 that were conducted in 1982-2004) but.. only 1 in 5 produced significantly desirable results 80% of studies produced null finding
David Huizinga and Kimberly Henry finding
suggest that arrest on average either have no effect on crimes rates/ recidivism / they actually increase both
Victim defensive gun use can have positive effect
victims who used a gun during a crime incident = less likely to be injured/ lose property Studies indicate that offenders refrain from committing crimes if they believe the potential victim has a gun
