Gun Sales Research Articles

Universal Background Checks, Permit Requirements, and Firearm Homicide Rates

A loophole in US gun policy is that people can purchase guns from private sellers without going through any background check. Some states have addressed this loophole by requiring universal background checks for all gun sales, either at the point of sale or through a permit system; however, most studies on the effectiveness of universal background checks have not analyzed these 2 policy mechanisms separately. To assess the association of point-of-sale background check law and gun permit law, separately, with firearm homicide rates from 1976 through 2022 using the same methods and model specification. This cross-sectional study used a difference-in-differences, fixed-effects regression model to evaluate firearm laws and firearm homicide rates in 48 states from 1976 through 2022. Data were obtained for 48 states except New Hampshire and Vermont and were analyzed in January 2024. Implementation of either the law requiring a universal background check at point of sale for all firearms without a permit or the laws combining universal background checks and a state permit requirement for all gun purchasers. Annual, state-specific rates of firearm homicide per 100 000 people. From 1976 through 2022, 12 states adopted the universal background check laws without permitting requirements and 7 states implemented gun permit laws covering all firearms. The mean (SD) firearm homicide rate was 4.3 (0.1) per 100 000 people. Universal background checks for all firearms alone (without a state permitting system) were not associated with overall homicide rates (percentage change, 1.3%; 95% CI, -6.9% to 10.4%) or firearm homicide rates (percentage change, 3.7%; 95% CI, -5.3% to 13.6%). A law requiring a permit for the purchase of all firearms was associated with significantly lower overall homicide rates (percentage change, -15.4%; 95% CI, -28.5% to -0.01%) and firearm homicide rates (percentage change, -18.3%; 95% CI, -32.0% to -1.9%). This cross-sectional study found that universal background checks alone were not associated with firearm homicide rates, but a permit requirement for the purchase and possession of firearms was associated with substantially reduced rates of firearm homicide. The findings suggest that combining universal background checks and permit-to-purchase requirements is an effective strategy for firearm-related fatality reduction.

Guns and Democracy: Anti-System Attitudes, Protest, and Support for Violence Among Pandemic Gun-Buyers

The last decade has given rise to substantial concern about democratic backsliding in the U.S. Manifestations include decreased trust in government, conspiratorial beliefs, contentious protests, and support for political violence. Surprisingly, prior work has not explored how these attitudes and behaviors relate to gun-buying, an action that provides people with the means to challenge the state. We address this topic by focusing on the unprecedented gun-buying surge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a survey with over 32,000 respondents, we find that—relative to pre-existing gun owners (who did not buy during the pandemic) and the non-gun-owning public—pandemic gun-buyers are more likely to distrust government, believe in conspiracies, protest, and support political violence. These anti-government views and protest behaviors are especially likely among those who bought guns for political reasons. Our findings highlight a crucial dynamic underlying the recent spike in gun sales with consequences for American democracy.

Pengawasan Kepemilikan Senjata Jenis Air Gun dan Airsoft Gun di Indonesia: Perspektif Yuridis Normatif

The current phenomenon is that there are many cases of the use of air guns and airsoft guns whose true purpose is for sports activities, to be a tool to frighten, terrorize and injure other people. Another thing, the circulation of these types of weapons in the community, deserves attention from law enforcement, because they can cause various incidents. This study uses the normative juridical method, which is to carry out a juridical analysis regarding the ownership of air guns and airsoft guns in the laws and regulations in Indonesia. The results of the research are: the implementation of supervision is carried out by the police; supervision is carried out by means of checking and securing the implementation of permits, and carrying out investigations and investigations in the event of irregularities; also give warnings/sanctions and; as well as revoking licenses and withdrawing weapons. Owners of air guns and airsoft guns are obliged to: store firearms in the warehouse of the Indonesian Shooting Association (Perbakin) or Clubs or in a safe place when not in use; obey the rules; extend the license when the validity period expires; report to the police if the weapon is lost; do not bring weapons to locations that are not permitted; do not use for other purposes; and put an orange tip on the weapon. Suggestions that can be given include: The function of granting licenses in the sale and ownership of air guns and airsoft guns, should be more stringent, especially in terms of conditions that must be met; air guns and airsoft guns must have a manual and explain the dangers if misused. There are criminal sanctions against owners of air guns and airsoft guns who carry, display, and use these weapons in an inappropriate manner.

Gun-Related Deaths Continue to Rise.

Report documents record gun sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vision-threatening ocular injury secondary to calcium carbide gun use in Indian children and young adults: A case series

Ocular injury, a significant risk factor for acquired visual impairment, is common among children and young adults during Indian festivals. However, calcium carbide gun-induced ocular injuries have rarely been reported. The current manuscript describes the clinical profile and sociodemographic information of five young male patients from central India who were injured while using cheap carbide guns with no safety features bought from local vendors/made at home using online information. All patients had monocular injuries (eyelid edema, conjunctival congestion, corneal opacification, and limbal ischemia) with vision loss ranging from 6/36 to no light perception. Improper handling, easy availability, low cost, and lack of awareness of risks contributed to the incident. Therefore, it is recommended that public awareness be generated, and restrictions are imposed on the widespread unlicensed sale of carbide guns and raw materials.

The Rising Epidemic of Mass Shootings in the US and Its Association with Gun Legislation, Laws, and Sales

Journal of the American College of Surgeons 236(5):p S46, May 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/01.XCS.0000932680.45889.d2

The effects of mass shootings on gun sales: Motivations, mechanisms, policies and regulations

Surges in firearm sales after mass shootings have been well documented in the United States. This study presents three main findings regarding the impact of mass shootings on firearm demand and the moderating roles played by political and regulatory climates. First, mass shootings led to an immediate but temporary increase in gun sales. This effect continued for approximately 3–6 months after the incidents and was larger for shootings with a greater number of fatalities. Second, the association between mass shootings and gun sales was significant only under Democratic presidents. The party affiliation of the state legislature and state-level gun control did not moderate this association. Third, the increased firearm sales after mass shootings did not result in a higher level of firearm ownership. It appeared most purchases were made by current gun owners stockpiling additional firearms, thus indicating the fear of stricter gun control as a likely motivation. This study offers the following policy implications: (a) the public debates concerning gun violence could have the unintended consequence of raising gun demand among current owners, (b) the message of tightening gun control could increase the total stock of firearms in circulation, and (c) the regulations to prevent future mass shootings may be better addressed by the state government as a state-level regulation does not trigger demand response among potential consumers.

Examining a Dataset on Gun Shows in the US, 2011–2019

Gun shows are public gatherings where licensed gun dealers and private gun owners use formal and informal venues to exchange information or sell and buy firearms, accessories, and ammunition. A major challenge is that gun shows, unlike established business locations, can be considered gray zones where regulatory loopholes facilitate the movement of legal firearms to illegal domains both domestically and internationally. Given this, they tend to feed into gun trafficking schemes. Despite this, gun shows are poorly monitored. Moreover, these events are not tracked by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and what little is known comes from academic studies, press releases, or outdated ATF reports. To address this gap, update information, and generate a better understanding of how gun shows connect with gun trafficking, we generated a gun show dataset in the US from 2011 to 2019. We compiled information on promoted gun shows from three main sources, The National Rifle Association Magazine and the websites Gun Show Trader and Shooting Illustrator. We completed our dataset by looking at other minor sources that promoted gun shows. Our dataset encompasses information of 20,691 gun shows and suggests that 71% of them occurred in states where background checks were not required during gun sales between private individuals. We argue that scholars and practitioners will find in this dataset an original tool to analyze gun shows and their impact on public security and public health.

A Closer Look at the Rising Epidemic of Mass Shootings in the United States and Its Association With Gun Legislation, Laws, and Sales

IntroductionMass shootings pose a considerable threat to public safety and significantly cost the United States in terms of lives and expenses. The following are the specific aims of this study: (1) to assess US mass shootings, firearm-related sales, laws, and regional differences from 2015 to 2021 and (2) to investigate changes in mass shootings and firearm sales before and during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. MethodsA retrospective review was conducted of mass shootings, gun sales, and laws regarding the minimum age required to purchase a firearm within the United States from 2015 to 2021. The 10 states/regions with the greatest mean mass shootings/capita from 2015 to 2021 were selected for further analysis. ResultsMass shootings correlated significantly with firearm sales from 2015 to 2021 nationwide (P < 0.02 for all). The growth in mass shootings, the number killed/injured, and gun sales were greater in 2020 and 2021 compared to the years prior. The 10 states with the highest mean mass shooting/capita over the study period were Alabama, Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, and Tennessee. No significant correlation was found between the number of mass shootings/capita and the minimum age to purchase a firearm. ConclusionsFirearm sales correlated significantly with mass shootings from 2015 to 2021. Mass shootings and gun sales increased at greater rates during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic compared to the years before the pandemic. Mass shootings exhibited inconsistent trends with state gun laws regarding the minimum age to purchase a firearm. Future studies may consider investigating the methods by which firearms used in mass shootings are obtained to further identify targets for prevention.

Acute and Delayed Cerebrovascular Injury From Gunshot to the Head in a 12-Year-Old Child During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Acute and Delayed Cerebrovascular Injury From Gunshot to the Head in a 12-Year-Old Child During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Persistent Effect of Violent Trauma on Urban Communities 25 Years After Tupac Shakur's Murder.

The Persistent Effect of Violent Trauma on Urban Communities 25 Years After Tupac Shakur's Murder.

Slipping Through the Cracks? The Impact of Reporting Mental Health Records to the National Firearm Background Check System

Prominent players on both sides of the contentious debate over firearm regulation agree that some people with mental illness should be prohibited from purchasing firearms. This consensus exists despite limited empirical support. We assess the impact of states reporting mental health records to the national firearm background check system on homicide and suicide. Using panel data and a difference-in-differences methodology, we find that upon adding mental health records to the national system, states experienced a 3.3–4.3% decrease in firearm-related suicides with no evidence of substitution to non-firearm suicides. Our findings suggest that mental health restrictions on gun sales do effectively reduce suicide but not homicide.

Where Are the Guns? Evaluating Gun Prevalence Measures and Their Connection with Homicides Using Gun Sales Data

Where Are the Guns? Evaluating Gun Prevalence Measures and Their Connection with Homicides Using Gun Sales Data

Multi-method Examination of Elder Mistreatment in the Age of COVID-19

A multi-method study exposed COVID-19 influence on the pre-existing epidemic of elder mistreatment in Utah. We found changes in 1) abuse types, 2) service responses, 3) firearm access and 4) policy implications. Gun sales were tracked by news surveillance and FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for pre-pandemic (2018/2019) and pandemic years (2020/2021). New requests for permits skyrocketed during the pandemic. The 2021 Utah State Legislature loosened restrictions on concealed permits. Domestic violence (DV) Fatality Tracker Data in pre-covid years were compared to 2020-2021. A figure illustrates the prevalence of DV fatalities, ages of victims by year and methods used. We conducted 15 in-depth interviews of stake holders who serve DV victims (shelters, police, etc.). DV shelters had a relative lack of children during the pandemic, but increased use by older persons 60+. Susceptibility to chronic respiratory distress syndrome, required social distance for older persons. DV shelters obtained CARES Act funds to adapt solutions, like placing victims in hotel rooms. Most victims stayed at home, confined with abuser(s), some without technology, so isolation decreased their safety. Evidence suggests some fatalities among elder adults. A case study during the pandemic described a 73-year-old mother’s suspicious bank account activity. Bank employees sent police to her home. She was missing, but her co-resident adult son was in possession of her bank cards. She was later found in a shallow grave. Utah households have increased risks of DV fatalities in the wake of the pandemic and for years to come.

Warning behaviors and leaked intent: Potential new avenues to prevent mass shootings

On March 12, 2018, John Laubscher, owner of AJ's Archery in Nelson, NY, had a gut feeling and refused to sell a rifle to a Syracuse University student-disrupting a mass shooting (https://www.syracuse.com/crime/2018/04/how_gun_shop_owner_thwarted_on_the_edge_su_student_from_buying_high-capacity_rif.html. Accessed 10 Nov 2021). Prompted by this, we surveyed the opinions, beliefs, attitudes, and current practices of gun sellers in Onondaga County, NY, in regard to safe gun sales. The primary outcome was to determine which types of "concerning behaviors" are more likely to cause a seller to intervene in some manner. Secondary outcomes included the following: ascertaining the frequency of denials of customer purchases, frequency of reporting to law enforcement, and identifying any gaps that make it difficult for gun sellers to report behaviors to the authorities. Follow-up interviews were conducted with those who were willing to speak with the authors in more depth. A response rate of 12.9% was achieved. Sixty-two percent (62.5%) of respondents had some experience in uniformed services, with specialized training in mental or emotional crises, as well as deception detection. The majority found the training helpful in their gun selling career. Reasons for personal denials were reported as: "interest in illegal fittings," "information revealed during conversation," and "lack of basic knowledge of using the firearm looking to purchase." Two respondents stated that due to a lack of a "reporting protocol," they would not report any concerns to law enforcement. The study helps inform future research in regard to surveying more sellers across NY state and nationwide.

New White House strategy to prevent military, veteran suicide

The Biden administration on Nov. 2 announced a series of priority goals and executive actions they said will drive suicide prevention actions forward. The new plan is also intended to include safe storage of guns and best practices for gun sales, focusing on military members and veterans.

Outcomes of Firearm Injuries Among Children in the PICU

Source: Bagdure D, Foster CB, Garber N, et al. Outcomes of children with firearm injuries admitted to the PICU in the United States [published online ahead of print June 7, 2021]. Pediatr Crit Care Med. doi:10.1097/PCC.0000000000002785Investigators from the University of Maryland, College Park, conducted a retrospective study to assess the morbidity and mortality among children admitted to the PICU with firearm injuries. Data for this study was obtained from 107 PICUs participating in the Virtual Pediatrics Systems (VPS) database, a consortium of PICUs that contribute demographic and clinical data on hospitalized children. VPS data from 2009–2017 were obtained for the current study.Patients with firearm injure in the VPS database using ICD codes. Among identified patients, demographics, cause of firearm injury (assault, suicide attempt, unintentional, or undetermined), site of injury, and discharge scores on validated scales for overall functional morbidity (the Pediatric Overall Performance Category; POPC) and cognitive impairment (Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category; PCPC) were abstracted from VPS. The primary outcome was death in the PICU. Secondary outcomes included discharge scores on the POPC and PCPC among those who survived, with scores categorized as normal, mild, moderate, or severe disability, or coma/vegetative state. The investigators used chi-squared tests to assess the association of demographics and clinical characteristics with outcomes.There were 1,447 identified patients admitted to the PICU for firearm injuries. Of these, 44.60 were Black, 77.50 were male, and 57.30 were 13-18 years old. The most common cause of firearm injury was unintentional (67.70), and the most common site of injury was the head or neck (30.70).Overall, 175 (120) patients died, with a higher proportion of white (41.10) children who died compared to Black (30.90) and Hispanic (6.90) children (P < 0.05). Suicide attempt was the cause of firearm injury with the highest rate of death (52 of 95 patients with suicide attempt by firearm injury died). Overall, among those who survived to discharge, most had mild disability.The investigators conclude that the mortality among children admitted to the PICU for firearm injury is high.Dr Bratton has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device.The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has intensified economic and social stressors and highlighted the presence of systemic racism in the US. Gun ownership and violent crime as well as mass shootings have increased dramatically during the past year.1 In the current study of PICU gun victims, male, teenaged, and Black children were over-represented. Younger children were more likely to have unintentional injuries compared to older children. Assault was more common among Black children, while self-inflicted injuries were more common in white children, led to head and neck injuries, and were more frequently lethal. To develop and evalu-ate prevention strategies to decrease firearm injuries and death, the investigators need to capture information on all children at risk for firearm injuries and death. Those who die prior to hospital admission and those with less severe injuries not requiring PICU care need to be included as well as those treated in adult hospi-tals. For some pediatric groups (such as Black males 15-18 years old), assault with firearms is the leading cause of death, while drowning and motor vehicle accidents remain more common in white children 1 to 10 years of age.2In order to evaluate populations at risk for firearm injuries, important factors include the relationship of the victim to the shooter, the injury intent, and determination of the impact of alcohol and drugs, gangs, poverty, racism, or access to guns. Other factors include mental illness, robbery, domestic violence, or hate crimes.3 Public support favors strict enforcement of back-ground checks prior to purchasing a gun as well as prohibition of gun sales with high-capacity magazines.3 However, the impact of legislation targeted to decrease mass shootings, or from shooters with a history of mental illness who passed a background check, remains untested.2Firearm injuries are a significant, largely preventable, cause of morbidity and mortality in children admitted to the PICU. These injuries impact males and minority groups at much higher rates.The mortality rate from firearm injuries in the current study is 5 times greater than the all-cause PICU mortality.4 As most of the injuries are unintentional, and most survivors incur neurologic morbidity, is it not time to institute preventive strategies?

Transmitting Desire: An Experiment on a Novel Measure of Gun Desirability in a Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and protests have marked an unprecedented increase in U.S. gun sales. But America has long been an outlier; the stockpile of private guns climbed to almost 300 million in 2017. Scholars use multiple theories to explain why gun sales have tripled since the early 2000s, and why disruptions like the pandemic might cause gun sales. However, scholars have difficulty evaluating these theories with existing retrospective estimates of gun sales and other measures, limiting their ability to test theory or suggest policy changes. This study uses the known increase in gun sales during the COVID-19 pandemic to introduce and experimentally validate a novel measure of gun desirability. With a sample of 4,240 U.S. residents, this project demonstrates that gun desirability is a valid measure of inclination toward gun ownership, and that a pandemic video vignette significantly increases overall gun desirability relative to a control video vignette. These results serve as a foundation for future scholarship to (1) discern gun desirability trends, (2) evaluate theorized causes of gun desirability, and (3) consider interventions on those conditions that arouse desire for gun ownership.

Rising Gun Sales in the Wake of Mass Shootings and Gun Legislation.

Although gun control laws are intended to reduce exposure to gun violence in communities across the country, the passage of gun control laws is often linked to a substantial rise in the number of guns sold in the U.S. National polls indicate that most individuals purchase firearms for protection, but some cite the fear of gun-buying restrictions as the main reason for purchasing a gun. It is unclear what impact gun legislation has on patterns of gun sales, as mass shootings continue to bring the U.S. gun debate to the forefront. Using statewide data on gun transactions in Massachusetts from 2006 to 2016, we examined patterns in gun sales following the passage of gun legislation and high profile mass shootings. Specifically, we used three events to test and refine the argument during this time period: (1) the Newtown shooting, (2) the San Bernardino shooting, and (3) the passage of the 2014 Massachusetts Gun Violence Reduction Act. Results from these time-series analyses indicated different patterns in handgun sales, with significantly larger increases occurring among first-time handgun buyers. Our findings complement prior work explaining the impact of mass shootings and gun control laws on the exposure to guns in communities.

Badges and ‘Sticks’: Police Power Dynamics and African Agency in Nineteenth-Century Colonial Natal

In 1860, a case was brought before the court of Pietermaritzburg in the colony of Natal over the illegal possession and sale of guns. What made this case unique was the primary witness against the defendant: an African constable named Budaza. Budaza proudly claimed in his testimony that he had threatened the defendant with his ‘sticks’ during the arrest, despite the constable having misplaced his badge. Though Budaza appears only briefly in the colonial records, his testimony during the trial highlighted his firm belief in his position that transcended the badge he did not possess. Symbols of office like the badge and ‘sticks’ (likely a spear and knobkerrie) were signs of authority within the colonial community, but also representative of an internalised sense of power during this formative period of Natal. When these symbols of leadership and state power were implemented, they revealed a solidified sense of legitimacy granted by the colonial government but also embodied in the attitudes of African policemen. This article will use Budaza’s case to help answer questions of police and colonial power and the notion of indigenous agency in the rural and urban segments of Natal. The interaction between Black police and white settler society will reveal the transitory nature of power in these police institutions and the complicated way these narratives are remembered within the history of KwaZulu-Natal.