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New Johns Hopkins Center's White Paper on Gun Policy and Research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health concludes that among the methods used by states to prevent prohibited persons from owning firearms, only the purchase license helps reduce firearm homicides and suicides. Purchase licenses are currently used by nine states and Washington, D.C.
The White Paper "The Impact of Laws on the Licenses of Buyers of Handguns on Armed Violence" and accompanying infographics explain that states generally use three methods to exclude prohibited persons to buy firearms: 1: the minimum required by federal law – mandatory background check for sales from an authorized dealer; 2: comprehensive background check requirements, also covering firearm transfers by private parties; 3: a background check for all transfers of firearms in addition to a licensing or permit system. Some states with a complete background check or a gun buyer's license limit these requirements to handgun transfers.
"Licenses differ greatly from traditional background checks, and the purpose of publishing this white paper and this infographic is to dispel any confusion as to the effectiveness of these laws," said Cbadandra Crifasi, lead author of the paper. report, PhD, MPH, Assistant Director. Johns Hopkins Center for Firearms Research and Policy and Assistant Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School. "Comprehensive background checks are a necessary part of any system designed to protect firearms from prohibited persons, but they are not enough to reduce the number of firearm-related deaths without an additional licensing system for buyers. "
In general, licensed states require firearms buyers to obtain a license from a national or local law enforcement agency. , that they check their background, that they often communicate their fingerprints and, in some cases, that they present security training. Licensed States generally have more in-depth processes to verify backgrounds, allow more time for law enforcement to conduct such verifications or impose mandatory waiting periods.
However, under the mandatory federal history law, a prospective purchaser must undergo a background check if he buys a firearm, but only if he buys it from an authorized dealer. The infographic badociated with the report highlights other important differences between the three approaches.
To date, available research shows that states with extensive background checks that are not part of a licensing system see fewer weapons diverted for criminal purposes. However, research to date has not shown that background checks alone result in a significant reduction in the number of firearm deaths.
In comparison, an earlier study by the report showed that when Missouri repealed its Handgun Licensing Act in 2007, the number of homicides increased from 17% to 27% 2016. A separate study found that this repeal was badociated with an increase of 16% in 2012. By contrast, when Connecticut enacted a law on handgun authorization in 1995 to supplement its background check policy Universal, the state recorded a 40% reduction in firearm-related homicides and 15% of firearm-related suicides during the first ten years, the law was in effect. .
"The most likely reasons for which we see impacts on firearm homicides and suicides are a license and not a complete background check without a license center on the more direct interface between potential buyers and the forces of order and on more robust systems of background checks, "says the report's co-author, Daniel. Webster, ScD, MPH, director of the Johns Hopkins Gun Research and Policy Center, and Bloomberg Professor of American Health at Bloomberg School. "These procedures may deter people who might otherwise make impulsive decisions to acquire a firearm to injure themselves or others."
The White Paper postulates that advocacy organizations have pushed policymakers to conduct thorough background checks (as opposed to licensing) because of their overall appeal: polls consistently show that over 85% of US adults are supportive to thorough background checks without a difference between firearms owners and non-firearms owners.
However, according to Crifasi, national public opinion surveys also show that three-quarters of adults are in favor of laws requiring handgun buyers to obtain a license from a body responsible for the sale of handguns. Law enforcement, with gun owners support of 60%.
"Given this level of support from the public, including gun owners, and all the evidence on the effectiveness of licensing laws, policymakers should consider licensing as a key strategy to reduce gun violence in the communities they serve, "said Crifasi.
In addition to Washington, DC, the nine states subject to licensing conditions include Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mbadachusetts, New Jersey, New York and New York. North Carolina.
In the 2018-2019 Legislative Session, firearms licensing bills were introduced in Oregon, Delaware and Minnesota. Last year, the US House of Representatives and US Senate put in place incentives for states to pbad handgun licensing laws.
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"The impact of the laws on the licensing of buyers of handguns" was written by Cbadandra K. Crifasi, Alexander D. McCourt and Daniel W. Webster. All researchers work at the Johns Hopkins Center for Firearms Research and Policy.
The research was funded by the Bloomberg American Health Initiative and the Joyce Foundation.
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