1. Guns 36% of American households possess guns, decrease from 50% in last 20 years (more female based households) 31% of adults own a gun This percentage constant over the last 40 years Number of guns has increased—now about 200 million + in circulation

2. Guns How is it that the number of guns has increased but the percentage owning guns remains constant Two reasons: (1) growth in adult population in US; and (2) gun owners now own more guns (gun-owning households average 4.5 guns, a major increase)

3. Guns Increase in handguns in gun-owning households Most households that have a handgun also own rifle and/or shotguns Only 13% of gun owners state that their guns are for self-protection only Generational tradition

4. Demographics Most owners are male Reside in rural areas or small towns Older and higher income West has highest rate, followed by South, then Midwest, Northeast lowest

5. Deaths by guns 30,000 to 40,000 per year Most are homicides and suicides A small percentage (about 5%) are accidents or unknown The rest are about evenly split between homicides and suicides (usually slightly more suicides)

6. Deaths Nearly as many people die by guns as by auto accidents (deaths by auto accidents have declined) Gun accidents are also declining Homicide rates have remained relatively constant The majority of homicides occur with handguns (around 70%)

7. Homicides Victims and perpetrators using guns in homicides tend to be male, African American and young Homicide is the leading cause of death for black males ages 15-34, ten times higher than for white males, and 50 times higher than for white females This rate has increased significantly

8. Injuries Not all gunshot wounds end in a fatality 6 times as many are shot and are wounded Unknown number are shot at but not wounded Even larger number are threatened

9. Conflicting groups Gun owners older white males, as are many NRA members Victims of gun violence are young urban black males Different concerns at stake

10. Current gun laws Federal: various taxes imposed Certain types of machineguns, shotguns and silencers must be registered Laws for manufacturers involved in interstate or foreign commerce Prohibition of transport of firearms in interstate commerce to felons or fugitives from justice

11. Federal Interstate transfer of stolen firearms or those with mutilated serial numbers is forbidden

12. State laws Vary considerably About ½ require a license to sell handguns Some require permit to purchase License to possess Waiting period between purchase and delivery

13. State laws License to carry Many prohibit carrying a concealed handgun Some require license to carry in a vehicle About ½ prohibit carrying a loaded gun in a vehicle A few require registration

14. Limitations Federal laws do not affect local purchase The variation in state laws makes it possible to circumvent state laws by going to another jurisdiction Mail order houses Large black market of guns Too small for police to track (not cars)

15. Do guns make a difference? Issues Self-defense Are criminals deterred? Will they seek more vulnerable-looking victims? Crime rates Lethality of crime

16. Self-defense Do people successfully defend themselves? NCVS indicates it is unusual, < 1% of violent crimes 3% against intruders in the home Kleck comes up with much higher estimates based on other surveys

17. Self-defense Based on surveys, there are reliability problems One problem: self-defense usually is used to refer to a law-abiding person who is preyed upon Surveys may include people engaged in delinquent and criminal acts who carry in self-defense

18. Do guns deter criminals? Some states have passed laws allowing concealed weapons, and crime rates have dropped However, crime rates also dropped in states without such laws A survey of imprisoned felons indicates that they consider the possibility of armed victims

19. Deter? Do they then decide not to commit the crime? Look for victims unlikely to be armed? Change or develop more elaborate techniques? (I.e., take extra precautions to ensure no one is at home)

20. Do guns affect crime rates? Probably little effect on nonviolent crimes Does not appear to affect overall volume of violent crime However, does appear to affect the lethality of our violent crime

21. Lethality More than 90% of LE officers killed with a gun All presidential assassinations Multiple murders (postal shootings, school shootings, etc.) Robberies and assaults have a greater probability of death if a gun is used

22. Lethality This tells us little about non-lethal attacks Mandatory sentencing for crimes involving guns were found to reduce crime rates in 3 states (may substitute less lethal weapons) However, injury rates may rise

23. Lethality On the other hand, may prevent injury to victim in cases of self-defense

24. Do more guns mean more crime? Suicides and homicides more likely in homes with guns More guns, more homicides committed with guns Prevalence of gun ownership highly correlated with the percentage of homicides and suicides

25. More crime? Criminals tend to obtain guns from people they know rather than from gun dealers—easier in a place where there are more guns Loans and temporary arrangements may be very common A high percentage of crimes involving guns are stolen—again the # of guns

26. Public health perspective Very high rate of gun deaths in the US How does one reduce injury and death Suicides would probably be reduced if guns in homes were reduced, and public health advocates want restrictions on guns Less clear with respect to homicide Emphasis on reducing deaths

27. Welfare economics Is it worthwhile to try to reduce the number of guns? Self-defense issue important, as is the deterrent effect on criminals

28. 2 nd amendment issue “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.” Some argue that it no longer applies (we now have a military and police, which was not the case when the Constitution was framed)

29. 2 nd amendment Supreme Court generally has not struck down any laws regulating guns Meaning depends on the viewer Some argue that we should have the right to guns, but that this would carry certain responsibilities, such as training, proper storage, safety regulations

30. Proposed policies Taxes, fees: more expensive Limiting the number of guns one could buy, usually per month. This would prevent buying guns and selling them illegally to inner city youth “buy back” programs Public education and training programs

31. Proposals Requiring licensing Development of national data base to keep guns from certain individuals (not only felons—mentally ill, for example)in combination with waiting periods Limiting certain types of weapons— automatic, teflon-coated bullets, etc.

32. Proposals Safety requirements on guns (parallel safety features on cars) Using technology to eliminate guns from certain places (I.e., bars, schools, etc) Prosecuting illegal carrying of concealed weapons (MA’s Bartley-Fox amendment)

33. Proposals Stepped-up activities against illegal marketing activity Increased cooperation among law enforcement agencies Use of lawsuits against gun manufacturers who make and sell unsafe products

34. Challenge Determining what works Disagreement about which values should be most important