Guns and CrimeGuns and Crime

Disturbing StatisticsDisturbing Statistics

• _________________annually involve firearms_________________annually involve firearms

• _________________accidents each yr. _________________accidents each yr.

• _________________firearm homicides in 2003 _________________firearm homicides in 2003

• More than _____additional crimes involved More than _____additional crimes involved

firearms that yearfirearms that year

• However, # of gun-related crimes decreasingHowever, # of gun-related crimes decreasing

How Many Guns Are How Many Guns Are There in the U.S?There in the U.S?

Two Estimation TechniquesTwo Estimation Techniques

1. Production-Based Estimates1. Production-Based Estimates

• Count guns manufactured Count guns manufactured • Subtract exportedSubtract exported• Add importedAdd imported• = ___________= ___________

– ___ are handguns___ are handguns• Ways in which estimate is flawedWays in which estimate is flawed

2. Survey-Based Estimates2. Survey-Based Estimates

Household surveys since 1959Household surveys since 1959

________ homes report at least 1 ________ homes report at least 1

gungun

Prevalence has remained constantPrevalence has remained constant

Who Owns Guns?Who Owns Guns?

1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

4. 4.

• Ownership not consistently higher in Ownership not consistently higher in groups where violence is highergroups where violence is higher

• Survey data don’t show patterns Survey data don’t show patterns have changed over yearshave changed over years

Why Do People Own Guns?Why Do People Own Guns?

• Firearms generally: _______Firearms generally: _______

• Handguns: ________Handguns: ________

• The _______ and _______more likely to The _______ and _______more likely to own firearms own firearms

• Lack of confidence in criminal justice Lack of confidence in criminal justice systemsystem

Criminal’s Motivations for Gun Criminal’s Motivations for Gun OwnershipOwnership

• SurvivalSurvival

• Capital investmentCapital investment

• Robbers with a gun have an average Robbers with a gun have an average take of 3 times that of unarmed take of 3 times that of unarmed robbersrobbers

What Kinds of Guns What Kinds of Guns Do Criminals Have?Do Criminals Have?

• The Focus on “Bad Guns”The Focus on “Bad Guns”1.1. Machine GunsMachine Guns

2.2. Assault WeaponsAssault Weapons

3.3. Saturday Night SpecialsSaturday Night Specials

Machine Guns in CrimeMachine Guns in Crime

• In Miami: < 1% of all homicides In Miami: < 1% of all homicides

• In Los Angeles: not even recorded by policeIn Los Angeles: not even recorded by police

• In Chicago: not a single machine guns seized In Chicago: not a single machine guns seized

by police in drug warrant executions during by police in drug warrant executions during

80’s80’s

Assault WeaponsAssault Weapons

• Assault weapon ban in 1994 Federal Crime Assault weapon ban in 1994 Federal Crime Control Bill (Diane Feinstein)Control Bill (Diane Feinstein)

• Difficulty in defining AWsDifficulty in defining AWs• Initially, semi-automatic weapons with large Initially, semi-automatic weapons with large

capacity magazinescapacity magazines• Winnowed to guns that had ________Winnowed to guns that had ________

What is Considered an “Assault What is Considered an “Assault Weapon”?Weapon”?

Rifle classified as an “assault weapon” if it has Rifle classified as an “assault weapon” if it has detachable magazine and posses two of the detachable magazine and posses two of the followingfollowing

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Assault Weapons Used in CrimeAssault Weapons Used in Crime

• Nationally, from 1980-1994 (pre-ban), only ___ of Nationally, from 1980-1994 (pre-ban), only ___ of confiscated guns were "assault weapons".confiscated guns were "assault weapons".

• Last year, Last year, ____ of criminals that used guns used ____ of criminals that used guns used “assault weapons”.“assault weapons”.

• Ban abolished in September 2004Ban abolished in September 2004

Saturday Night SpecialsSaturday Night Specials

• ATF definitionATF definition Less than ____Less than ____ ___ caliber or smaller bore___ caliber or smaller bore Barrel length of ____ or lessBarrel length of ____ or less

• Used in ____of all violent crimes involving Used in ____of all violent crimes involving

gunsguns• Criminals no more likely to ownCriminals no more likely to own

Guns and Violent Crime:Guns and Violent Crime:

Four Major QuestionsFour Major Questions

1. Do guns facilitate violence?Do guns facilitate violence?

2.2. Are guns more likely to result in injury or death?Are guns more likely to result in injury or death?

3.3. Do more guns mean more crime, more Do more guns mean more crime, more

suicides?suicides?

4.4. Do more guns mean less crime?Do more guns mean less crime?

1. Do Guns Facilitate Violence?1. Do Guns Facilitate Violence?

• Evidence suggest that gunsEvidence suggest that guns do do facilitatefacilitate violence violence– Provide impersonal, quick, antiseptic violenceProvide impersonal, quick, antiseptic violence

• Famous Arthur Kellerman study Famous Arthur Kellerman study – Persons with households with guns ___ more Persons with households with guns ___ more

likely to be victim of homicidelikely to be victim of homicide• Problems with the studyProblems with the study

1.1. 2.2.

2. Are gun assaults more likely to 2. Are gun assaults more likely to cause injury or death?cause injury or death?

• Injuries from gun-related assaults from NCVInjuries from gun-related assaults from NCV _____ of those shot at were hit_____ of those shot at were hit _____ of those attacked with knife were injured_____ of those attacked with knife were injured

• Deaths from gun-related assaultsDeaths from gun-related assaults _____ gun wounds result in death_____ gun wounds result in death _____ knife wounds result in death_____ knife wounds result in death

3. Do more guns mean more crime, 3. Do more guns mean more crime, more suicides?more suicides?

• Gun supply - in particular, handguns - has steadily Gun supply - in particular, handguns - has steadily increasedincreased

• Appears unrelated to violent crime, suicides, & even Appears unrelated to violent crime, suicides, & even property crimesproperty crimes

Sidebar: Why kill yourself with a Gun?

• 2/3s of all suicides involve firearms2/3s of all suicides involve firearms• Why do people choose guns?Why do people choose guns?• Most guns used in suicides not purchased for that Most guns used in suicides not purchased for that

reasonreason• Laws providing a _______ period unlikely to preventLaws providing a _______ period unlikely to prevent• Availability of guns _______ to suicide rateAvailability of guns _______ to suicide rate

Do More Guns Mean More Crime? Additional Insights from RobberyAdditional Insights from Robbery

• No overall effect on robbery ratesNo overall effect on robbery rates• Does ________________________Does ________________________

• Injuries Injuries ____________________ in gun robberies in gun robberies• When injuries do occur, those robbed with When injuries do occur, those robbed with

guns are ________ to be seriously injuredguns are ________ to be seriously injured• Murder is more likely in gun robberiesMurder is more likely in gun robberies

• Guns affect robbery targetsGuns affect robbery targets

3. Do More Guns Mean Less Crime?3. Do More Guns Mean Less Crime?

Do guns provide a Do guns provide a deterrentdeterrent effect? effect?• Specific v. general deterrenceSpecific v. general deterrence

National surveys show guns _____ a National surveys show guns _____ a specific specific

deterrentdeterrent effect effect Incidence of defensive gun use (DGU)Incidence of defensive gun use (DGU)

• ______ DGUs annually______ DGUs annually• _______times more often than used in crime_______times more often than used in crime

Guns Ownership and General Guns Ownership and General DeterrenceDeterrence

Several sources suggest a Several sources suggest a general deterrent effectgeneral deterrent effect

International comparisons in burglariesInternational comparisons in burglariesCountries with ________ of gun ownership, Countries with ________ of gun ownership,

burglars __________enter occupied homesburglars __________enter occupied homes

Studies of imprisoned felonsStudies of imprisoned felonsFelons report had decided not to commit crime Felons report had decided not to commit crime

because knew or believed _________because knew or believed _________

More Evidence of aMore Evidence of a General Deterrence Effect General Deterrence Effect

Firearm training in OrlandoFirearm training in Orlando

• 2500 women taught to use guns2500 women taught to use guns• Decrease of Decrease of ____________ in rate of rapes next ____________ in rate of rapes next

yyear in Orlandoear in Orlando• Rate Rate ______________________________ in rest of Florida in rest of Florida

Still, More Evidence of a Still, More Evidence of a General Deterrent EffectGeneral Deterrent Effect

Studies showing increased in CCW permits reduce Studies showing increased in CCW permits reduce crimecrime

John Lott’s study of 3,000 counties 1977-1992John Lott’s study of 3,000 counties 1977-1992

• Violent crime drops when states switch from Violent crime drops when states switch from ______________ permit policies to __________ laws permit policies to __________ laws

• After switch, murder fell by 8%; rapes by 5%After switch, murder fell by 8%; rapes by 5%

• In entire country, number of murders went up by In entire country, number of murders went up by 24% and rapes by 71%24% and rapes by 71%

Gun Control LegislationGun Control Legislation More than _____ guns laws in USMore than _____ guns laws in US Most laws enacted following high profile shootingMost laws enacted following high profile shooting Cover several different areasCover several different areas

1.1. 2.2. 3.3. 4.4.

First attempt to control gunsFirst attempt to control guns• Federal Firearms Act of 1938Federal Firearms Act of 1938• Certain individuals prohibited from purchasing Certain individuals prohibited from purchasing

(under indictment, convicted, fugitives)(under indictment, convicted, fugitives)

Gun Control Legislation (cont’d)Gun Control Legislation (cont’d)

List of ineligibles expanded in Gun Control Act of 1968 List of ineligibles expanded in Gun Control Act of 1968 minors, drug addicts, mentally illminors, drug addicts, mentally ill No means of enforcementNo means of enforcement

Brady Bill (1993) provided enforcement of GGABrady Bill (1993) provided enforcement of GGA Waiting period of 5 working daysWaiting period of 5 working days Allowed for background checkAllowed for background check

Brady Bill provisions led to creation of National Instant Brady Bill provisions led to creation of National Instant

Criminal Background Check implemented in 1998Criminal Background Check implemented in 1998

Brady Bill StatsBrady Bill Stats

Over ___ million applications since 1994Over ___ million applications since 1994_____ % rejected_____ % rejected_____ % due to felony conviction_____ % due to felony conviction_____ % due to misdemeanor domestic violence_____ % due to misdemeanor domestic violence remainder due to mental illness, drug addiction, remainder due to mental illness, drug addiction,

et.et.

Effects of Gun LawsEffects of Gun Laws Recent review by CDCRecent review by CDC

““insufficient evidence with which to conclude the insufficient evidence with which to conclude the effectiveness of firearm laws in modifying violent effectiveness of firearm laws in modifying violent outcomes.”outcomes.”

Example of New York’s Sullivan lawsExample of New York’s Sullivan laws• Illegal to own handgun without permitIllegal to own handgun without permit• ____ armed robberies in U.S. occur in NYC____ armed robberies in U.S. occur in NYC

Example of Washington, DCExample of Washington, DC• illegal to own handgunillegal to own handgun• ______ homicide rate in Nation______ homicide rate in Nation

Response by Gun Control Response by Gun Control AdvocatesAdvocates

Accept the failure of gun lawsAccept the failure of gun laws Concede too many lawsConcede too many laws

• •

Need broader gun control lawsNeed broader gun control laws• Point to gun control laws in other countriesPoint to gun control laws in other countries• Example of JapanExample of Japan

Would such a law work in U.S.?Would such a law work in U.S.?

Response by Opponents of Gun Response by Opponents of Gun ControlControl

Example of SwitzerlandExample of Switzerland– 6 million persons, 2 million guns6 million persons, 2 million guns– 600,000 automatic assault weapons600,000 automatic assault weapons– murder rate comparable to Japanmurder rate comparable to Japan

Universal military serviceUniversal military service Other firearms easily obtainedOther firearms easily obtained

The Debate Over the 2nd The Debate Over the 2nd AmendmentAmendment

2nd Amendment2nd 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..

Competing Explanations of 2nd Amendment

Interpretation by Interpretation by proponents of gun controlproponents of gun control

____________________________________________________________________

Only guarantees states ____________________Only guarantees states ____________________

The Argument over 2nd AmendmentThe Argument over 2nd Amendment

Opponents of gun controlOpponents of gun control

• Point to historical scholarship showing Founding Point to historical scholarship showing Founding

Fathers intentions that Americans have right to be Fathers intentions that Americans have right to be

armedarmed• Concern about ______________Concern about ______________• Concern about ______________Concern about ______________

Supreme Court rulings

• Only 1 decision in 20th century Only 1 decision in 20th century – U.S. v. Miller (1939)U.S. v. Miller (1939)– Not violation of 2nd Amendment to possess Not violation of 2nd Amendment to possess

______________________________________________________• Court has yet to articulate the 2Court has yet to articulate the 2ndnd Amendment Amendment