Second Amendment Blog
Study on Gun Death Rate and Background Checks
Posted by: Sebastian on 
Jun 5th, 2008 | 
Filed under: Guns
I’m going to suggest this is likely a case of correlation not equaling causation, but expect the Brady’s to be touting this high and low. They mention 17 states as having state and local checks, but according to the DOJ, only 13 states have local POCs for firearms background checks, so the sample size is rather small. States which have local POCs:
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Virginia
Of course, that nearly 2/3rds of the states are there are generally pro-gun is something to consider. Another thing to consider is there’s a class of state that has state checks for pistols, and uses NICS for long guns. Maryland falls into that category. Since most crimes and suicides involving a gun involve a handgun, I think a study should include those as well. I’m not sure where they are getting 17 states from, and only 21 states relying on federal checks, since the DOJ states differ, and say it’s 28 states. I haven’t read the study though.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I’m not sure why that BJS chart you posted says otherwise, but here in DE they do conduct a state level background check in addition to the NICS check.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
It’s possible the DOJ’s data is bad. I need to actually see the study to know how they determined it.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
These results are not incredible, but it’s certainly possible that a multitude of factors influenced the reduction.
I have not read the full-blown paper, either.
This is just knee-jerk speculation, but I’d bet dollars to donuts that Joyce Foundation money at least in part supported this study.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
NC requires that you get a pistol purchase from the sheriff’s office before acquiring a handgun through ANY means, even gifts from family members… that permit bypasses the POS NICS check for any purchase though and can be used for a long gun
June 5th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
But what is the sheriff checking? I’d bet money he runs you through NICS, and that’s about it.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
As was told to me in my CCW class, Oregon residents have a local county check, a State check, a federal check and then an international check run through interpol.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Any study of anything to do with firearms that is conducted by a medical student [how does a medical student have time for this?] for a Medical Association is worthless.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:34 am
[...] know, state background checks generally mimic the NICS so I don’t see much to this story. It’s all in the state reporting the data to a system and not who reads the data that comes [...]
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