Firearm Markets and Firearm Violence

Project Summary for 2002-IJ-CX-0005

The goal of the proposed research is to increase our understanding of how firearms markets contribute to gun crime and violence by examining the risk factors or characteristics of those federal firearms licensee dealers (FFLs) who are associated with a disproportionate number of confiscated (crime) gun traces, controlling for overall sales volume. The project will analyze existing data sets, including gun tracing data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; data on California licenses from 1996-2000; and gun sales data from the California Department of Justice to identify and compare characteristics of low-risk (low-trace) and high-risk (high-trace) dealers. Site visits will also be made to selected FFLs to measure other characteristics of dealer staff and premises, including indications of illegal activity or special security procedures against theft. The study will have important implications for federal, state, and local firearms policies and law enforcement interventions.

Ca/ncf