Firearms, Violence, and Civil Disorders

• NCJ Number: 11802
• Author(s): A Kotz; H Hair
• Date Published: 1968
• Length: 112 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored

Annotation

STUDY OF THE ROLE OF FIREARMS IN URBAN CIVIL DISORDERS, FOCUSING ON THE USE OF FIREARMS IN THE RIOTS IN NEWARK AND DETROIT IN 1967.

Abstract

THE STUDY FOUND THAT VIOLENCE BY FIREARMS IN THE NEWARK AND DETROIT DISORDERS WAS SUBSTANTIALLY EXAGGERATED BY THE MEDIA AND BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS. HOWEVER, THE RESEARCH ESTABLISHED THAT SUBSEQUENT TO THE DISORDERS THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE PURCHASE AND REGISTRATION OF FIREARMS BY PRIVATE CITIZENS, PRIVATE PARAMILITARY FORCES, AND POLICE FORCES. ON THE BASIS OF MUCH LOWER RATES OF HOMICIDE BY GUN IN COUNTRIES WITH EFFECTIVE FIREARMS CONTROL LAWS, THE STUDY CONCLUDES THAT THE UNITED STATES CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO HAVE FIREARMS EASILY AVAILABLE AND RECOMMENDS EFFECTIVE FIREARMS REGISTRATION AND LICENSING LAWS.