,,Risk factors among handgun retailers for frequent and disproportionate sales of guns used in violent and firearm related crimes

Risk factors among handgun retailers for frequent and disproportionate sales of guns used in violent and firearm related crimes


 

Publication Date: October 2005

Publisher: Injury Prevention

Author(s): Mona A. Wright; Garen J. Wintemute; P.J. Cook

Research Area: Law and ethics; Social conditions

Keywords: firearm related crimes; gun shows; crime

Type: Report

Coverage: California

Abstract:

This study determines the retailer and community level factors associated with frequent and disproportionate sales of handguns that are later used in violent and firearm related crimes. It examined records from 421 licensed gun retailers in California selling at least 100 handguns annually during 1996–2000.
It identified all handguns sold by study subjects during this period and federal gun tracing records to determine which of these guns had been recovered by a police agency in the U.S. or elsewhere and traced by September 30, 2003.
It concludes that risk factors, largely determined at the retailer level, exist for frequent and disproportionate sales of handguns that are later used in violent and firearm related crimes. It also finds that screening to identify high risk retailers could be undertaken with data that are already available.