A Deep Look into the Push for Gun Purchaser Licensing Laws

Gun violence remains a nerve-racking issue for Americans, a tangled issue scoring high on the national agenda. As we dig into this matter, navigating the fine points of gun licensing laws can offer a unique perspective on gun control’s potential ways forward.

Suggesting Comprehensive Firearm Licensing

Researchers from both the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions and the Consortium for Risk-Based Firearm Policy recently issued a report titled “Firearm Purchaser Licensing: Research Evidence to Inform State Policy.” This study takes a closer look at the impact of comprehensive firearm purchaser licensing laws. Having data on their side, the researchers argue that more states should adopt such laws in order to reduce gun violence.

Five Core Components of Gun Licensing Laws

Comprehensive firearm purchasing laws, as per the report, should consist of five core components. These include firearms safety training, fingerprinting, in-person application, comprehensive background checks, and waiting periods between application and possession of a firearm. Navigating these subtle details, we find some states already have these measures in place, yet others lag behind.

Currently, 11 states and Washington, D.C., have rolled out active firearm purchasing licensing laws, but only five among them incorporate all the suggested components. Those five states are Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, and, of course, D.C.

The Evidence Behind the Proposal

The report highlights several significant findings which connect gun purchaser licensing to a decrease in gun violence. These are the confusing bits which the researchers highlight as a reason to press for such policies.

Data shows us a scary picture: in 2023 alone, over 46,000 people in the U.S. died from gunshot wounds a number that covers seven out of 10 homicides and 55% of suicides. Unfortunately, it seems that current federal laws are not enough to curb these numbers. Background checks are required for gun buyers at federally licensed stores, but private sales and gun shows are excluded. Plus, even if a background check is pending, the law allows gun sales to go on after three business days.

The report presents evidence to support the potential positive effect of gun purchaser licensing. One 2018 study linked these kinds of laws to an 11% reduction in gun homicides in urban counties from 1984 to 2015. Similarly, a 2020 study suggested that such laws were linked to 56% fewer mass shootings and 67% fewer victims on average. The same year, another study found that Connecticut’s 1995 handgun purchaser licensing law correlated to a 28% drop in the state’s gun homicide rate and a 33% drop in suicide rates.

Intriguingly, a study from 2014 revealed an opposing trend: after Missouri repealed its handgun buyer licensing law in 2007, the state saw a 25% increase in its gun homicide rate and a 16% increase in gun suicides over the next five years.

Push for Policy Changes in Gun Licensing Laws

This report shines a spotlight on the nitty-gritty of gun control laws, acting as a resource for policymakers and advocates. It calls on state policymakers to strengthen existing firearm purchaser licensing laws and implement them where they don’t exist. Loaded with intricate details and a wealth of vital information, the report’s intention is to guide those in power towards the reduction of gun violence.

In a nation where gun violence remains a predominant cause of mortality among children and young people, the recommendations in this report might be essential for policymakers and advocates. We can only hope that the twists and turns within the realm of gun control measures can be untangled, with policies that guide the nation toward lower rates of gun-related deaths.

Originally Post From https://www.newswise.com/articles/report-recommends-states-adopt-firearm-purchaser-licensing-laws-that-include-five-core-components/?ad2f=1&aid=823878

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