| To receive copies of faculty research articles, please contact us. REGULATING FIREARMS DEALERS IN THE UNITED STATES: AN ANALYSIS OF STATE LAW AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Vernick JS, Webster DW, Bulzacchelli MT
Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics 2006;34:765-775.
Licensed firearm dealers are an important source of guns for criminals and gun traffickers. Federal law makes it difficult for ATF to inspect and revoke the licenses of problem gun dealers. State licensing systems, however, are a greatly under-explored opportunity for firearm dealer oversight. We identify and categorize these state systems to identify opportunities for interventions to prevent problem dealers from supplying guns to criminals, juveniles, or gun traffickers. Just seventeen states license gun dealers. Twenty-three states permit routine inspection of gun dealers but only two mandate that those inspections occur on a regular basis. Twenty-six states impose record-keeping requirements for gun sales. Only thirteen states require some form of store security measures to minimize firearm theft. We conclude with recommendations for a comprehensive system of state licensing and oversight of gun dealers.
EFFECTS OF POLICE STINGS OF GUN DEALERS ON THE SUPPLY OF NEW GUNS TO CRIMINALS
Webster DW, Zeoli AM, Bulzacchelli MT, Vernick JS
Injury Prevention 2006;12:225-230.
This study assessed the effects of undercover police stings and lawsuits against gun dealers suspected of facilitating illegal gun sales in 3 U.S. cities (Chicago, Detroit, and Gary) on the flow of new firearms to criminals. The intervention was associated with an abrupt 46% reduction in the flow of new guns to criminals in Chicago, and a more gradual reduction in new crime guns in Detroit. There was no statistically significant change associated with the stings in Gary, and no change in comparison cities that was coincident with the stings in Chicago and Detroit. Given the important role that gun stores play in diverting guns into the illegal market, further efforts of this type are warranted and should be evaluated.
EFFECTS OF A GUN DEALER'S CHANGE IN SALES PRACTICES ON THE SUPPLY OF GUNS TO CRIMINALS
Webster DW, Vernick JS, Bulzacchelli MT
Journal of Urban Health 2006;83:778-787.
Prior to May 1999, a single gun store sold more than half of the guns recovered from criminals in Milwaukee shortly following retail sale. Following news reports that this gun dealer had sold more guns subsequently used in crimes than any other dealer in the country, the store announced that it would no longer sell small, inexpensive handguns commonly used in crime. This study examined trends in crime gun traces in Milwaukee and three comparison cities in the Midwest and estimated that this store's new policy was associated with a 73% decline in the number of its guns linked to crime within a year of retail sale. The store's new policies were also associated with a 44% decrease in the total number of newly trafficked guns recovered from criminals in Milwaukee.
SEPARATING BATTERERS AND GUNS: A REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF LAWS IN 50 STATES
Frattaroli S, Vernick JS
Evaluation Review 2006;30(3):296-312.
Firearms play an important role in lethal domestic violence incidents. We review laws regarding two policies to separate batterers from firearms: laws authorizing police to remove firearms when responding to a domestic violence complaint ("police gun removal laws"), and laws authorizing courts to order guns removed from batterers through a protective order ("court-ordered removal laws"). As of April 2004, 18 states had police gun removal laws; 16 states had court-ordered removal laws. We examine relevant characteristics of the laws and recommend that these laws be mandatory, apply to all guns and ammunition possessed by an abuser, and include clear procedures to enhance implementation.
UNDERSTANDING AND INFORMING POLICY IMPLEMENTATION: A CASE STUDY OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROVISIONS OF THE MARYLAND GUN ACT
Frattaroli S, Teret SP
Evaluation Review 2006;30(3):347-60.
The Maryland Gun Violence Act, enacted into law in 1996, explicitly authorized courts to order batterers to surrender their firearms through civil protective orders. It also vested law enforcement with the explicit authority to remove guns when responding to a domestic violence complaint. In order to assess how these laws were implemented, we designed a case study and collected data from in-depth, key informant interviews, court observations, and relevant documents. We present findings from this study and recommend how to increase the likelihood that policies designed to separate batterers and guns are implemented in a way that will result in greater protections for victims of domestic violence.
USING LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH POWERS AS A TOOL FOR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION: THE BALTIMORE YOUTH AMMUNITION INITIATIVE
Lewin NL, Vernick JS, Beilenson PL, Mair JS, Lindamood LM, Teret SP, Webster DW
American Journal of Public Health 2005;95:762-765.
In 2002, the Baltimore City Health Department and the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research launched the Youth Ammunition Initiative. The initiative was a response to the discovery that some of the city's youth were illegally purchasing firearm ammunition from local businesses. The health commissioner's legal authority to identify and abate public health risks as well as state firearms laws were examined. Due to the ongoing epidemic of youth gun violence in Baltimore that qualified as a public health emergency, the health commissioner decided to use his powers to remedy the problem of illegal ammunition sales to underage youth. Undercover stings of local businesses were conducted and a local hardware store was cited for illegal ammunition sales. The store was ordered closed and abatement options were presented to the proprietor.
EFFECTS OF YOUTH-FOCUSED FIREARM LAWS ON YOUTH SUICIDES
Webster DW, Vernick JS, Zeoli AM, Manganello JA
JAMA 2004;292:594-601.
State-specific trends in suicides among youths ages 14-17 were analyzed to assess the effects of laws restricting firearm access to underage youth. Child access prevention (CAP) laws were associated with an 11% decrease in the risk of firearm suicides and an 8% decrease in suicide by any means among 14 to 17 year olds. The law had no significant effect on suicides by other methods. Laws establishing a minimum age for handgun purchase and possession were not associated with statistically significant reductions in suicide rates among youth. | 
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