The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71060

Daniel Webster, ScD, Center for Gun Policy and Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Sch of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Rm 593, Center for Gun Policy & Research, Baltimore, MD 21205, (410) 955-0440, dwebster@jhsph.edu

Background: A small fraction (~1%) of licensed gun dealers sell the majority of guns recovered in crimes. The crime guns sold by these dealers are often recovered shortly after retail sale, suggesting potential problems with sales practices. In Nov. 1998, Chicago police conducted stings that caught many of the top dozen crime gun dealers making blatantly illegal gun sales. ATF investigated these dealers and several were prosecuted. Methods: To investigate whether these enforcement activities had an effect on the flow of guns into the illicit market, we analyzed data on crime gun traces for the years 1996-1999 to assess whether trends in police recovery of crime guns within a year of their retail sale (a.k.a. "fast guns") had been altered. Results: Recovery of Chicago crime guns that had been sold by a licensed dealer within a year of involvement in crime was stable for 1996 through 1998. "Fast gun" recoveries per year dropped to an average of 1107 in 1996-1998 to 601 (-46%) in 1999. Limiting the analysis to the 10 dealers with the most fast crime guns during 1996-1998, a similar abrupt decline in fast gun recoveries was observed from a mean of 550 in 1996-1998 to 254 (-54%) in 1990. Comparing changes in the proportion of all crime guns that were fast guns, 1999 was 37% lower than 1996-1998. Conclusions: Focusing law enforcement on a small number of problem gun dealers can substantially reduce the flow of guns to criminals.

Learning Objectives:

• To recognize the role of a small number of corrupt gun dealers in supply guns to the illicit market.
• To evaluate the effects of a local intervention to shut down or deter gun dealers who facilitate illegal gun sales.

Keywords: Firearms, Violence Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.