Gun Control after <i>Heller</i>: Threats and Sideshows from a Social Welfare Perspective

Abstract

What will happen after

Looking Down the Barrel of a Loaded Gun: The Effect of Mandatory Handgun Purchase Delays on Homicide and Suicide

“…With respect to homicides, there is reason to doubt that a cooling-off effect would decrease violent deaths because the majority of criminals report obtaining firearms through a number of non-traditional channels including theft, family members or friends, or private sales on the secondary market (Cook et al, 2009;Ross et al, 2012). Concern about unregulated private sales has led many policy makers to work at closing the 'gun show loophole'.…”

“…However, these studies have generally examined only a single site, Webster et al (2014), Rudolph et al (2015), employed a short panel (Kleck and Patterson, 1993), or did not include information on wait period legislation (Cook et al, 2009;Anestis et al, 2015). However, these studies have generally examined only a single site, Webster et al (2014), Rudolph et al (2015), employed a short panel (Kleck and Patterson, 1993), or did not include information on wait period legislation (Cook et al, 2009;Anestis et al, 2015).…”

“…There has been considerable debate about the effect of greater gun availability on crime (Lott, 1998;Duggan, 2001;Ayres and Iii, 2003;Moody and Marvell, 2005;Mocan and Tekin, 2006;Siegel et al, 2013;Lang, 2016). Cook et al (2009) note that while there is little compelling evidence that gun prevalence increases violent crime, there is strong evidence to suggest that a greater availability of firearms increases the probability that a gun will be used in a crime and the likelihood that a crime will result in a fatality. Nonetheless, since purchase delay policies are not likely a strong deterrent to gun sales per se, there is reason to be sceptical that delay policies have a significant effect on homicides.…”

“…Previous research examining the effect of statutory purchase delays on violent deaths has largely found a negative relationship between handgun purchase delays and homicides and suicides. However, these studies have generally examined only a single site, Webster et al (2014), Rudolph et al (2015), employed a short panel (Kleck and Patterson, 1993), or did not include information on wait period legislation (Cook et al, 2009;Anestis et al, 2015).…”

The illicit firearms trade in North America

“…In 2008 the Supreme Court struck down the most stringent gun-control ordinance in the nation, the District of Columbia's ban on handgun ownership, on the grounds that the Second Amendment provides a personal right to self-defense of the home using customary weapons, including handguns. To date that ruling does not affect the states, although future court rulings may extend its scope (Cook et al, 2009). This new constitutional right is very limited, but still a reflection of American exceptionalism when it comes to guns.…”