Facts Don’t Support the Second Amendment

After the Newtown, Connecticut shooting, National Rifle Association (NRA) executive vice president Wayne LaPierre said, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” Gun rights advocates have endorsed loosening gun purchase restrictions and adopting open carry policies to deter crime.

Previous research on gun ownership and its relationship to numerous crimes have led to mixed results. Across high-income countries, some researchers found that . However, others did not find a direct link between gun ownership and non-lethal violence.

Boston researchers studied rates of household firearm ownership and criminal acts in America from the early 2000s and found a significant, positive association between gun ownership and firearm-related assault, robbery, and homicide.

However, one of the limitations is the age of the data. The scientists used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) which stopped including gun ownership questions in 2004.

More importantly, the results directly oppose the hypothesis that gun ownership discourages crime. The facts do not support arming teachers, bar patrons, or worshipers. More people carrying weapons is more likely to escalate minor offenses to lethal consequences. The risk of unintentional injury and death rises with increased firearm ownership and spaces that accept the presence of guns.

Additionally, some of the inconclusive past research and limitations of this study need further examination. Since 1996, Congress has prevented the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) from using federal funds to explore gun violence. Scientific research is required to learn about ways to stop firearm injuries and deaths without hindering law-abiding gun owners.

Above all, legislators must support , where they can bring them, and fund explorations on how to reduce gun violence.

commentary by Bich-May Nguyen

Abstract

Introduction: Although some view the ownership of firearms as a deterrent to crime, the relationship between population-level firearm ownership rates and violent criminal perpetration is unclear. The purpose of this study is to test the association between state-level firearm ownership and violent crime.

Methods: State-level rates of household firearm ownership and annual rates of criminal acts from 2001, 2002, and 2004 were analyzed in 2014. Firearm ownership rates were taken from a national survey and crime data were taken from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reports. Rates of criminal behavior were estimated as a function of household gun ownership using negative binomial regression models, controlling for several demographic factors.

Results: Higher levels of firearm ownership were associated with higher levels of firearm assault and firearm robbery. There was also a significant association between firearm ownership and firearm homicide, as well as overall homicide.

Conclusions: The findings do not support the hypothesis that higher population firearm ownership rates reduce firearm-associated criminal perpetration. On the contrary, evidence shows that states with higher levels of firearm ownership have an increased risk for violent crimes perpetrated with a firearm. Public health stakeholders should consider the outcomes associated with private firearm ownership. PMID: 26091930.

Monuteaux, MC. Am J Prev Med. 2015; 49 (2): 207-214.