Keith Mack
Universal background checks are an essential tool to help keep guns out of the hands of individuals who may harm themselves or others. Running a background check before a firearm purchase helps identify people who are prohibited by federal law from owning them, such as people convicted of a felony or domestic abuse. Universal background check laws make background checks a requirement for all or nearly all transfers of firearms, thereby extending the federal background check requirements that apply only to transactions between a gun dealer and a buyer to transactions between private parties. Universal background checks are also preferred by gun owners over red flag laws, which allow law enforcement, loved ones, lawyers, educators, mental health or medical providers to petition a court to take a gun away from someone deemed at risk.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness in curbing gun violence | Studies suggest that universal background checks are effective in reducing gun violence. One study found a 14.9% reduction in overall homicides, and another study found a 23% increase in firearm homicides after the repeal of a background check law. Universal background checks could reduce firearm deaths by 57%. |
| Public Support | Universal background checks have strong public support, with polling data showing that more than 90% of both gun owners and non-gun owners favor this policy. A 2019 survey found that 81% of adults supported background checks for private gun sales. |
| Closing Loopholes | Universal background checks help close loopholes in federal gun laws that allow unlicensed sellers to bypass background checks, making it easier for illegal buyers and gun traffickers to obtain firearms. |
| Preventing Illegal Gun Sales | Background checks are essential in preventing illegal gun sales to individuals who may harm themselves or others, such as people convicted of felonies or domestic abuse. Since 1994, over 3 million illegal gun sales have been stopped due to background checks. |
| Reducing Firearm Trafficking | States without universal background check laws export crime guns across state lines at a 30% higher rate. Gun shows tend to cluster in counties next to states with universal background check laws, supporting gun trafficking. |
| Complementary Measures | Universal background checks can be complemented by permit-to-purchase programs and handgun purchaser licensing to further enhance their effectiveness in curbing gun violence. |
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What You'll Learn
Universal background checks reduce overall homicides
Universal background checks are an essential tool to help keep guns out of the hands of individuals who may harm themselves or others. Since the federal background check requirement was enacted in 1994, more than 3 million illegal gun sales have been stopped, and nearly 4.7 million people legally prohibited from possessing a gun have been prevented from purchasing one.
Universal background checks are a necessary foundation for any policy that aims to keep firearms away from people convicted of domestic abuse and other ineligible people. They are also important in closing deadly loopholes in federal gun laws that allow millions of guns to end up in the hands of individuals at an elevated risk of committing violence each year. Without universal background checks, unlicensed sellers can sell firearms without conducting any background checks, and guns can easily find their way into the hands of illegal buyers and gun traffickers. This dramatically increases the likelihood of gun-related homicides and suicides.
Universal background checks are supported by a majority of the American public, including gun owners and non-gun owners. Polling data shows that more than 90% of both groups support laws requiring background checks on all firearm purchases. Strong support for background check laws has also been measured among NRA members, with at least 69% supporting comprehensive background checks.
Studies have found that universal background checks can effectively reduce overall homicides. A 2019 study by medical researchers, including Michael Siegel of the Boston University School of Public Health and David Hemenway of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, found that universal background check laws were associated with a 14.9% reduction in overall homicides. The study was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Additionally, an October 2018 study conducted by the Violence Prevention Research Program (VPRP) at UC Davis and the Center for Gun Policy and Research at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found no change in firearm homicide or suicide rates in the ten years following California's 1991 implementation of comprehensive background check policies.
While universal background checks can help reduce overall homicides, it is important to note that they are not a perfect solution. The effectiveness of universal background checks can be limited by factors such as non-compliance, incomplete databases, and the ability of individuals to purchase guns from neighboring states with looser regulations.
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They are supported by the majority of Americans
Universal background checks are supported by the majority of Americans. Polling data has consistently shown that more than 90% of both gun owners and non-gun owners support this policy. In fact, a 2019 national survey found that 81% of adults (72% of gun owners and 87% of non-gun owners) expressed a favourable view of making all private gun sales subject to background checks.
This high level of support is likely due to the perceived effectiveness of universal background checks in reducing gun violence and increasing public safety. Studies have suggested that universal background checks could reduce firearm deaths in the US by up to 57% and lead to a significant reduction in homicides, specifically firearm homicides.
The support for universal background checks is so strong that even members of the National Rifle Association (NRA), which has historically opposed such measures, have shown support for comprehensive background checks. Despite this, the NRA's influence has contributed to the Senate's refusal to vote on measures requiring universal background checks, highlighting the complex nature of gun control legislation in the United States.
While there are variations in the specifics of different state laws, the majority of Americans agree on the importance of universal background checks as a necessary step towards reducing gun violence and keeping firearms out of the hands of individuals who may pose a risk to themselves or others.
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They are more effective at reducing gun trafficking
Universal background checks are an essential tool to prevent guns from ending up in the hands of individuals who may harm themselves or others. Since the federal background check requirement was enacted in 1994, more than 3 million illegal gun sales have been stopped, and nearly 4.7 million people legally prohibited from possessing a gun have been prevented from purchasing one.
Universal background check laws make background checks a requirement for all or nearly all transfers of firearms, thereby extending the federal background check requirements that apply only to transactions between a gun dealer (a federal firearms licensee) and a buyer to transactions between private parties. Better information on the role of private transactions in supplying criminal markets is key to understanding the potential for expanded background check requirements to reduce illegal gun trafficking. Although little is known about the role of private transactions, a 2016 survey of state prison inmates found that among those who possessed a gun during the offense for which they were imprisoned, only 8% had purchased or traded the weapon from a licensed dealer, whereas 70% had acquired it from a friend, family member, or "street" source, such as an illicit broker.
Studies suggest that background checks can be effective when combined with permit-to-purchase programs. Johns Hopkins University researchers Cassandra Crifasi, Alexander McCourt, and Daniel Webster concluded that:
> "Given the body of evidence on the effectiveness of licensing laws and the increasing levels of support among the population, including gun owners, policymakers should consider handgun purchaser licensing as a complement to [comprehensive background check] laws."
Universal background checks are also essential to closing deadly loopholes in federal gun laws that allow millions of guns to end up in the hands of individuals at an elevated risk of committing violence each year. A loophole in federal gun laws exempts unlicensed sellers from having to perform any background check before selling a firearm. With this loophole, guns easily find their way into the hands of illegal buyers and gun traffickers, dramatically increasing the likelihood of gun homicides and suicides.
Furthermore, states without universal background check laws export crime guns across state lines at a 30% higher rate than states that require background checks on all gun sales. A May 2022 study in Preventive Medicine found that gun shows cluster in counties next to states that have universal background checks. The authors write that:
> "Our results provide evidence that proximity to states without universal background check laws inherently supports gun trafficking."
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They can help prevent suicides
Universal background checks are an essential tool to help keep guns out of the hands of individuals who may harm themselves or others. They seek to prevent firearm purchases by individuals thought to be at high risk of presenting a danger to themselves or others. By restricting access to guns for dangerous individuals, universal background checks can help prevent suicides.
Since the federal background check requirement was enacted in 1994, more than 3 million illegal gun sales have been stopped by a background check. Universal background check laws were associated with a 14.9% reduction in overall homicides, according to a 2019 study. However, the study authors noted that further research is necessary to determine whether these associations are causal.
While background checks can help prevent suicides by individuals prohibited from legal firearm purchases, they may not be sufficient to prevent all firearm-related suicides. Most prohibiting conditions for firearm purchase are based on prior acts of violence or risks for committing such acts. While a history of violence and substance abuse are risk factors for suicide, many individuals at risk for suicide do not have these prohibiting conditions and may still legally purchase firearms.
In addition, background checks may not be effective in preventing suicides by individuals who circumvent the law, such as by having someone else purchase a firearm on their behalf. However, laws that deter impulsive purchases, such as waiting periods and permit-to-purchase laws, have been associated with reductions in firearm suicides.
Universal background checks are a crucial step towards preventing suicides and reducing gun violence. They help keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who may be a danger to themselves or others. However, it is important to recognize that background checks alone may not be enough to prevent all firearm-related suicides, and additional measures such as waiting periods and permit-to-purchase laws should be considered as part of a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention.
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They are a more comprehensive approach than red flag laws
Universal background checks are a more comprehensive approach than red flag laws as they are an essential tool to help keep guns out of the hands of individuals who may harm themselves or others. Running a background check before a firearm purchase helps identify people who are prohibited by federal law from owning them, such as people convicted of a felony or domestic abuse. Since the federal background check requirement was enacted in 1994, nearly 4.7 million people legally prohibited from possessing a gun have been stopped from purchasing a gun or denied a permit to purchase. More than 35% of these denials involved people convicted of felony offenses.
Universal background check laws make background checks a requirement for all or nearly all transfers of firearms, thereby extending the federal background check requirements that apply only to transactions between a gun dealer (a federal firearms licensee) and a buyer to transactions between private parties. Better information on the role of private transactions in supplying criminal markets is key to understanding the potential for expanded background check requirements to reduce illegal gun trafficking. A 2016 survey of state prison inmates found that among those who possessed a gun during the offense for which they were imprisoned, only 8% had purchased or traded the weapon from a licensed dealer, whereas 70% had acquired it from a friend, family member, or "street" source, such as an illicit broker.
Universal background checks are also necessary to close deadly loopholes in federal laws that allow millions of guns to end up in the hands of individuals at an elevated risk of committing violence each year. Though more than 90% of the American public supports background checks for all gun sales, a dangerous loophole in federal gun laws still exempts unlicensed sellers from having to perform any background check before selling a firearm. With this loophole, guns easily find their way into the hands of illegal buyers and gun traffickers, dramatically increasing the likelihood of gun homicides and suicides.
Studies suggest that background checks can be effective when combined with permit-to-purchase programs. Johns Hopkins University researchers Cassandra Crifasi, Alexander McCourt, and Daniel Webster concluded that "given the body of evidence on the effectiveness of licensing laws and the increasing levels of support among the population, including gun owners, policymakers should consider handgun purchaser licensing as a complement to [comprehensive background check] laws."
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Frequently asked questions
Universal background check laws make background checks a requirement for all or nearly all transfers of firearms, thereby extending the federal background check requirements that apply only to transactions between a gun dealer (a federal firearms licensee) and a buyer to transactions between private parties.
Depending on the state, "red flag" laws allow law enforcement, loved ones, lawyers, educators, mental health or medical providers to petition a court to take a gun away from someone deemed to be at risk.
Universal background checks are better than red flag laws because they are more comprehensive and standardised across all states. Red flag laws vary from state to state, and they rely on individuals to petition a court to take a gun away from someone deemed to be at risk, which can be a time-consuming process. Universal background checks, on the other hand, are automatic and help prevent guns from getting into the hands of individuals who may be a danger to themselves or others. Studies have shown that universal background checks can lead to significant reductions in homicides and firearm-related violence.
