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Published in: Journal of Urban Health 5/2006

01-09-2006

Effects of a Gun Dealer's Change in Sales Practices on the Supply of Guns to Criminals

Authors: Daniel W. Webster, Jon S. Vernick, Maria T. Bulzacchelli

Published in: Journal of Urban Health | Issue 5/2006

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Abstract

Licensed gun dealers are a major conduit for gun trafficking. Prior to May 1999, a single gun store sold more than half of the guns recovered from criminals in Milwaukee, WI, shortly following retail sale. On May 10, 1999, the store stopped selling small, inexpensive handguns popular with criminals, often called “Saturday night specials.” The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of this gun store's changed sales practices on criminals' acquisition of new guns. We used an interrupted time-series design with comparisons to test for changes in the number of guns that police recovered from criminals within a year of retail sale following the gun dealer's new sales policy. The dealer's changed sales policy was associated with a 96% decrease in recently sold, small, inexpensive handguns use in crime in Milwaukee, a 73% decrease in crime guns recently sold by this dealer, and a 44% decrease in the flow of all new, trafficked guns to criminals in Milwaukee. The findings demonstrate the substantial impact that a single gun store's sales practices can have on the supply of new guns to criminals. Proposed anti-gun-trafficking efforts in other cities could benefit from targeting problem retail outlets.
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Metadata
Title
Effects of a Gun Dealer's Change in Sales Practices on the Supply of Guns to Criminals
Authors
Daniel W. Webster
Jon S. Vernick
Maria T. Bulzacchelli
Publication date
01-09-2006
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Urban Health / Issue 5/2006
Print ISSN: 1099-3460
Electronic ISSN: 1468-2869
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-006-9073-2

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