Changes in the legal environment and enforcement of firearm transfer laws in Pennsylvania and Maryland

Crifasi, Cassandra K.; Merrill-Francis, Molly; Webster, Daniel; Wintemute, Garen J.; Vernick, Jon S.

doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2017-042582

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The enforceability challenges associated with CBC-only laws are beginning to be documented. [22,23] PTP laws may be easier to comply with and enforce than CBC-only laws since sellers can only transfer a firearm to someone who has a valid permit. Future research should expand the inclusion criteria for county population size and/or urbanization.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between Firearm Laws and Homicide in Urban Counties

et al. 2018

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Laws related to the sale, use, and carrying of firearms have been associated with differences in firearm homicide rates at the state level. Right-to-carry (RTC) and stand your ground (SYG) laws are associated with increases in firearm homicide; permit-to-purchase (PTP) laws and those prohibiting individuals convicted of violent misdemeanors (VM) have been associated with decreases in firearm homicide. Evidence for the effect of comprehensive background checks (CBC) not tied to PTP is inconclusive. Because firearm homicide tends to concentrate in urban areas, this study was designed to test the effects of firearm laws on homicide in large, urban U.S. counties. We conducted a longitudinal study using an interrupted time series design to evaluate the effect of firearm laws on homicide in large, urban U.S. counties from 1984 to 2015 (N = 136). We used mixed effects Poisson regression models with random intercepts for counties and year fixed effects to account for national trends. Models also included county and state characteristics associated with violence. Homicide was stratified by firearm versus all other methods to test for specificity of the laws' effects. PTP laws were associated with a 14% reduction in firearm homicide in large, urban counties (IRR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.82-0.90). CBC-only, SYG, RTC, and VM laws were all associated with increases in firearm homicide. None of the laws were associated with differences in non-firearm homicide rates. These findings are consistent with prior research at the state level showing PTP laws are associated with decreased firearm homicide. Testing the effects of PTP laws specifically in large, urban counties strengthens available evidence by isolating the effects in the geographic locations in which firearm homicides concentrate.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between Firearm Laws and Homicide in Urban Counties

et al. 2018

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“…The effectiveness of CBC laws could be enhanced by more robust efforts to enforce the laws and promote compliance, broader prohibiting conditions, better record keeping, and expanded time to complete the checks. 30 A prior study documented infrequent enforcement of Maryland's and Pennsylvania's CBC laws, 31 which weakens the laws' capacity to deter illegal transfers of firearms. When Maryland added handgun purchaser licensing requirements to its CBC law in 2013, diversions of guns for criminal use shortly after retail sales dropped dramatically.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Purchaser Licensing, Point-of-Sale Background Check Laws, and Firearm Homicide and Suicide in 4 US States, 1985–2017

et al. 2020

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Objectives. To estimate and compare the effects of state background check policies on firearm-related mortality in 4 US states. Methods. Annual data from 1985 to 2017 were used to examine Maryland and Pennsylvania, which implemented point-of-sale comprehensive background check (CBC) laws for handgun purchasers; Connecticut, which adopted a handgun purchaser licensing law; and Missouri, which repealed a similar law. Using synthetic control methods, we estimated the effects of these laws on homicide and suicide rates stratified by firearm involvement. Results. There was no consistent relationship between CBC laws and mortality rates. There were estimated decreases in firearm homicide (27.8%) and firearm suicide (23.2%–40.5%) rates associated with Connecticut’s law. There were estimated increases in firearm homicide (47.3%), nonfirearm homicide (18.1%), and firearm suicide (23.5%) rates associated with Missouri’s repeal. Conclusions. Purchaser licensing laws coupled with CBC requirements were consistently associated with lower firearm homicide and suicide rates, but CBC laws alone were not. Public Health Implications. Our results contribute to a body of research showing that CBC laws are not associated with reductions in firearm-related deaths unless they are coupled with handgun purchaser licensing laws. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print August 20, 2020: e1–e7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2020.305822)

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“…Monitoring and implementation science are also necessary, as exemplified by the compliance and enforcement issues that have hampered the implementation of firearm policy. [181][182][183][184] Strategies that show promise for cross-cutting impact should be priorities for rigorous evaluation of effectiveness for multiple forms of violence.…”

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Integrated Public Health Approach to Interpersonal Violence and Suicide Prevention and Response

et al. 2018

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Violence is a leading source of morbidity and mortality in the United States. In this article, we suggest a public health framework for preventing community violence, intimate partner violence and sexual violence, and suicide as key forms of interpersonal and self-directed violence. These types of violence often co-occur and share common risk and protective factors. The gender, racial/ethnic, and age-related disparities in violence risk can be understood through an intersectionality framework that considers the multiple simultaneous identities of people at risk. Important opportunities for cross-cutting interventions exist, and intervention strategies should be examined for potential effectiveness on multiple forms of violence through rigorous evaluation. Existing evidence-based approaches should be taken to scale for maximum impact. By seeking to influence the policy and normative context of violence as much as individual behavior, public health can work with the education system, criminal justice system, and other sectors to address the public health burden of interpersonal violence and suicide.

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Changes in the legal environment and enforcement of firearm transfer laws in Pennsylvania and Maryland

Cited by 10 publications

References 11 publications

Association between Firearm Laws and Homicide in Urban Counties

Association between Firearm Laws and Homicide in Urban Counties

Purchaser Licensing, Point-of-Sale Background Check Laws, and Firearm Homicide and Suicide in 4 US States, 1985–2017

An Integrated Public Health Approach to Interpersonal Violence and Suicide Prevention and Response

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