The life cycle of crime guns

Wintemute, Garen J.; Romero, Michael P.; Wright, Michelle; Grassel, Kevin M.

doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2003.11.017

Cited by 36 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Approximately 40% of offenders serving time in state prisons reported that they obtained their guns illegally (Harlow, 2001). In another study of guns recovered from offenders, roughly 35% of guns obtained from those of age 21–24 had a time-to-crime of less than 3 years (Wintemute, Romero, Wright, & Grassel, 2004). A short time-to-crime is an indicator of gun trafficking (U.S.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Armed Kids, Armed Adults? Weapon Carrying From Adolescence to Adulthood

Wallace

2016

Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice

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While much existing research has examined either juvenile or adult weapon carrying, this study assesses whether carrying a weapon to school as a juvenile is predictive of bringing a handgun to school or work in adulthood. Data are drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Results show a decline in weapon carrying behavior over time. However, youth who report school weapon carrying in adolescence are much more likely to report carrying a handgun to school or work in adulthood. Findings also demonstrate that victimization, rather than offending behavior, is predictive of adulthood handgun carrying at school and work.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Armed Kids, Armed Adults? Weapon Carrying From Adolescence to Adulthood

Wallace

2016

Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice

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“…Characteristics of firearms associated with recovery in crimes were remarkably consistent with previous research. Previous research using firearms trace data found that firearms that are inexpensive or made by a low-cost manufacturer (Wintemute 2009 ; Wright et al 2010 ; Koper 2013 ; Koper 2007 ; Braga et al 2021 ), semiautomatic (Wintemute et al 2004 ; Koper 2013 ; Koper 2007 ), and a medium or large caliber (Wright et al 2010 ; Koper 2013 ; Koper 2007 ) are more likely to be recovered in crimes. We found similar associations with these features and crime gun recovery.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Past studies conducted using firearm trace data from over 20 years ago (Wintemute 2009 ; Wintemute et al 2004 ; Wright et al 2010 ; Koper 2013 ; Wintemute et al 2005 ; Koper 2007 ; Pierce et al 2003 ; Pierce et al 2006 ) identified a broad set of risk factors associated with the recovery of a firearm in a crime or with a shorter time to crime, including characteristics of firearm dealers, handguns, and purchasers. For firearm dealers, being located in a city center (Wintemute 2009 ; Koper 2013 ; Koper 2007 ), prior sales of firearms that became crime guns (Koper 2013 ; Koper 2007 ), and the percent of sales that were denials (Wintemute 2009 ; Wintemute et al 2005 ) were positively associated with a firearm being recovered in a crime.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Firearms that were semi-automatic, medium or larger caliber handguns, easily concealable, and inexpensive, and had a higher ammunition capacity were more likely to be recovered in crimes (Wright et al 2010 ; Koper 2013 ; Wintemute et al 2005 ; Koper 2007 ; Pierce et al 2003 ). Firearm purchaser characteristics positively associated with that firearm’s recovery in a crime included being younger (Wright et al 2010 ; Koper 2013 ; Wintemute et al 2005 ; Koper 2007 ), being female (Wright et al 2010 ; Koper 2013 ; Koper 2007 ), being of Black vs white race (Koper 2013 ; Koper 2007 ), having a prior misdemeanor conviction (Wintemute et al 2001 ; Wintemute et al 1998 ), and making multiple purchases within a short time period (Wintemute et al 2004 ; Wright et al 2010 ). Identification of such predictors of firearms used in crimes at the dealer, firearm, and purchaser level allows for the design of multiple specific interventions to reduce firearm injury and death.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Purchaser, firearm, and retailer characteristics associated with crime gun recovery: a longitudinal analysis of firearms sold in California from 1996 to 2021

Robinson,

McCort,

Smirniotis

et al. 2024

Inj. Epidemiol.

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Background Firearm violence is a major cause of death and injury in the United States. Tracking the movement of firearms from legal purchase to use in crimes can help inform prevention of firearm injuries and deaths. The last state-wide studies analyzing crime gun recoveries used data from over 20 years ago; thus, an update is needed. Methods We used data for 5,247,348 handgun and 2,868,713 long gun transactions and law enforcement recoveries from California crime gun recovery (2010–2021) and California’s Dealer Records of Sales records. Covariates included characteristics of dealership sales, firearms and their transactions, and purchaser’s demographic characteristics, purchasing history, criminal history (from firearm purchaser criminal history records), and neighborhood socioeconomic status. Analyses for handguns and long guns was conducted separately. In multivariable analysis, we included correlates into a Cox proportional hazard model accounting for left truncation and clustering between the same firearm, purchaser, dealerships, and geographic location. Covariates that remained significant (P < 0.05) were retained. For handguns, we evaluated associations of violent and weapons crimes separately. In supplementary analyses, we examined interactions by purchasers’ race and ethnicity. Results In total, 38,441 handguns (0.80%) and 6,806 long guns (0.24%) were recovered in crimes. A firearm dealer’s sales volume, percent of transactions that were denials, pawns, pawn redemptions, and firearms that became crime guns were each positively associated with firearm recovery in crime. Handguns that were inexpensive, larger caliber, and that had been reported lost or stolen were positively associated with recovery in crimes. Purchaser characteristics associated with crime gun recovery included: being younger, female, Black, Hispanic, Native American or Pacific Islander, or other race/ethnicity (vs white), having previous arrests, living in close proximity to the firearm dealership, and living in a more socially vulnerable census tract. Associations with race and ethnicity were modified by previous infraction-only arrests. Conclusions This study confirms that many previously studied correlates of firearm recovery are still relevant today. We were able to expand on previous research by examining novel associations including purchasers’ criminal history and previous firearm transaction history. These results provide evidence that can be used to disrupt firearm use in crimes.

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“…Data on sale denials is only possible in states that serve as the "point of contact" (POC)-i.e., states that have their own designated agencies to conduct background checks using state, as well as federal, records and databases. Currently, there are 13 POC states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia [37].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends and Sources of Crime Guns in California: 2010–2021

Laqueur,

McCort,

Smirniotis

et al. 2023

J Urban Health

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Firearm-related interpersonal violence is a leading cause of death and injury in cities across the United States, and understanding the movement of firearms from on-the-books sales to criminal end-user is critical to the formulation of gun violence prevention policy. In this study, we assemble a unique dataset that combines records for over 380,000 crime guns recovered by law enforcement in California (2010–2021), and more than 126,000 guns reported stolen, linked to in-state legal handgun transactions (1996–2021), to describe local and statewide crime gun trends and investigate several potentially important sources of guns to criminals, including privately manufactured firearms (PMFs), theft, and “dirty” dealers. We document a dramatic increase over the decade in firearms recovered shortly after purchase (7% were recovered within a year in 2010, up to 33% in 2021). This corresponds with a substantial rise in handgun purchasing over the decade, suggesting some fraction of newly and legally acquired firearms are likely diverted from the legal market for criminal use. We document the rapid growth of PMFs over the past 2–3 years and find theft plays some, though possibly diminishing, role as a crime gun source. Finally, we find evidence that some retailers contribute disproportionately to the supply of crime guns, though there appear to be fewer problematic dealers now than there were a decade ago. Overall, our study points to temporal shifts in the dynamics of criminal firearms commerce as well as significant city variation in the channels by which criminals acquire crime guns.

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The life cycle of crime guns

Cited by 36 publications

References 20 publications

Armed Kids, Armed Adults? Weapon Carrying From Adolescence to Adulthood

Armed Kids, Armed Adults? Weapon Carrying From Adolescence to Adulthood

Purchaser, firearm, and retailer characteristics associated with crime gun recovery: a longitudinal analysis of firearms sold in California from 1996 to 2021

Trends and Sources of Crime Guns in California: 2010–2021

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