Regulating Gun Markets

Abstract

With the rapid increase since the mid-1980s in rates of homicide and other criminal violence, crime has emerged as the nation's leading domestic problem.One tactic for mitigating lethal violence is gun control-government regulation of the production, exchange, and use of personal firearms.A number of proposals are currently being debated at the federal, state, and local levels.Recently, Congress enacted the Brady Bill and adopted a partial ban on assault weapons, while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) toughened sales procedures for gun dealers.'A central issue in debating these and other control measures is which types of regulation are likely to be most cost-effective in reducing gun violence.This Article concerns the secondary gun market, one of the key issues in understanding the potential effectiveness of gun control measures.The primary objective of much of the gun control effort in the United States is to discourage certain categories of people, including felons and those under indictment, from obtaining and possessing guns, while preserving ready availability of guns for everyone else. 2 To * The research reported in this Article was sponsored by the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation and Duke University.A number of people have been helpful to us and require special thanks.Joel Rosch of the SBI and Bill Bridgewater of the National Alliance of Stocking Gun Dealers Association both served as important guides in understanding gun control issues.A handful of other law enforcement officers from BATF and local police departments were also instructive guides.The local police and sheriff departments committed substantial efforts to filling out our questionnaires; we especially appreciate the efforts of Tom Moss and the Gamer Police Department.Most of all we appreciate the help of the ten students from CA Dillon School who agreed, with their parents, to be interviewed and then gave substantive answers to Stephanie's questions.We thank the Dillon School officials for their help in organizing these interviews.1 See The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, 18 U.S.C. § § 921-22 (1994); The Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act, Pub.L. No. 103-322, 108 Stat.1807 (codified as amended in scattered sections of 42 U.S.C.); 27 C.F.R. § 178 (1995).2 See

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