The Epidemiology of Crime Guns: From Legal Sale to Use in Crime

• In Event: Research on Firearms & Violence at the National Institute of Justice

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to trace guns used in crimes from first legal sale to criminal use in two large urban communities in the United States, both having substantial gun violence, high levels of clearance for gun crimes, and being situated in different gun control contexts. For the years, 2011 and 2012, gun crimes in which the weapons have been recovered will be traced from first legal sale to criminal use to develop a complete description of how the gun moved from the legal market to the illegal market and finally to the individual who used it in a crime. These will also be compared to gun crimes during the same period where a gun was not recovered. Prisoners convicted of gun crimes during the same period will also be interviewed and surveyed as to gun acquisition and use. The results will aid investigations of gun crime in two jurisdictions and provide a standard protocol for gun investigations by other police agencies in other communities

Authors

• Charles Wellford, University of Maryland

• Michael Wagers, International Association of Chiefs of Police