UC Davis Study Shows Homicides Not Reduced by Background Checks

[txradioguy]

For years, anti-gunners have touted the need for universal background checks. However, a new UC Davis study shows that a decade of this in California didn’t reduce homicides.

The Violence Prevention Research Program at UC Davis partnered with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health on the study. Researchers wanted to learn the impact of California law on homicide and suicide rates. The study looked at firearm homicide and suicide rates during the first 10 years of California enacting background checks and misdemeanor violence prohibition policies in 1991. Researchers compared the rates to 32 states without these polices during this time.

The study found no net difference between firearm-related homicide rates during the 10 years after California enacted the law. This study disagrees with studies conducted in Connecticut and Missouri.

Now, the study did determine that suicide rates with firearms had fallen. However, the decease was similar to the reduction in non-firearm suicide rates. Suicides dropped, regardless of the method. The study also found that the National Instant Check System is flawed because of a lack of reporting to NICS.

“Incomplete reporting of prohibiting data to background check systems in the 1990s, prior to implementation of the policies in California, is an important limiting factor,” said Garen Wintemute, senior author on the study, according to Townhall. “In 1990, only 25 percent of criminal records were accessible in the primary federal database used for background checks, and centralized records of mental health prohibitions were almost nonexistent. As a result, a large number of people likely passed their background checks even in cases where, according to law, they should have been prohibited from purchasing a firearm.”

<snip>

Now this study proves what gun owners have been saying for years. Universal background checks will not prevent gun violence. After all, criminals do not typically purchase their firearm legally. Also, NICS doesn’t work the way it should, as states don’t report properly to NICS. In fact, both the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation have long advocated something called Fix NICS. Of course, until both sides come to some sort of agreement, not much will change.

https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2018/11/uc-davis-study-background-checks/

[Applewood]

Sounds right to me.  The one who shot up a synagogue in Pittsburgh acquired his firearms legally.  I assume he went through background checks which turned up clean.  The guy had no criminal or mentally health history.

And as for the ones who kill every day in, say, Chicago -- obviously, they aren't going through background cheeks.  All they need to get a gun is the right amount of money.  So what good does a background check do?

I don't care what requirements or restrictions government puts on firearms, if someone wants to shoot another person, he or she will find a way to get a gun and do it.  Gun laws of any kind do not deter a person who wants to kill.

[goatprairie]

Sounds right to me.  The one who shot up a synagogue in Pittsburgh acquired his firearms legally.  I assume he went through background checks which turned up clean.  The guy had no criminal or mentally health history.

And as for the ones who kill every day in, say, Chicago -- obviously, they aren't going through background cheeks.  All they need to get a gun is the right amount of money.  So what good does a background check do?

I don't care what requirements or restrictions government puts on firearms, if someone wants to shoot another person, he or she will find a way to get a gun and do it.  Gun laws of any kind do not deter a person who wants to kill.

Yes, if some person is determined to kill people, there is just about no way to stop them from acquiring a gun legally or using some other method.
I'm more scared about people using vehicles than guns. Legally armed citizens can stop wacko shooters. There is just about no way to stop some nut from ramming people with a car or truck.