NCJ Number
157342
Date Published
1995
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Virginia's legislation limiting handgun purchases to one per month was examined with respect to its effectiveness in disrupting the illegal movement of firearms across State lines.
Abstract
The research estimated the odds ratio for tracing a firearm to a gun dealer in Virginia or other southeastern states for guns purchased before and after Virginia's law. The data included information about 17,082 guns traced to the southeast, as contained in the firearms trace database of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Results supported the hypothesis that the Virginia law reduced the odds that a gun originally acquired in the southeast region would be traced to a Virginia gun dealer. Findings provided persuasive evidence that restricting handgun purchases to one per month is an effective means of disrupting the illegal interstate transfer of firearms. Based on the study findings, the United States Congress should consider enacting a Federal version of the Virginia law. Figures and 24 references