Jon S Vernick JD MPH Associate Professor Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health CoDirector Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research Suicide 19392 Unintentional 606 Homicide 11078 ID: 139177
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Firearm Policy Proposals in Maryland, 2013
Jon S. Vernick, JD, MPH
Associate Professor
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Co-Director
Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and ResearchSlide2
Suicide: 19,392
Unintentional: 606
Homicide: 11,078
Distribution of Firearm-related Deaths in the United States, 2010
Total Firearm Deaths = 31,672Slide3
Non-Fatal Firearm Injuries
About 2.3 non-fatal firearm injuries for every fatality
An estimated 73,505 in 2010 (requiring at least ED treatment)
Source: CDC, WISQARSSlide4Slide5
Firearm Homicides by Type of Gun, 2010
Total Firearm Homicides for which Type of Gun is Known = 6,836
Handgun: 88%
Rifle: 5%
Shotgun: 5%
Other guns: 2%Slide6
Maryland Gun Deaths
538 deaths by gunshot in 2010 (NCHS)
312 homicides and 222 suicides
Age-adjusted death rate (9.26/100,000) is 17
th lowest among 50 states in 2010Slide7
Banning Assault Weapons
An assault weapon is a civilian version of a military-style weapon
Maryland currently bans assault “pistols” but not other types of assault weapons: i.e., rifles and shotguns
Federal assault weapons ban allowed to expire in 2004.Slide8Slide9
Evaluation of 1994 Federal AWB
AW rarely used in crime prior to ban (1-8% of all crime guns)
Decrease in use of AW in crime post-ban
Non-significant 6.7% reduction in homicides associated with the law
Copy-cat weapons readily available (Koper and Roth, NIJ Research-in-Brief
1999)Slide10
Banning Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines
Federal law outlawing future purchase or possession of LCMs >10 rounds allowed to expire in 2004.
Current law in Maryland bans >20 round magazines.
Proposal would reduce limit to > 10 rounds.
LCMs applicable to many more types of shootings than assault weapons.Slide11
Permit-to-Purchase Licensing of Gun Owners
States with both licensing and registration have a smaller proportion of crime guns coming from in-state
(Webster & Vernick,
Injury Prevention
2001)States with licensing laws have much less gun trafficking both within-state and to other states
Maryland does not currently license ownersGovernor’s proposal would add licensingSlide12Slide13Slide14
Child Access
Prevention Laws
Maryland has a CAP Law.
Penalty is currently a misdemeanor (max $1,000 fine).
Bill would enhance penalty to a felony (max 3 years or $5,000 fine)Good research evidence that CAP laws reduce unintentional deaths among children and teen suicides.Evidence that stricter penalties help.Slide15
Mental Health and Guns
Federal law prohibits those “adjudicated as a mental defective” or committed to a mental institution from owning guns.
Information often missing from background check databases.
Most persons with mental illness are not dangerous.Slide16
Mental Health and Guns, cont.
MD law currently: 30 consecutive days in a medical institution for mental disorder
Governor’s bill would add additional categories, including: not criminally responsible; incompetent to stand trial; involuntary admissions; guardianships
A controversial area: need to balance public safety with desire to minimize stigma and not discourage care seekingSlide17
Reporting Lost and Stolen Guns
Theory is that requiring gun owners to report lost/stolen guns enhances accountability.
Maryland currently has no such law.
Bill would mandate reporting within 72 hours of discovery.
States with theft/loss reporting have 30% lower rates of gun trafficking.Slide18
Conclusion
Many evidence-based policies proposed
Center for Gun Policy and Research providing data, testimony, interviews.
Also working at the federal level: universal background checks, etc.