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Although 39,000 individuals die annually from gunshots in the US, research examining the effects of laws designed to reduce these deaths has sometimes produced inconclusive or contradictory findings. We evaluated the effects on total firearm-related deaths of three classes of gun laws: child access prevention (CAP), right-to-carry (RTC), and stand your ground (SYG) laws. The analyses exploit changes in these state-level policies from 1970 to 2016, using Bayesian methods and a modeling approach that addresses several methodological limitations of prior gun policy evaluations. CAP laws showed the strongest evidence of an association with firearm-related death rate, with a probability of 0.97 that the death rate declined at 6 y after implementation. In contrast, the probability of being associated with an increase in firearm-related deaths was 0.87 for RTC laws and 0.77 for SYG laws. The joint effects of these laws indicate that the restrictive gun policy regime (having a CAP law without an RTC or SYG law) has a 0.98 probability of being associated with a reduction in firearm-related deaths relative to the permissive policy regime. This estimated effect corresponds to an 11% reduction in firearm-related deaths relative to the permissive legal regime. Our findings suggest that a small but meaningful decrease in firearm-related deaths may be associated with the implementation of more restrictive gun policies.

To conduct our scoping review of risk and protective factors for firearm violence among youth, we searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Criminal Justice Abstracts for English-language research articles published between January 1985 and May 2018. We included studies of modifiable risk or protective factors associated with intentional (including suicide) or unintentional firearm victimization or perpetration with samples that included youth ≤ 17. Among the 28 included studies, 15 explored risk/protective factors for victimization, five focused on perpetration, five did not differentiate between victimization and perpetration, and five focused on suicide. Most studies examined individual-level risk factors. The few that explored factors beyond the individual were limited by methodological weaknesses and inconsistent findings. Protective factors for youth firearm outcomes were understudied. We need more research on youth firearm violence using longitudinal data and robust statistical methods. Future research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms by which risk/protective factors influence firearm violence.

Risk-based firearm laws are a firearm injury prevention strategy. However, evidence for their efficacy in reducing firearm injury is mixed. There is agreement that the magnitude of their effect depends on implementation and efficacy would improve with better implementation. Local context and processes are key to evaluating outcomes of these laws. To contribute to the evidence base we conducted a case study of Firearm Restraining Order (FRO) implementation in Lake County, Illinois. The details of Illinois FRO policy are, similar those of other locations with notable exceptions that in Illinois roommates are allowed to petition and medical care providers are not. The study examined data from court documents related to 42 FRO petitions filed between January 2021 and June 2024. Lake County is similar to other locations studied in terms of respondent demographics including age, race and gender. It differs in the distribution of types of incidents precipitating FROs. Lake County has a greater share of emergency FROs petitioned due to threats related to harm to others, while other locations studied typically have a higher burden of self-harm threat incidents triggering FRO initiation. The share of initiating incidents related to mass shooting threats is similar to that of other locations studied. In Lake County, IL most petitioners are law enforcement officers with few petitions made by others enabled by the law. This too is similar to that of other jurisdictions. Our study finds that in Lake County the EFRO petition process generally proceeds within established policy timelines and the majority of FRO cases resulted the issuance of plenary FROs. Two implementation areas identified for further investigation include the low level of intimate partner notification when an emergency FRO is petitioned and the volume of emergency FRO dismissals due to lack of petitioner appearance at plenary FRO hearings.

The purpose of this study is to address a significant gap in knowledge on firearm ownership rates and storage characteristics in a national sample of college students. We used 2021–2022 survey data from the Healthy Minds Study, which included approximately 88,500 students at over 100 US colleges and universities. We conducted analyses using descriptive statistics and two-sample proportion tests. About 4% of respondents reported having a firearm on or around campus. Among firearm owners, 68.8% reported storing firearms at their permanent address within an hour’s drive from campus, and 43.1% reported storing their firearms unloaded and locked. Firearm ownership rates were significantly higher for respondents who were positive for specific risk factors (i.e., in a relationship, suicide ideation, recent binge drinking, and having been physically assaulted) versus those who were negative. These findings support the need for targeted messaging and firearm safety training for college students to reduce firearm-related risks.

Purpose This study utilized demographic and intrapersonal variables to identify individuals who may have falsely denied firearm ownership and determined if individuals can be divided into meaningful subgroups. Methods Participants were United States residents ( N  = 3500) recruited from January to June 2020. matched to the 2010 census data for age, race, sex, income, and education level. A Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) regression was utilized to determine potential underreporting of firearm ownership, and a latent class analysis was utilized to determine unique subgroups of those who were identified as underreporting firearm ownership in the ZINB. Results Participants ( N  = 1306) were identified as underreporting firearm ownership (excess zeros) based on a model that included demographic and intrapersonal variables. A latent class analysis indicated that among excess zeros, three unique subgroups exist. Conclusions Determining who may be underreporting firearm ownership will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of firearm ownership in the US and more targeted safe storage messages that may reach those who own firearms and are at risk for firearm-related injury and death.

Urban firearm violence (UFV) has independently been associated with redlining and firearm laws. This study aims to examine how state firearm laws moderate urban firearm violence in census tracts historically exposed to redlining. We conducted a retrospective ecological study of UFV in census tracts exposed to historic redlining. We analyzed state firearm laws using the Giffords gun law scorecard. The primary outcome was the incidence of firearm violence per 100,000, calculated using the Gun Violence Archive database. Among 16,236 census tracts in 38 states, the incidence of firearm violence increased with the proportion of area redlined across all levels of state firearm laws with 2.7-, 3.9-, and 3.2-times higher incidence in tracts with the greatest proportion redlined relative to the lowest in strong, moderate, and weak law states. Strong firearm laws aren't enough to overcome longstanding socioeconomic disparities that drive firearm violence in historically redlined communities. •Redlined communities experience disproportionately high rates of firearm violence.•Strong firearm laws reduce the overall incidence of urban firearm violence in the US.•The detrimental effects of redlining persist in states with strong firearm laws.

Since the release of the first 3D-printed firearm, \"The Liberator,\" the occurrence of 3D-printed firearms in criminal activities has increased, highlighting the need for forensic research on these weapons. This study presents a technical examination of a 3D-printed firearm received by the National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC), focusing on its design, ballistic performance, and its potential for microscopic comparative analysis. The firearm, resembling a 3D-printed pistol Yeet22, is primarily constructed from polymer parts, with the exception of the firing pin, barrel, and various springs and screws. Notably, this firearm includes a previously undescribed sound suppressor. Velocity tests revealed that the bullet velocity was lower than that of a standard .22 LR firearm, yet still high enough to be lethal at its maximum speed. Forensic examination of the fired cartridge cases showed distinguishable chamber marks, facilitating comparative analysis. Comparisons of the striation marks on the reference bullets was also possible although only for bullets fired in close sequence to each other. However, the reliability of this 3D-printed firearm was found to be significantly lower than conventional firearms. These observations underline the challenges and importance of forensic investigations of 3D-printed firearms, as they become more prevalent in criminal contexts. •First documented forensic analysis of a silenced hybrid 3D-printed Yeet22 pistol.•The firearm is composed of polymer and unregulated metal components.•Bullet velocity is variable, and lower than conventional .22 LR pistols.•Identifiable chamber and bullet striation marks facilitate microscopic comparisons.•The firearm demonstrated low reliability, with frequent malfunctions and quick deterioration.

Objectives. To examine gun storage practices and factors influencing those practices among gun owners. Methods. We conducted a nationally representative online survey of US gun owners (n = 1444) in 2016 to assess gun storage practices and attitudes, factors influencing storage practices, and groups that might effectively communicate regarding safe storage. We generated descriptive statistics by using cross-tabulations and used logistic regression to estimate characteristics that influenced safe storage practices. Results. Forty-six percent of gun owners reported safely storing all of their guns. Factors associated with higher odds of reporting safe storage were having a child in the home (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 2.03), only owning handguns (AOR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.24, 2.73), and reporting that storage decisions were influenced by a gun safety course (AOR = 2.05; 95% CI = 1.54, 2.74) or discussions with family members (AOR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.05, 1.86). Gun owners ranked law enforcement, hunting or outdoors groups, active-duty military, and the National Rifle Association as most effective in communicating safe storage practices. Conclusions. Public health campaigns to promote safe gun storage should consider partnering with groups that garner respect among gun owners for their experience with safe use of guns.

Despite well-studied associations of state firearm laws with lower state- and county-level firearm homicide, there is a shortage of studies investigating differences in the effects of distinct state firearm law categories on various cities within the same state using identical methods. We examined associations of 5 categories of state firearm laws—pertaining to buyers, dealers, domestic violence, gun type/trafficking, and possession—with city-level firearm homicide, and then tested differential associations by city characteristics. City-level panel data on firearm homicide cases of 78 major cities from 2010 to 2020 was assessed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Vital Statistics System. We modeled log-transformed firearm homicide rates as a function of firearm law scores, city, state, and year fixed effects, along with time-varying city-level confounders. We considered effect measure modification by poverty, unemployment, vacant housing, and income inequality. A one z -score increase in state gun type/trafficking, possession, and dealer law scores was associated with 25% (95% confidence interval [CI]:−0.37,−0.1), 19% (95% CI:−0.29,−0.07), and 17% (95% CI:−0.28, −0.4) lower firearm homicide rates, respectively. Protective associations were less pronounced in cities with high unemployment and high housing vacancy, but more pronounced in cities with high income inequality. In large US cities, state-level gun type/trafficking, possession, and dealer laws were associated with lower firearm homicide rates, but buyers and domestic violence laws were not. State firearm laws may have differential effects on firearm homicides based on city characteristics, and city-wide policies to enhance socioeconomic drivers may add benefits of firearm laws.

To better understand motivations behind purchase and storage of firearms during the COVID-19 pandemic, we used Amazon Mechanical Turk to conduct an online survey of individuals who did and did not purchase a firearm since 1 January 2020 in response to COVID-19. The survey was fielded between 1 and 5 May 2020. We asked about motivations for purchase, changes in storage practices and concern for themselves or others due to COVID-19. There were 1105 survey respondents. Most people who purchased a firearm did so to protect themselves from people. Among respondents who had purchased a firearm in response to COVID-19 without prior household firearm ownership, 39.7% reported at least one firearm was stored unlocked. Public health efforts to improve firearm-related safety during COVID-19 should consider increasing access to training and framing messages around the concerns motivating new firearm purchase.