NCJ Number
37489
Date Published
1976
Length
47 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DISCUSSES THE NUMBER OF HANDGUNS IN MASSACHUSETTS, THE PROBLEM OF HAND GUN VIOLENCE, THE PERCENTAGE OF MASSACHUSSETTS RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF GUN CONTROL, AND THE GUN LAWS AS THEY STAND.
Abstract
THE REPORT DISCLOSES THAT NO LESS THAN 350,000 HANDGUNS EXIST IN MASSACHUSETTS TODAY AND THAT COMPENSATION TO GUN OWNERS IN THE EVENT OF HANDGUN PROHIBITION WOULD COST THE STATE ANYWHERE FROM $26.3 MILLION TO $40 MILLION. IT DOCUMENTS THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE IN MASSACHUSETTS WITH NUMEROUS FIGURES. ALL GUN-CRIME HAS RISEN PHENOMENALLY SINCE 1968. HANDGUNS ARE THE PRIMARY MURDER WEAPON, AND ARE BECOMING MORE COMMONLY USED IN SUICIDES, ASSAULTS, ROBBERIES, AND POLICE KILLINGS. HANDGUNS HAVE BECOME THE PRIMARY TOOL OF THE CRIMINAL. IT SHOWS THAT 93 PERCENT OF MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS THINK HANDGUNS, 67 PERCENT FAVOR MANDATORY SENTENCING, AND 44 PERCENT FAVOR THE BANNING OF PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF HANDGUNS. IT DISCUSSES THE VARIOUS LEGISLATIVE MEANS OF GUN CONTROL AND THEIR EFFECTIVENESS: LICENSING AND REGISTRATION HAVE HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON GUN VIOLENCE; PROHIBITION OF HNADGUNS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DECREASE HANDGUN DEATHS BUT IT NEEDS A HIGH DEGREE OF PUBLIC SUPPORT AND AN EFFECTIVE PLAN OF ENFORCEMENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)