《With Implementation of the Brady》.pdfVIP

ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION Homicide and Suicide Rates Associated With Implementation of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act Jens Ludwig, PhD Context In February 1994, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act established Philip J. Cook, PhD a nationwide requirement that licensed firearms dealers observe a waiting period and initiate a background check for handgun sales. The effects of this act have not been HE BRADY HANDGUN VIOLENCE analyzed. Prevention Act,1 implemented Objective To determine whether implementation of the Brady Act was associated in February 1994, provides an with reductions in homicide and suicide rates. Tunusual opportunity to con- duct a systematic evaluation of a na- Design and Setting Analysis of vital statistics data in the United States for 1985 tional system of background checks and through 1997 from the National Center for Health Statistics. waiting periods for the purchase of hand- Main Outcome Measures Total and firearm homicide and suicide rates per 100000 guns from federally licensed firearms adults 21 years and 55 years and proportion of homicides and suicides resulting from dealers FFLs . The intent of the legis- firearms were calculated by state and year. Controlling for population age, race, poverty and income levels, urban residence, and alcohol consumption, the 32 “treatment” states lation was to interrupt sales of firearms directly affected by the Brady Act requirements were compared with the 18 “control” to persons who are legally prohibited states and the District of Columbia, which had equivalent legislation already in place. from purchasing them. A total of 18 states and the District of Columbia al- Results Changes in rates of homicide and suicide for treatment and control states were not significantly different, except for firearm suicides among persons aged 55 ready met requirements, but dealers and years or older ?0.92 per 100000; 95% confidence interval [CI], ?1.43 to ?0.42 . This law enforcement