The survey results demonstrate the need for changes in laws about gun sales and transfers, and for more resources to conduct gun sale compliance checks, according to lead author Susan B. Sorenson, professor of community health sciences at the UCLA School of Public Health.
"In the absence of federal handgun registration, firearm dealers carry the primary burden in the United States for assuring guns are not sold to individuals who are prohibited from buying one," Sorenson said. "While dealers are in a position to exercise judgment when a customer is explicit about buying a firearm for someone else, some dealers appear willing to ignore or sidestep relevant information to a sale -- even when told that the end user was prohibited from purchasing a firearm."
Researchers conducted telephone interviews with 120 handgun dealers, six from each of the 20 largest U.S. cities with 10 or more dealers. Those cities included Baltimore; New York City; Philadelphia; Memphis, Tenn.; Nashville, Tenn.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Oklahoma City; Houston; Dallas; San Antonio, Texas; El Paso, Texas; Austin, Texas; Forth Worth, Texas; Cleveland; Indianapolis; Denver; Seattle; Phoenix, Ariz.; Los Angeles; and San Diego.
Dealers within each city were randomly assigned to a male or female interviewer and then randomly assigned to one of three purchase conditions: 1) the handgun was for the caller, 2) the handgun was a gift for a girl or boyfriend, 3) the handgun was for a girl or boyfriend "because she/he needs it." Dealers were told, "I've never done this before. What do I need to know?"
Federal law allows licensed firearm dealers to sell a firearm to any person who is not a prohibited purchaser, such as a convicted felon. Guns may be purchased as gifts. Selling a handgun would be illegal under the "need" condition.
The findings showed most dealers were willing to sell a handgun regardless of the end user. If the handgun were identified as for the caller, 87.5 percent of dealers would make the sale; if as a gift, 70.8 percent; and if as a gift for someone who "needs it," 52.5 percent. The survey also showed that dealers in the Midwest, South and West were more willing to sell than those in the Northeast.
A follow-up survey of 20 additional telephone calls was made after the study was complete. The caller told the dealer, "My girl/boyfriend needs me to buy her/him a handgun because she/he isn't allowed to." In 16 of the 20 calls, the dealer responded with an unequivocal "no." Each of the four who agreed to sell a handgun appeared to recognize that the sale would be illegal.
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The full article is available online at the Injury Prevention Web site: http://ip.bmjjournals.com/.
Journal
Injury Prevention