Introduction
Gun violence and mass shootings have become an epidemic in the United States. While people on both sides of the gun debate feel strongly about protecting either the right to bear arms or enacting stricter gun laws, the statistics and data strongly suggest that implementing more comprehensive gun control regulations could help curb the high rate of gun deaths in America. This paper will explore key aspects of the gun control debate and examine the evidence that stricter laws around assault weapons, universal background checks, limiting high-capacity magazines, and other measures could help reduce shootings and save lives without infringing on lawful gun ownership.
Background on U.S. Gun Deaths
The U.S. has a staggering number of annual gun deaths compared to other developed nations. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2020 there were over 45,000 gun deaths in the United States—this includes gun murders, gun suicides and accidental gun deaths. On a per capita basis, the U.S. firearm homicide rate is 25 times higher than other high-income countries. A 2019 study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that the U.S. gun death rate is 10 times that of other wealthy nations. The gun homicide rates in states with more permissive gun laws were significantly higher than those with stronger gun laws, indicating there is a correlation between lax gun regulations and more deaths. The statistics clearly show the U.S. has a severe gun violence problem compared to its developed nation peers.
Evidence That Assault Weapons Bans Reduce Mass Shootings
A core debate around gun control legislation centers on assault weapons bans. Assault weapons, which can include semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines and pistol grips, are the weapons of choice for many mass shooters. According to an analysis by Mother Jones, at least 57 mass shootings involving assault weapons have occurred in the U.S. since 1982. Research has found that previous Federal Assault Weapons Bans were effective at reducing mass shooting fatalities. A study published in Epidemiologic Reviews looking at mass shootings between 1984 and 1994, when an assault weapons ban was in effect, and between 2004 and 2014, without the ban, found that the ban was associated with a declining trend in mass shooting deaths. Another 2021 study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine analyzed data on mass shooting fatalities in the U.S. from 1981 to 2017 and found that assault weapons bans were associated with less mass shooting related fatalities. The evidence clearly demonstrates that assault weapons bans are linked to fewer casualties from mass public shootings.
Relationship Between High-Capacity Magazines and Casualties
High-capacity magazines, which can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, allow mass shooters to inflict maximum casualties without reloading. Research has established that limiting magazines to 10 rounds or less can reduce gun deaths. A 2013 study analyzed mass shootings committed with and without high-capacity magazines from 1994 to 2013 and found that attacks committed with high-capacity magazines had higher casualty counts and were more lethal. Another 2021 study in the American Journal of Medicine examined data on mass shootings from 1981 to 2017 and found limiting magazine capacity to 10 rounds was associated with fewer people killed or injured in mass shootings. Reducing magazine capacity modestly reduces the death tolls when mass murderers are able to release a large number of bullets in a matter of seconds from a single magazine. Limiting high-capacity magazines is one prudent policy tool that could potentially limit the harmful impacts of mass shootings according to research.
Link Between Private Gun Ownership and Higher Gun Deaths
While gun advocates argue private gun ownership deters crime, research does not support this claim and instead links more private gun ownership to higher rates of gun deaths. A 2020 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine examined the relationship between gun ownership rates and gun death rates at the state level and found no evidence that gun ownership reduces crime but did find that higher rates of gun ownership correlate strongly with higher overall homicide and suicide rates. Another 2017 study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine used regression analyses to examine relationships between levels of gun ownership and overall death rates and found states with higher estimated household gun ownership rates have higher overall suicide, homicide, and firearm suicide and homicide rates. While correlation does not inherently equal causation, multiple peer-reviewed studies using large datasets have found no evidence that private gun ownership deters crime but did connect higher gun ownership rates to more deaths.
Impact of Background Checks & Permit Laws
While most Americans support background checks, many mass shooters exploited weak background check requirements to legally obtain the weapons they used in homicides. Requiring background checks on all gun sales not just from licensed dealers could help curb dangerous individuals from obtaining firearms. Evidence shows that comprehensive background check laws are linked to fewer deaths. A 2021 study in JAMA Network Open found permit-to-purchase licensing laws, which require potential gun buyers to apply for a permit through a background check process, were associated with fewer firearm homicides. A 2020 study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine examined data from 1981-2015 and found states with comprehensive background check policies had 14% lower firearm homicide rates and 16% fewer suicides committed with firearms compared to states without such policies. Background checks combined with permit laws could prevent dangerous individuals from obtaining firearms while respecting the rights of lawful gun owners.
Opponents argue criminals don’t follow laws, but research indicates many mass shooters obtained their weapons legally and background checks can block such sales. A 2021 study in Injury Epidemiology found over half of mass shootings involved guns legally obtained by perpetrators, meaning background checks and other policies could prevent their access. Comprehensive background checks don’t inherently infringe on the rights of lawful gun owners but could curb gun access for dangerous individuals. The data indicates policies expanding background checks and implementing permitting requirements could help reduce gun deaths in America.
Debunking Claims That More Guns Equal Safer Society
Gun advocates often argue that widespread private gun ownership deters crime and that more guns lead to a safer society. But research clearly shows this is a myth and countries or states with more access to guns actually have more gun deaths, not less. A 2022 study in Science Advances comprehensively analyzed international crime and gun ownership data across dozens of developed nations and found no supportive evidence for more guns equaling less crime, concluding that gun availability is likely a risk factor for gun deaths rather than a protective factor. Similarly, a 2020 study in the American Journal of Medicine explored state-level data and found zero association between higher gun availability and lower rates of violence—quite the contrary, more guns linked to more homicides. Claims of widespread gun ownership deterring crime are simply not supported by evidence and research shows easier access to firearms, if anything, likely increases the risk of gun deaths at a population level based on peer-reviewed data analysis. While personal testimonials suggest otherwise, the aggregate data does not.
Conclusion
The evidence clearly demonstrates that certain gun control policies have shown to be effective at reducing gun deaths in America. Assault weapons bans are associated with fewer mass shooting fatalities. Limiting high-capacity magazines modestly reduces death tolls from mass shootings. Comprehensive background checks prevent dangerous individuals from legally obtaining firearms. Permit-to-purchase licensing combined with background checks curb access further. Meanwhile, popular claims that more gun availability leads to less crime or a safer society have been thoroughly debunked by data analysis across countries and within the United States. While the gun control debate involves weighing individual rights with public health and safety concerns, research indicates certain targeted gun restrictions do not infringe on lawful ownership while showing promise for curbing the staggering toll of firearm homicides and suicides in the U.S. Further adoption of evidence-based polices tailored to the unique American culture could potentially help reduce this urgent domestic crisis of gun violence.
Andrew Stroud