Firearm Laws: Bans on Specific Firearms or Ammunition
Task Force Finding*
Bans prohibit the acquisition and possession of certain categories of firearms (e.g., handguns or assault weapons) or ammunition (e.g., large-capacity magazines). Bans are intended to decrease the availability of specified firearms or ammunition to potential offenders, thus reducing the capacity of these people to commit crimes.
Evidence is insufficient to determine the effectiveness of bans on specified firearms and ammunition for the prevention of violence, because of a small number of studies and inconsistent findings.
*From the following publication:
Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations to reduce violence through early childhood home visitation, therapeutic foster care, and firearms laws. 
[PDF - 71KB] Am J Prev Med 2005;28(2S1):6-10.
Review completed: October 2001
- Page last reviewed: February 7, 2011
- Page last updated: September 29, 2010
- Content source: The Guide to Community Preventive Services
