Firearm Laws: Combinations of Firearms Laws

Task Force Finding*

This review addresses whether a greater degree of firearms regulation in a jurisdiction results in a reduction of violence in the same jurisdiction.

The evidence, based on national law assessments, international comparisons, and index studies (those that develop indices of regulation), is currently insufficient to determine the effectiveness of the degree of firearms regulation in preventing violence. The number of available studies was small, and they showed limitations in their execution 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: April 2002