Reply #1: The conclusion does not follow logically from the data, and does not agree with DoJ survey results

[slackmaster]

The study state that 85% of recovered crime guns have gone through at least one private party transaction following their initial sale by a licensed retailer.

I don't have any reason to doubt that factoid. Most people who commit violent crimes already have criminal records that make them ineligible to buy a gun from a licensed dealer. They buy them from friends, acquaintences, and family members, and from other criminals.

However, not all private-party transfers happen at gun shows. (I personally have never bought a gun from a private individual at a gun show, and I have bought several from private individuals.) And although the researchers documented private-party transfers at gun shows (not in California BTW), they present absolutely no evidence that ANY of the guns sold in those transactions were subsequently used in crimes. It's complete bullshit.

:dunce:

Here is some contradictory data from the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics:

According to the 1997 Survey of State Prison Inmates, among those possessing a gun, the source of the gun was from -

- a flea market or gun show for fewer than 2%

- a retail store or pawnshop for about 12%

- family, friends, a street buy, or an illegal source for 80%

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/guns.htm

K&U

:kick: