Alex Coba, 23, decided to buy a gun two years ago on a whim. He and a friend went in for the test. He said he didn’t have any experience with firearms, but the test-giver told him not to worry, that it was common sense. He passed and received the permit the same day.
“It is stupid easy to get a gun and permit.” Coba says of his experience.
Still, California has the strictest gun laws in the nation. It also has low levels of gun-related violence.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, California had 3,184 firearm-related deaths in 2016, a rate of 7.9 per 100,000 people, well under the average 11.8 per 100,000 for the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that approximately 39 million people lived in California in 2016. Which means in California in 2016, an individual had a .0082 percent chance to be killed by a firearm.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, California had 3,184 firearm-related deaths in 2016, a rate of 7.9 per 100,000 people, well under the average 11.8 per 100,000 for the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that approximately 39 million people lived in California in 2016. Which means in California in 2016, an individual had a .0082 percent chance to be killed by a firearm.
This compares to neighboring Nevada, which has more lenient gun laws and a rate of 16.8 firearm-related deaths per 100,000 population, well over the U.S. average of 11.8. Nevada, with a population of 3 million, reported 498 firearms-related deaths in 2016. This means that a Nevadan had a 0.0166 percent chance to be killed by firearms.
While these all seem like small amounts, there is a direct correlation between states that restrict gun ownership and having lower firearm deaths.
But are strict gun laws the cause of fewer gun deaths?
Retired CHP Officer Lance Erickson, 61, disagrees that California gun violence less because of stricter gun laws. Erickson says that he has always owned guns and believes in background checks. Restricting law-abiding citizens only helps criminals.
Retired CHP Officer Lance Erickson, 61, disagrees that California gun violence less because of stricter gun laws. Erickson says that he has always owned guns and believes in background checks. Restricting law-abiding citizens only helps criminals.
“Having stricter gun laws does not increase public safety,” he said.
Erickson instead attributes the increase in violence to disrespect, video games and television. He believes that the media and the way people are raised speaks explains violence, not any laws.
While being part of the state patrol, he noticed that in the last 20 years violence has increased.
Data does show an overall increase in violence across the country. States such as Alaska, New Mexico and South Carolina are among the highest firearm death-rate states. They are also among some of the states with the fewest gun restrictions.
Data does show an overall increase in violence across the country. States such as Alaska, New Mexico and South Carolina are among the highest firearm death-rate states. They are also among some of the states with the fewest gun restrictions.
A strong example of restrictions come in the form Alaskan Concealed Carry Weapons Permit (CCW Permit.) These lenient guidelines translate to the rest of the U.S. through reciprocity when an Alaskan decides to come come visit other states. Thirty-eight states honor Alaskan concealed carry permits, while 12 states do not.
These 12 states have some of the lowest amounts of gun violence, evidence stricter laws do contribute to reducing firearm-related deaths.
However, more lenient laws did not necessarily correlate to more gun violence. Below are two map charts comparing firearm deaths to gun laws.
https://create.piktochart.com/output/35194029-firearm-deaths-2016
Eddie Ford, 56, owner of Nor Cal Gun Vault in Roseville, described the process of acquiring a firearm from his shop.
An individual seeking a firearm from his store must be a citizen of the United States or have a green card. They must have a valid ID and two forms of proof of residence. (This way the government and authorities know where the firearm should be located.) They must also have a permit to own a gun. This permit is achieved by a test taken at any authorized test location. Ford’s shop is one of them.
An individual seeking a firearm from his store must be a citizen of the United States or have a green card. They must have a valid ID and two forms of proof of residence. (This way the government and authorities know where the firearm should be located.) They must also have a permit to own a gun. This permit is achieved by a test taken at any authorized test location. Ford’s shop is one of them.
If a prospective buyer qualifies, he or she must wait 10 days to pick up their firearm. This 10 days is often referred to as the “cool-down period,” a term coined by politicians anticipating the possibility that an individual is purchasing a gun to do harm with it.
However, if an individual does not pass the state background check in the 10 days, the state can postpone a purchase for 20 more days, but not over 30. If after 30 a person's status is “undetermined,” it is up to the shop to decide whether or not to sell the weapon to the buyer.
Ford’s said his shop does not give firearms to undetermined individuals. Instead they are asked to apply again.
“Is it a gun problem or a violence problem?” Ford asked.
He attributed the running of continued coverage of gun deaths and violence to an increase in handguns for personal protection.
“If it bleeds it leads, and unfortunately guns can make people bleed,” Ford said.
He says that of his customers come in wanting to protect themselves and feel safer. In the effort to de-victimize themselves, people are also investing in other forms of nonlethal protection.
If he thought his business was putting firearms into the wrong hands, he said, he wouldn't do it.
If he thought his business was putting firearms into the wrong hands, he said, he wouldn't do it.
Ford ultimately attributes the gun violence in America to mental health.
While the jury is still out on gun violence and what makes someone kill another human being, the data show a strong correlation between states that regulate firearms stricter and a lower percentage of gun-related deaths.
--Rachael Bayuk