Types of background information checks prior to gun purchase and violent deaths

Background: There is renewed interest in the necessity of effective gun-control methods following the shooting tragedy in Tucson, AZ. This is the first study to examine the relationship between types of background-information check required by states prior to firearm purchases and firearm deaths. Methods: Negative binomial models are used to analyze the state-level data from 1996 to 2005. Data on types of background information were retrieved from the Surveys of State Procedures Related to Firearm Sales, and the violent death data were from the WISQARs. In addition to socio-economic variables and year effects, models control for level of checking agencies (i.e., federal vs state/local), past differences in gun fatalities, and historical state-policy on background checks. Results: States checking mental illness have 12% and 7% lower homicide deaths among Whites and Blacks respectively, but have no effects on suicide deaths. States checking restraining orders have 23% and 20% lower homicide deaths among Whites and the underage group respectively, as well as 29% lower suicide deaths among Blacks. Performing checks for misdemeanors is not associated with violent deaths. However, checking fugitive record is associated with 27% lower homicide deaths among the underage group. Conclusions: The findings generally show that performing more extended background checks prior to gun purchase is effective in reducing violent deaths. Specifically, checking for mental illness and restraining orders (as opposed to felony history only) is associated with lower firearm homicide deaths. These findings could be helpful in the directions of policy and budget distributions into the effective efforts.