Answering Policymakers’ Most Common Questions (And Debunking Their Most Common

In cases in which the possessor of a crime gun can be successfully identified, that possessor is rarely the original lawful possessor of the firearm, based upon the record at the last initial point of purchase that was generated for, and which are maintained by, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).23 These findings are also consistent with a comprehensive 2019 Depart- men. [...] In reality, most years both of these states have a homicide rate that is functionally zero.37 How can this be, unless gun crime is far more than a mere measure of a state’s gun laws, and is instead greatly affected by a variety of sociological factors? Beyond the complex nature of violence and the importance of analyzing general measures of public safety as opposed to just “gun violence,” no com-. [...] If the firearm at issue is a handgun—overwhelmingly the type of firearm most likely to be used in gun crime both in Chicago and elsewhere—federal law requires that the gun first be shipped to an FFL in Illinois, which then must process the sale exactly as it would for any fire- arm purchase.82 At the same time, the rules for possessing, transporting, and carrying a firearm in Illinois apply equall. [...] They should also require evidence of urgency, such as that the substantial or significant risk is imminent or “in the near future.” Finally, the length of time between the issuance of an ex parte order and full hearing in which the defendant has the full panoply of due-pro- cess protections should be roughly equivalent to the time frame in which states may hold an individual for an emergency menta. [...] Worse, it coincided in many cities with “defunding” measures, the cutting of vacant job openings, higher rates of retirement or quitting, and lower recruitment rates to fill the emptying ranks.134 How, then, might these acute problems during the height of the pandemic lead to the continued problems the nation faces nearly three years later? The modern consensus, based on decades of studies, is tha.