Study: California's Strict Laws Decrease Illegal Firearm Purchases at Gun Shows

Injury Prevention, a peer-reviewed health journal, published a study involving field observations of gun shows across the country and the effect that California laws have on curbing illegal firearm purchases compared to other states.

The study collected data from 28 gun shows, eight each in California and Nevada, six in Arizona, four in Texas and two in Florida - between April 2005 and March 2006. California has the toughest regulations- requiring gun show promoters to be licensed whereas the others states do not have such regulations. The other states were chosen because they were the leading sources of guns used in crimes in California.

Common at the gun shows in the other states were "straw purchases," where an individual with a clean record would purchase a firearm under their name for someone with a criminal record. Also, private party sales that do not require the buyer to undergo a background check have long been suspected as a way for criminals to get guns. In the comparison states, such sales are not regulated, working under the "don't ask, don't tell policy." In California, private party sales can take place, but they must be processed by a licensed retailer, the buyer must submit to a background check, and the transaction is documented.

This study shows that regulations do work and that California, above all the other states, has the lowest number of illegal firearm transactions.

To read more about this study, click here.