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Connecticut Gun Crime (2002-2004)
- 187 homicides
- 2,018 aggravated assaults
- 4,547 robberies
- Gun violence is
increasing - Homicides by gun increased in 2006 by 38% vs.
2005 and 78% vs. 2002!
Most gun crimes are committed by people
who cannot legally own a gun.
WHERE DO THEY
GET THE GUNS?
-
All guns start with a legal sale.
-
Guns move into the illegal market
by traffickers or "straw purchasers" - people who can
own guns purchase them to sell to people who cannot.
-
One way this happens is that traffickers
use the "it was stolen" excuse: a crime gun is traced
back to the person who legally purchased the gun and,
when the owner is asked how his gun got to the person
who committed the crime, he says that the gun was stolen.
- Prosecution of these straw purchasers
is not possible because our laws do not require reporting
of stolen firearms.
Stolen firearms play a prominent role
in arming criminals.
- 26% of trafficked firearms had been
stolen.
- 21% of armed criminals obtained guns
from groups known to steal guns.
- From 1999-2000, 1,609 CT firearms
were reported stolen. There is no way to know how many others
have been stolen but were not reported.
- There is no way
to know how many other guns have been stolen but were not
reported.
Connecticut residents support this
requirement.
- 98% of CT residents surveyed*,
and 96% of gun owners, supported requiring the reporting
of lost or stolen firearms
*Poll conducted by the Center for
Research & Public Policy at Sacred Heart University, May 13-
May17, 2003
STOP
FIREARMS TRAFFICKING!
For the safety of our children and our communities,
All lost/stolen firearms must be reported to the police.
Contact
your legislator and urge them
to support this bill.
Stolen firearms play a
prominent role in arming criminals
- 26% of trafficked firearms had been
stolen
- 21% of armed criminals obtained guns
from groups known to steal guns
How Many Guns are Stolen?
- Reported (2 years - 1999 & 2000):
National: 286, 563; Connecticut: 1,609
(1)
- Total estimated (2 years): National:
1,000,000; Connecticut: 5,615 (2)
States with Laws Requiring That
Lost/Stolen Firearms be Reported:
| State |
Language |
Penalty |
| |
|
|
| New York |
Report loss/theft within 24 hours of the
discovery |
Fine not to exceed one hundred dollars. |
| |
|
|
| Massachusetts |
Report loss/theft "forthwith" |
Suspension or permanent revocation of firearms
license (needed to possess / purchase firearms); fine
of $200-$1,000 for first offense, and $1,000-$5,000 for
second offense. |
| |
|
|
| Michigan |
Report within 5 days after s/he knows of
theft; no requirement to report loss. |
Fine of not more than $500 |
| |
|
|
| Ohio |
Report loss/theft
immediately upon discovery |
Misdemeanor of the 4th degree (jail term
no longer than 30 days and could include unspecified fines). |
| |
|
|
| Rhode Island |
Report lost/theft within 24 hours of discovery |
Fine between $50 and $100 for "knowingly
violating." |
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|
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| California |
Dealers must report loss/theft within 48
hours |
Revocation of licenses |
Arresting The Possessor
Does Not Solve The Gun Problem
- Arrest an Individual - Prevent
0 crime-guns
from entering the community.
- Arrest a Trafficker - Prevent an average
of 37 crime-guns from
entering the community.
- Impact Illegal Diversion Schemes -
Prevent an average of 354 crime-guns
from entering the community. (Following the Gun: Enforcing
Federal Laws Against Firearms Trafficking, Dept. of the
Treasurey, June 2000, p.13.)
Lost/Stolen
Firearms FAQs
1: Americans for Gun Safety
Foundation. Stolen Firearms: Arming the Enemy. Washington,
D.C. December, 2002.
2: Cook, Philip J. and Jens Ludwig. Guns in America: Results
of a Comprehensive Survey of Gun Ownership and Use. Washington,
D.C.: Police Foundation, 1996.
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