The details of the study give conclusive evidence that federal gun control is a necessity in order to protect the whole nation. The report showed that, of guns seized in states other than where they were sold, 25 percent could be traced back to only four states: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas. Ten states with the loosest gun-control laws are responsible for selling 54.2 percent of all the guns traced to 1996 crimes in states other than the place of sale. The selling states are primarily in the South and most of the guns are exported to the North on major highways such as Interstate 95. Because this study shows the flow to be so one-directional, interesting points arise.
First, because certain states serve primarily as gun exporters, where they exist, gun-control laws appear to work. This is the first study that conclusively shows that gun control works; states with weaker gun-control laws are exporting guns to states with tougher gun-control laws. For the federal government to be able to trace guns used in crimes throughout the nation to a few states speaks highly of the national tracking system. However, the system should be expanded to set up a national gun registry and better national gun-control legislation.
Second, because differences in gun-control laws create opportunities for illegal gun trafficking, legislation should focus primarily on the gun runners. Much like the war against drugs aims to crack down on drug dealers, gun control should seek to stop gun trafficking at the source. To this end, Rep. Charles Schumer (D-Brooklyn) introduced new legislation that would make gun running a federal crime. The measure would make it illegal for anyone to sell five or more guns across state lines within a one-year period with the intent of selling or transferring the guns to another person. However, a national gun registration system could be the only way to determine who sells more than five guns per year across state lines.
Even though Schumer's legislation is already controversial and is receiving heat from organizations such as the NRA, it could be a necessary step to curb the country's gun-control problem. In the past, it would have been difficult to develop and compile the data that was used in the congressional study. The '80s was a decade of political pressure to back off national gun control. But under President Clinton, the firearms agency has been allowed to expand its role in tracing guns used in crimes. Now, with the new information and conclusive evidence about crime and gun control, legislators should apply the data toward stern legislation.
When faced with conclusive evidence that links lax gun-control laws to an increase in gun trafficking and crime, the federal government should take a stand. New legislation, such as that proposed by Schumer, should be seriously considered and passed into law to protect the nation.