Buckeye Reporter

Snake oil, a product once touted as a miracle cure, has long been debunked for its lack of medicinal value. The term is now often used metaphorically to describe dubious claims, such as those surrounding gun control measures.

The debate over universal background check laws is one example where strong assertions are made without substantial evidence. Advocates claim, "Background checks save lives," but critics argue there is little objective proof to support this statement.

A study by Philip Cook and Jens Ludwig published in 2000 examined the effects of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act's federal background check requirement. They found that while there was a reduction in firearm suicide rates among older adults, there was no significant impact on homicide or overall suicide rates.

In 2017, Dr. Garen Wintemute and colleagues studied universal background check laws in Colorado, Delaware, and Washington. They noted an increase in background check inquiries only in Delaware, which also saw a 45% rise in firearm homicides. Similar increases were observed in Colorado and Washington.

Critics highlight these findings to question the effectiveness of universal background checks. A Department of Justice survey revealed that most criminals do not acquire guns from licensed dealers or similar venues. Additionally, the U.S. Sentencing Commission reported that nearly 89% of those convicted of new weapon offenses were already prohibited from owning firearms.

Dr. Greg Ridgeway's 2013 publication emphasized the challenges in enforcing background check laws without gun registration—a practice banned by the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986.

New York's experience with gun registration under the SAFE Act further illustrates enforcement difficulties. Compliance was estimated at less than 18%, highlighting skepticism about such measures' efficacy.

Despite these challenges, proponents remain steadfast in their beliefs about gun control's potential benefits. However, critics continue to ask why laws that appear ineffective are pursued.

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