Waiting periods

Introduction

To establish the justifications for why waiting periods for the purchase of firearms are crucial in the decrease of firearm-related fatalities.

Delaying the purchase of guns for safety

Delaying the purchase of guns offers a window of time for calming down, it lessens or eliminates the possibility that potential criminals will use the weapons, and most importantly, it enables thorough background checks to prevent purchases from dangerous and ineligible people, thereby lowering the overall number of gun-related fatalities.

Rising civilian gun ownership and the need for stricter rules

Due to rising civilian gun ownership and insufficient gun ownership rules, there have been an alarmingly high number of deaths from civilian gun ownership throughout the years. This phenomenon is quite alarming given the fact that other developed countries experience much fewer rates of gun violence cases. Despite the growing concern, no substantial reduction in firearm-associated deaths has taken place in the past few years. Fortunately, more evidence is streaming in concerning the appropriate policies that would adequately serve the purpose of reducing gun violence.

Behavioral economics and psychology insights

One of the significant policy breakthroughs for reducing gun deaths is embedded on the insights borrowed from behavioral economics and psychology. This ideology suggests that delaying purchases of guns, whether for a short or long time can be a useful technique. In fact, is anticipated to save the lives of more than 1,700 individuals each year. Evidence from Harvard business school research further supports the fact that extended waiting days not only reduce gun homicides but also reduce suicides significantly. The states with waiting period laws are shown to have lower gun deaths than those without similar bills. This observation calls for an integrated approach where the policy is expanded to all other regions. Suffice to note is that the extension of the waiting time does not function to impose any restrictions to civilian gun ownership. On the contrary, it is a method that only enhances the quality of checks, deters potential perpetrators and necessitates ample time for personal reflection and calm. The issue here is looking for an approach that not only reduces unnecessary gun incidents and deaths but also ensures self-protection by individuals who are deemed responsible and worthy of gun ownership.

Background and Importance of Waiting Periods

With the rising number of guns owned by civilians in the United States, approximately more than 33,000 individuals reportedly die due to gun-related incidents annually. This figure almost equals the number of deaths resulting from motor vehicle accidents (Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence). Handgun waiting periods fall under gun control laws which impose a specific delay time between the interest to purchase and the final acquisition of a firearm. According to Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence waiting periods is a crucial period for buyers and it significantly reduces the incidence of gun violence. In fact, the waiting periods are capable of lowering gun-related homicides by approximately 17%. As such, the waiting time has its effects on personal, visceral factors including anger and suicidal tendencies both of which are significant triggers for infliction of harming others or oneself. Delaying the acquisition of guns, therefore, provides an opportunity window for cooling off, it reduces or closes the chance for potential perpetrators to use the weapons and most of all, it allows for comprehensive background checks to deter purchases from ineligible individuals thus reducing the overall number of gun-related deaths.

importance of background checks during waiting periods

The importance of waiting periods is primarily evident when it comes to the performance of background checks for all the prospective buyers. The waiting period laws, therefore, include a specified number of days before an individual can possess the firearm. During this time space, law enforcement officers conduct extensive research and evaluation of the interested buyers. Although there is no specific federally established waiting time, the dealers can then deliver firearms to the buyers once the check is verified. Every year, more than 3,000 ineligible individuals receive firearms as a result of imperfect or incomplete evaluations. The FBI usually requires about 25 days to confirm whether or not the buyer is qualified to own a gun or not. The extended research time can therefore not be overlooked as it serves the purpose of ensuring that people who acquire weapons are undoubtedly responsible and not a risk to others. Examples of incompetent people include those with a history of domestic violence, restraining orders, and criminal offenses. Results from research studies indicate that background checks during the waiting period reduce gun homicides by 17%, translating to about 750 murders annually. It is also projected that 910 firearm-related homicides can be curbed every year if ample waiting time is utilized for background checks (Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence).

Cooling-off period and prevention of impulsive acts

In addition to the background checks, required waiting periods also create a cooling-off period. Apparently, the absence of waiting time is a loophole where impulsive buying and usage are imminent. However, mandatory waiting offers a recognizable psychological impact where one can have the chance to reconsider their actions. The most prominent impulsive violence act that is deterred is suicide, although retaliation and revenge also count (Lucaa, Malhotraa, and Poliquina 1). Every year, approximately two-thirds of all gun deaths (around 21,000) are suicides. Guns are genuinely lethal, and this deadliness is what accounts for the 90% chance of suicide deaths when using a firearm compared to other methods. Incredibly, most people who survive suicide attempts rarely die due to subsequent suicides. As such, the impulsiveness of suicide calls for the removal of immediate access to firearms. States with waiting periods experience 51% fewer suicide rates and also reduced impulsive gun use compared to those regions without such laws (Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence).

Deterrence through waiting periods

While the compulsory waiting policy reduces suicides and firearm ownership by individuals who are dangerous to the general population, the purpose of this law in deterrence cannot be overlooked. More often than not, lack of waiting time directly translates to the quick acquisition of firearms. This means that although background checks are performed, they may not be highly extensive to detect potential incompetence of the buyers. However, knowing that there is a gap between the buying and receiving of the weapon is more or less a deterrence tactic, particularly for those individuals who have temporary malicious intentions (Price). As such, individuals who know that they have a history of criminal activity and domestic violence are discouraged by default from applying for gun ownership, knowing sufficiently well that the period is enough to uncover their ineligibility. Likewise, those with the intent of undertaking malevolent actions temporarily may have the time to reconsider their plans coupled with the fear of being discovered and arrested before executing their plans. As such, the combination of background checks and cooling-off provided by the waiting time discourages the application of guns by potentially dangerous individuals, hence reducing gun-related deaths.

Conclusion

The basis of gun control laws is founded on the principal assumption that the number of firearms in the general public is associated with crime rates, including homicides and suicides. However, this does not mean that guns do not serve the purpose of self and family protection. It is clear that a mandatory waiting period goes a long way in reducing unwanted gun-related deaths by enhancing the depth of background checks, offering the chance for cooling-off and reconsideration, and also deterring potentially dangerous individuals from applying for firearms. Policy-makers and other relevant stakeholders are tasked with the implementation of such laws to help in the battle against unnecessary gun-related deaths.

Works Cited

Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “Waiting Periods.” Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, 2017, http://lawcenter.giffords.org/gun-laws/policy-areas/gun-sales/waiting-periods/. Accessed 3 November 2017.

Lucaa, Michael, Deepak Malhotraa and Christopher Poliquina. “Handgun waiting periods reduce gun deaths.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Ed. Philip J. Cook. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences, 2016. 1-4.

Price, Michael. “Gun waiting periods could save hundreds of lives a year, study says.” Science Magazine, 16 October 2017, http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/10/gun-waiting-periods-could-save-hundreds-lives-year-study-says. Accessed 3 November 2017.