Gun policy has been a topic of debate for decades, and its prominence has increased as gun-related deaths and mass shootings have risen nearly every year since 2014, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Many Americans despair of taming the epidemic, but a new report says certain laws can make a difference. The report from Rand found that minimum age requirements for purchasing firearms appear to reduce suicides among young people. Additionally, it indicated that laws aimed at reducing children’s access to stored guns may also lower rates of firearm suicides, unintentional shootings and firearm homicides among youth, Stateline reports. This is the fourth time Rand has released “The Science of Gun Policy” since 2018. Earlier editions examined the effectiveness of other gun regulations, such as background checks and concealed carry laws, and their impact on outcomes such as crime and suicide.
The “Science of Gun Policy” report examines laws individually. The new version explores the combined effects of multiple state-level gun laws, including background checks, minimum age requirements, waiting periods, child access restrictions, concealed carry and stand-your-ground laws. The study found that states with the most restrictive gun policies had a 20% lower firearm mortality rate compared with states with the most permissive laws, suggesting that comprehensive policy approaches may be more effective than individual policies in curbing gun violence. “There should be some hope that there is a policy combination that could drive the firearm death rate down,” said Rand's Terry Schell. This year, more than a dozen states enacted a variety of new gun laws, including measures related to storage requirements, gun-free zones, bans on firearm purchase tracking and permitless carry. After a deadly shooting at Apalachee High School, Georgia lawmakers from both parties are pushing measures to reduce gun violence. House Speaker Jon Burns said new policies will be considered in 2025 to promote student mental health, detect guns, and encourage safe storage.
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