GUNS AND
CRIME
Seven percent of violent crimes in 2003 involved firearms.56
Of
robberies, 25 percent involved a firearm; of assaults, 5 percent were firearm
related; and of sexual assaults, 3 percent involved a firearm.57
Sixteen
percent of rejected firearms applications were denied because of prior domestic
violence misdemeanor convictions or prior restraining orders against the
applicant.58
In 2003, two-thirds of all homicide victims were killed with
a firearm.59
Firearms were used in 45 percent of carjacking
incidents.60
56 Catalano, Shannan. (2004). Criminal
Victimization, 2003.Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S.
Department ofJustice. Online: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cv03.htm
.
57 Ibid.
58 Bowling et al.
(2004). Background Checks for Firearm Transfers, 2003. Washington,
DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Online: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/bcft03.pdf
59 Federal Bureau of
Investigation. (2004). Crime in the United States, 2003.
Washington, DC: FBI, U.S. Department of Justice. Online: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_03/pdf/03sec2.pdf
60 Klaus, Patsy.
(2004). Carjacking 1993-1999. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice
Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice. Online: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/c02.htm
.
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