Jan 26, 2012
Gun Violence, Mental Illness and Firearms Laws: Research Evidence and Questions for Science, Policy and Practice
Firearm violence is a major public health problem in the U.S. More than 300,000 people died from gunshot injuries from 1998 to 2007—a death toll five times greater than the number of U.S. military casualties in the Vietnam War. Tragic acts of gun violence by persons with mental illness—such as the mass shootings at Virginia Tech in 2007 and in Tucson in 2011—suggest that the current patchwork of state and federal firearms laws may be ineffective at protecting the public from dangerous individuals. At the same time, empirical research shows that the large majority of people with mental illness are not violent, and that most violent acts are not caused by mental illness. States vary widely in their gun law regimes; procedures for implementing federal firearms laws; policies for reporting gun-disqualifying mental health records to the National Instant Check System; and programs for restoring gun rights to previously disqualified individuals. How effective are the existing gun laws in preventing violence by the few people with mental illness who are dangerous, without unduly infringing on the rights of the many who are not? What legal and policy reforms might be warranted, and what empirical evidence is needed to inform such reforms?
This webinar will provide information and opportunities for discussion about the problem of gun violence in the US—its prevalence, causes and potential legal and policy approaches to reduce the problem. Specifically, the webinar will focus on what is known about the contribution of mental illness to violence and will consider the implications of this (somewhat ambiguous) research literature for law and policy that seek to limit firearms access for people with mental disorders who may pose a danger to themselves or others. The presentation will discuss research findings on whether current federal and state firearms restrictions reduce gun violence, and will lay out an agenda for needed future research.
Webinar is free and open to all interested parties. Public Health Law Research is hosting January’s webinar
You may qualify for CLE credit. ASLME is an approved provider of continuing legal education credits in several states. ASLME will also apply for CLE credits in other states upon request.