Effect on background checks of newly-enacted comprehensive background check policies in Oregon and Washington: a synthetic control approach.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Comprehensive background check (CBC) laws extend background check requirements to private party firearm transfers to prevent firearm acquisitions by prohibited persons. The aim of our study was to estimate the association between CBC policies and changes in background check rates for firearm acquisition in two states (Oregon and Washington) that have newly-enacted CBC policies.

Methods

We used data on handgun background checks from January 1999 to December 2018 from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Observed trends in exposed states were contrasted with counterfactual trends estimated with the synthetic control group method.

Findings

CBC policies were associated with increases in background checks in Oregon (by 18.0%; p = 0.074),

SUBMITTER: Castillo-Carniglia A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6880454 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature