Firearm purchasing and firearm violence during the coronavirus pandemic in the United States: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Firearm violence is a significant public health problem in the United States. A surge in firearm purchasing following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic may have contributed to an increase in firearm violence. We sought to estimate the state-level association between firearm purchasing and interpersonal firearm violence during the pandemic.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia from January 2018 through July 2020. Data were obtained from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (a proxy for firearm purchasing) and the Gun Violence Archive. Using negative binomial regression models, we estimated the association between cumulative excess firearm purchases in March through July 2020 (measured as the dif

SUBMITTER: Schleimer JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8256207 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature