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Licensed firearm dealers, ATF inspection violations, and the impact on local shootings
Stansfield, R., Semenza, D. C., Silver, I. A., & Savage, B. (2025). Licensed firearm dealers, ATF inspection violations, and the impact on local shootings. Justice Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2025.2459158
Gun dealers play an important role in preventing the purchase of weapons by prohibited buyers and stemming the flow of guns from legal to illegal markets. Therefore, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) plays a crucial crime prevention role through regulating and inspecting licensed dealers for compliance. The current study assesses the impact of an ATF inspection that reveals noncompliance with federal law on local neighborhood shootings. Through an examination of shootings before and after ATF inspections that occurred between 2015 and 2017, our study reveals a limited impact of inspections on shootings generally. However, in communities characterized by economic disadvantage, gradual declines in shootings are witnessed over time after an inspection is completed. The study discusses the theoretical role that licensed dealers play in local shootings and the importance of supporting key legislative measures to support the ATF regulatory and inspections functions.
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