Pursuant to the Brady Act, the government designed the firearm inquiry program to collect annual data with regards to presale and inquires made about handguns. The program would collect and analyzes the number dealt with during the presale. It would also interpret the numbers and the basis on which officials rejected some of the requests and inquiries for handguns. When a person wants to buy a gun, the gun dealer has to perform a background check on the buyers. The background check involves finding out if the buyer has had any incidents with a firearm, how many applications he has made and whether he has been previously convicted. All these information is recorded in a national database. The program was also designed to utilize the data to come up with societal solutions. That is from the number of applications made, those allowed, those rejected and the reasons for rejection, an analysis would be undertaken. The program has been designed in a way that does not perpetuate the infringement of privacy rights for gun buyers. Backgrounds checks erase the memory of the check at least 24 hours after the check. However, the number of checks done can be deduced from the system. The Brady Act provides for the procedures in order for public officials not to infringe on the constitutional rights of the citizenry. Under the program, data collection procedures are designed to reflect the interim period and the permanent period and difference in the presale figures.
The policy is meticulous, on paper. If it was implemented to the letter it would be instrumental in helping law enforcement agencies in controlling the sale of handguns, combat crime and make the society a more secure place. Theoretically, the policy would record all the national firearms purchase applications made and those that were denied pursuant to the Brady Act and other states laws. Furthermore, it would also facilitate the sharing of critical information between local agencies and the FBI, which is essential for combating criminal behavior. The reasons for denials and the number of applications would also influence policy planners’ decisions towards the management of handguns in the country. With this in mind, the program appears ideal for the United States. However, it is cardinal to take into consideration that the program cannot and should not be used as an indicator of the number of guns in a community. Furthermore, guns purchased by legitimate buyers are hardly used in criminal activities because they can be traced back to the owners. Criminals have become aware of the program and they do not buy their firearms through legal means. This has increased the number of illegal firearms within the United States. Though the national estimates provide a picture of the number of guns purchased, the desire of a community to own guns and the reasons why the majority of the community are denied this privilege, it still fails to provide a true reflection of the number of guns at the local level. However, it is essential to note that background checks inform the authority if a criminal is looking for a gun. This would enable them increase their surveillance and put up measures to prevent illegal trade in firearms. While the idea behind the program is noble, there are some fundamental changes that have to be made including the inclusion of figures for illegal purchase of firearms in an area for the statistics to reflect the true picture.
References
Boutilier, A. (2009). Background Checks for Firearms Transfers, 2009: Statistical Tables. Washington D C: DIANE Publishing.
Census Bureau. (2009). Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2010. Washington D C: Government Printing Office.
Hindelang, M. J. (2009). Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics. Washington D.C: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Lott, J. R. (2013). More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, Third Edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
May, D. A., & Headley, J. E. (2008). Reasonable Use of Force by Police: Seizures, Firearms, and High-speed Chases. New York: Peter Lang.
Tonry, M. H. (2009). The Oxford Handbook of Crime and Public Policy. Oxford Handbooks Online.
