Gun Dealers, USA

The first question examines where juveniles obtain guns. Although Federal law bars anyone under 18 years old from purchasing a handgun from a licensed dealer, this law is easily and routinely circumvented by adolescents. In a recent study by the National Institute of Justice, 18 percent of students in high-risk neighborhoods who had handguns had asked someone older to purchase a gun for them from a retail outlet. The same study advised that "theft and burglary were the ultimate source of many of the guns acquired by the juveniles surveyed, but only occasionally the proximate source." Other questions relate to how to determine how many gun dealers are in a given State. Sources for such information are provided, including the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Guidance is also provided for obtaining information on the number of gun dealers in a city or county. Other suggestions pertain to the obtaining of the names, addresses, and phone numbers of gun dealers in a city, county, or State; the number of gun stores in a State, city, or county; the number of guns sold by licensed dealers in a jurisdiction and what types; and any State laws or regulations regarding gun dealers. Preemption laws are also discussed. These restrict local governments' rights to regulate the possession and sales of firearms in their jurisdiction. How to obtain information on whether a State or local government is currently considering gun-dealer regulations is also discussed. 5 notes and a chart that provides information on gun dealers in each State