Steven Mace
01-17-2002, 04:33 PM
Group assails state's gun checks
By Michael J. Rochon
michael.rochon@indystar.com
January 17, 2002
Last year, 4,600 more people in Indiana were licensed to pack heat than in 2000.
But according to a new national study by a gun safety organization, some of those new Hoosier gun owners probably should have been holstered.
The Americans for Gun Safety Foundation gave Indiana a failing grade for the way it conducts background checks on people who wish to obtain firearms. In fact, Indiana maintains fewer automated records of felony convictions, mental disabilities, fugitive warrants and domestic restraining orders than any other state, according to the foundation.
The "Broken Trust" study released Wednesday revealed that 189 people over 21/2 years erroneously passed background checks authorizing them to buy guns because the state's database did not contain information about their criminal offenses and other problems that would have barred the sales of guns.
Critics and supporters of the study said the data bring new light to long-held concerns that inadequate measures are being taken to make sure guns stay out of the hands of felons and those otherwise barred from obtaining weapons.
"We've been looking into this issue for about 15 years, and, first of all, it's clear that all vital data kept on record must be accurate and up to date," said Kelly Whitley of the National Rifle Association in Washington. The organization blasted the report as merely self-promotional by the foundation.
Using data from the FBI and Indiana State Police, the Washington-based nonprofit group found that only 6 percent of all criminal convictions in Indiana can be accessed by computer when performing background checks. Those with felony convictions are barred from purchasing or carrying firearms.
Officials with the Indiana State Police, entrusted with tracking all data used in instant background checks, estimate about 20 percent of all criminal convictions in the state have been transferred from manual to electronic records during the past three years. That means 80 percent of felony convictions are not even in the database used for checking prospective gun buyers.
"We agree that there's a long way to go before our system is perfect," said Maj. Karen Butt. "It's an ongoing process, but we are fixing our system."
The state scored five out of a possible 100 points for all data kept electronically, the report stated.
"The dirty little secret is that the records for Indiana and almost every state are in terrible shape," said Jim Kessler, the policy director of the foundation. "And our front line of defense necessary to keep guns out of the hand of criminals is full of holes."
Overall, the report gave failing grades to 21 other states for having grossly inadequate records -- many of which rely on the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which was created by the landmark Brady Act in 1993.
Under federal law, if a state or federal government cannot complete a background check in three days, a gun dealer is allowed to sell a firearm to the customer.
To stave off illegal sales, gun control agencies are urging states to adopt a "don't know, don't sell" policy to extend the period of time to complete the security checks, as well as asking mental health officials to supply disqualifying records.
"It's a multipronged approach, one that will make these background checks more accurate," said Nancy Hwa of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Although state officials are fielding criticism about the issue, local Hoosier gun enthusiasts feel the current background checking system is more than sufficient.
Gun store manager Chris Baker, 29, said that while the influx of customers has increased dramatically since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, he has yet to see any prospective gun buyers turned away recently by security checks.
"Matter of fact, most people are authorized on the same day that they came in," said Baker, of Pop Guns Trading Post on the Northwestside.
Background checks are required for all gun sales, but Indiana law also requires a gun permit if the firearm is to be carried by the person or in a car.
Many customers already have been issued gun permits by the state before they go shopping. One of them is Eric Grumbles, a 25-year-old Indianapolis travel agent. Grumbles is one of more than 300,000 Hoosiers with active gun permits.
"I've always enjoyed shooting," said Grumbles, who already owns two guns but was seeking a third. "(But) I realize not everyone with a gun should have one, though."
http://www.indystar.com/article.php?guns17.html
Steve Mace
By Michael J. Rochon
michael.rochon@indystar.com
January 17, 2002
Last year, 4,600 more people in Indiana were licensed to pack heat than in 2000.
But according to a new national study by a gun safety organization, some of those new Hoosier gun owners probably should have been holstered.
The Americans for Gun Safety Foundation gave Indiana a failing grade for the way it conducts background checks on people who wish to obtain firearms. In fact, Indiana maintains fewer automated records of felony convictions, mental disabilities, fugitive warrants and domestic restraining orders than any other state, according to the foundation.
The "Broken Trust" study released Wednesday revealed that 189 people over 21/2 years erroneously passed background checks authorizing them to buy guns because the state's database did not contain information about their criminal offenses and other problems that would have barred the sales of guns.
Critics and supporters of the study said the data bring new light to long-held concerns that inadequate measures are being taken to make sure guns stay out of the hands of felons and those otherwise barred from obtaining weapons.
"We've been looking into this issue for about 15 years, and, first of all, it's clear that all vital data kept on record must be accurate and up to date," said Kelly Whitley of the National Rifle Association in Washington. The organization blasted the report as merely self-promotional by the foundation.
Using data from the FBI and Indiana State Police, the Washington-based nonprofit group found that only 6 percent of all criminal convictions in Indiana can be accessed by computer when performing background checks. Those with felony convictions are barred from purchasing or carrying firearms.
Officials with the Indiana State Police, entrusted with tracking all data used in instant background checks, estimate about 20 percent of all criminal convictions in the state have been transferred from manual to electronic records during the past three years. That means 80 percent of felony convictions are not even in the database used for checking prospective gun buyers.
"We agree that there's a long way to go before our system is perfect," said Maj. Karen Butt. "It's an ongoing process, but we are fixing our system."
The state scored five out of a possible 100 points for all data kept electronically, the report stated.
"The dirty little secret is that the records for Indiana and almost every state are in terrible shape," said Jim Kessler, the policy director of the foundation. "And our front line of defense necessary to keep guns out of the hand of criminals is full of holes."
Overall, the report gave failing grades to 21 other states for having grossly inadequate records -- many of which rely on the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which was created by the landmark Brady Act in 1993.
Under federal law, if a state or federal government cannot complete a background check in three days, a gun dealer is allowed to sell a firearm to the customer.
To stave off illegal sales, gun control agencies are urging states to adopt a "don't know, don't sell" policy to extend the period of time to complete the security checks, as well as asking mental health officials to supply disqualifying records.
"It's a multipronged approach, one that will make these background checks more accurate," said Nancy Hwa of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Although state officials are fielding criticism about the issue, local Hoosier gun enthusiasts feel the current background checking system is more than sufficient.
Gun store manager Chris Baker, 29, said that while the influx of customers has increased dramatically since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, he has yet to see any prospective gun buyers turned away recently by security checks.
"Matter of fact, most people are authorized on the same day that they came in," said Baker, of Pop Guns Trading Post on the Northwestside.
Background checks are required for all gun sales, but Indiana law also requires a gun permit if the firearm is to be carried by the person or in a car.
Many customers already have been issued gun permits by the state before they go shopping. One of them is Eric Grumbles, a 25-year-old Indianapolis travel agent. Grumbles is one of more than 300,000 Hoosiers with active gun permits.
"I've always enjoyed shooting," said Grumbles, who already owns two guns but was seeking a third. "(But) I realize not everyone with a gun should have one, though."
http://www.indystar.com/article.php?guns17.html
Steve Mace