Study: States with stricter gun laws have less gun-related deaths | News

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- States with stricter gun laws have fewer gun-related deaths, according to a study released Wednesday.

But that's not discouraging the sponsor of Alabama's controversial new gun law, State Sen. Scott Beason, who says he wants to make it easier for citizens to carry guns so they can prevent themselves from becoming a gun violence victim.

The Boston Children's Hospital study looked at gun violence data from 2007 to 2010 in all 50 states and compared them to the severity of those states' gun laws.

Researchers found that states with the toughest gun laws had a 42 percent lower mortality rate than states with the loosest laws, and those same strong-gun-law states had 40 percent lower gun-related homicide rate.

"It really doesn't matter to me, statistics don't save people's lives," State Sen. Scott Beason (R-Gardendale) said. "My desire is to make sure law-abiding citizens have the opportunity to defend themselves."

Beason made some changes to his bill to allow sheriffs to deny a permit to applicants that they don't think should have one, but anyone who is denied a permit can appeal.

As for taking a gun to work and keeping it locked in your trunk? Beason's bill calls for a "don't ask don't tell" policy there.

"People have to remember, law enforcement sees bad guys all day everyday, so they have a little different view," Sen. Beason said. "But when you keep in mind our goal is to make sure law-abiding citizens are able to defend themselves."

The Boston study also found requiring background checks and permits were most closely associated with cutting gun-related homicide and suicide rates.

You can see the entire study here: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1661390

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