Topic Paper Gun Control

Topic Paper – Week 1

Gun Control and Demand

Submitted by

Prepared for

BUSN 6120, Managerial Economics

Webster University

Gun Control and Demand

        For once it seems a peaceful and civil debate occurred in a town hall meeting hosted by CNN on January 8, 2016 in which President Obama spoke with advocates for and against gun control in America.  On the heels of another mass shooting in San Bernardino, California and taped shootings of police officers all over the country gunning down civilians, the raging gun control debate continues to flare up time and time again.  In response to acts of violence involving guns, and the growing push for gun control, the demand for guns among the American public have steadily risen with gun manufacturers reaping large profits.  In order to better understand and evaluate the potential ramifications of gun control a study of how that affects gun demand is worthy of analysis.  What if any correlation does exist between government actions for tougher gun control and how they spur the demand and sale of guns will be the topic for this paper.  This paper will drill down into current gun control laws, market data pertinent to the demand for guns, and how gun control affects gun sales to understand the economics of demand.

Gun Laws.  

To start at a baseline for gun demand, we must look at the historical and current situation as it pertains to gun control.  The foremost doctrine quoted by gun advocates of course is the second amendment or the right to bear arms.  The second amendment of the United States Constitution reads:  "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." ^[1]  This is the central focal point 

of many state and federal gun laws throughout the country.  When individuals see the United States Government looking to prohibit this constitutional right, it drives upward the sale of guns and consumers clamor to buy the type and model of gun they desire before it becomes illegal.  

There is no gun owner’s database in the United States and that has become a lightning rod for anti-gun proponents. ^[2]    Since the paper trail of gun ownership doesn’t exist, guns could get into the hands of criminals. The number of guns in America is often misquoted or deduced from survey data, available sale records, and background checks that have been initiated before a sale.  Many pro-gun advocates see these type of request for collective data mining as a step toward disarmament.    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives publishes annual data on how many guns are manufactured and imported.  In 2013, the most reliable year for data information, about 16 million new guns entered circulation and the FBI can back up this finding using background check data.  With the continued and rising number of guns entering into circulation with little to no supervised tracking mechanism, President Obama is weighing in with the argument for utilizing his executive power to enforce background checks for any individual who wishes to purchase a firearm and close the loop hole of being able to procure firearms at gun shows with little more than a valid ID.  President Obama’s action should see a rise in demand for guns increasing in the near future.