Registration as a tool for law enforcement

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Posted by Phil Lee (216.250.238.47) on November 18, 2000 at 20:31:

Research in the UK indicates that registration is of no assistance in solving firearm-related homicides and suicides involving registered guns, as it is obvious who committed the crime without reference to the registration records in most cases (70% of firearm-related domestic homicides involve the use of an unregistered gun, yet the perpetrator is almost always readily identified from other evidence). A 1994 study by the Home Office indicated that a substantial proportion of firearms recovered by the police during criminal investigations were found to have been licensed at some point, however, as the guns had been stolen from their lawful owners the registration records could obviously not help in the identification of who stole them. Also, in a 1993 letter the then Home Office minister in charge of firearms policy, the Earl Ferrers stated: “Only a small number of weapons which have been used in, for example, armed robbery are ever recovered, and those which are have almost invariably had their serial numbers removed, thereby making it impossible to establish whether they were originally held by a firearm or shot gun certificate holder.”

A survey conducted by the New Zealand Police in the early 1980s established the main use for the firearm registry was merely to confirm that the firearm was unlicensed and illegally possessed rather than as a tool to solve crimes such as murder or robbery. It should also be noted that this report was considered by the Government of New Zealand in their review of the firearms law in the early 80s, and their considered opinion resulted in the Arms Act 1983, the main provision of which was the abolition of registration for shotguns and rifles!

The Canadian registration law has failed to meet its targets for registration (less than 10%) and has most recently been heavily criticised by the Canadian Police Association due to its high costs and extreme inefficiency.

Experience with the UK, Canada and New Zealand have certainly shown that registration of firearms does not benefit law enforcement in relation to its costs.

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: Research in the UK indicates that registration is of no assistance in solving firearm-related homicides and suicides involving registered guns, as it is obvious who committed the crime without reference to the registration records in most cases (70% of firearm-related domestic homicides involve the use of an unregistered gun, yet the perpetrator is almost always readily identified from other evidence). A 1994 study by the Home Office indicated that a substantial proportion of firearms recovered by the police during criminal investigations were found to have been licensed at some point, however, as the guns had been stolen from their lawful owners the registration records could obviously not help in the identification of who stole them. Also, in a 1993 letter the then Home Office minister in charge of firearms policy, the Earl Ferrers stated: “Only a small number of weapons which have been used in, for example, armed robbery are ever recovered, and those which are have almost invariably had their serial numbers removed, thereby making it impossible to establish whether they were originally held by a firearm or shot gun certificate holder.” : A survey conducted by the New Zealand Police in the early 1980s established the main use for the firearm registry was merely to confirm that the firearm was unlicensed and illegally possessed rather than as a tool to solve crimes such as murder or robbery. It should also be noted that this report was considered by the Government of New Zealand in their review of the firearms law in the early 80s, and their considered opinion resulted in the Arms Act 1983, the main provision of which was the abolition of registration for shotguns and rifles! : The Canadian registration law has failed to meet its targets for registration (less than 10%) and has most recently been heavily criticised by the Canadian Police Association due to its high costs and extreme inefficiency. : Experience with the UK, Canada and New Zealand have certainly shown that registration of firearms does not benefit law enforcement in relation to its costs.

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