gun violence - ohio office of criminal justice services › links ›...

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Lisa C. Shoaf OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES | 1970 WEST BROAD STREET, COLUMBUS, OHIO 43223

Gun Violence OHIO DATA

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FIREARM BACKGROUND CHECKS

FEDERAL PROHIBITORS

Federal law prohibits any person from possessing or receiving a firearm who: 1

Has been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year

Is a fugitive from justice

Is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance

Has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution

Is illegally or unlawfully in the United States

Has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions

Having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced U.S. citizenship

Is subject to a court order that restrains the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate

partner or child of such intimate partner

Has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence

Is under indictment/information for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year

The following states have extended the background check requirement beyond federal law to at least some private

sales.2

Twelve states require a background check at the point of transfer.

o California

o Colorado

o Connecticut

o Delaware

o District of Columbia

o Maryland (handguns and assault

weapons only)

o Nevada

o New York

o Oregon

o Pennsylvania (handguns only)

o Rhode Island

o Washington

Eight states require permits for private purchasers. A background check is required before issuing the

license or permit. While this ensures a background check has been conducted before receiving the permit,

a person may fall within a prohibited category after the permit is issued.

o Hawaii

o Illinois

o Iowa (handguns only)

o Massachusetts

o Michigan (handguns only)

o Nebraska (handguns only)

o New Jersey

o North Carolina (handguns only)

The remaining states do not extend the background check requirement beyond federal law.

1 FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) 2 Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence

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There have been over 278 million NICS firearm background checks conducted since the program was launched on

November 30, 1998. A steady increase in background checks is shown in the following graph. 2017 saw a decrease

in the total number of background checks, the first such decrease since 2003.

FBI: NICS Firearm Background Checks

*Note that these statistics represent the number of firearm background checks initiated through the NICS. There is not a 1-1

correspondence between background checks and gun sales.

In 2017, Ohio ranked 9th in total number of background checks initiated through the NICS, with 753,072 checks

initiated.

FBI: NICS Firearm Background Checks

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NICS Firearm Background Checks in the U.S.1998-2017

0.68

0.75

0.77

0.83

1.06

1.28

1.55

1.57

1.60

4.64

0 1 2 3 4 5

Minnesota

Ohio

Tennessee

Indiana

Pennsylvania

Florida

Texas

California

Illinois

Kentucky

Number of Background Checks Initiated (in Millions)

Top Ten States for NICS Firearm Background Checks 2017

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The following chart shows the total number of denials in the U.S. by federal prohibitor, from the

program’s inception through December 31, 2017. Felony conviction is by far the most frequent reason

for individuals to be denied, accounting for over 53% of all denials.

FBI: NICS Federal Denials, 1998-2017

In 2017, there were 4,336 denials in Ohio. Felony convictions made up the bulk of denials. This is

followed by ‘state prohibitor’ (ORC 2923.13 Having Weapons Under Disability), and misdemeanor crimes

of domestic violence.

2017 NICS Denials in Ohio and the U.S.

Ohio Percent U.S. Percent

Adjudicated mental health 249 6% 6,157 6%

Felony conviction 1,657 38% 47,179 45%

Dishonorable discharge 2 <1% 71 <1%

Federally denied persons file 9 <1% 116 <1%

Fugitive from justice 269 6% 6,819 7%

Illegal/unlawful alien 62 1% 3,337 3%

Misdemeanor crime of DV 563 13% 8,656 8%

Protection/restraining order for DV 242 6% 3,142 3%

Renounced U.S. citizenship 0 0% 9 <1%

State prohibitor 717 17% 8,468 8%

Under indictment/information 163 4% 7,321 7%

Unlawful user/addicted to drugs 403 9% 12,710 12%

Total 4,336 100% 103,985 100%

FBI: NICS Federal Denials, Ohio

796,278

179,234

138,239

133,863

80,643

57,318

48,493

33,155

23,085

6,181

1,134

91

0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000

Felony conviction

Fugitive from justice

Misdemeanor crime of DV

Unlawful user/addicted to controlled substance

State prohibitor

Protection/restraining order for DV

Under indictment/information

Adjudicated mental health

Illegal/unlawful alien

Federally denied persons file

Dishonorable discharge

Renounced U.S. citizenship

NICS Federal Denials in the U.S.11/30/98 to 12/31/17

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OHIO’S CONCEALED HANDGUN LAW

Under Ohio law, county sheriffs are responsible for issuing, renewing, denying, suspending, or revoking

concealed carry licenses. In 2016, 158,937 licenses were issued or renewed, 1,669 licenses were

suspended, 797 licenses were revoked, and 1,634 licenses were denied.3

License suspensions: Sheriffs must immediately suspend a concealed handgun license upon

notification that the licensee has been arrested or charged with certain offenses, or if the

licensee is the subject of a protection order issued by a court. The license may be returned to

the holder if he is found not guilty or the charges are dismissed.

License revocations: Sheriffs must permanently revoke the license of any person who no longer

meets the eligibility requirements to carry a concealed handgun (e.g., moved out of state, died,

was convicted of a disqualifying crime, became subject to the law’s restrictions on people who

are mentally ill or who are dependent on drugs/alcohol).

License denials: Sheriffs must deny an application to any person who fails to meet the eligibility

requirements for regular licenses or for temporary emergency licenses.

3 Ohio Attorney General’s Office, 2016 Ohio’s Concealed Handgun Law Annual Report

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Ohio Attorney General’s Office 2013-2016 Quarterly Concealed Carry Stats

1,144

882

1,117

1,634

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2013 2014 2015 2016

Number of CCW Licenses Denied2013-2016

96,972

58,066

71,589

117,951

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

2013 2014 2015 2016

Number of CCW Licenses Issued2013-2016

48,37052,146

44,55140,986

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

2013 2014 2015 2016

Number of CCW Licenses Renewed2013-2016

1,154

1,4121,319

1,669

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2013 2014 2015 2016

Number of CCW Licenses Suspended2013-2016

286373

530

797

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

2013 2014 2015 2016

Number of CCW Licenses Revoked2013-2016

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GUN-RELATED CRIME AND DELINQUENCY DATA

VIOLENT CRIME IN OHIO AND THE UNITED STATES4

U.S. and Ohio violent crime trends pattern similarly. Overall, violent crime has declined since its peak in the early

1990s. In both 2015 and 2016, violent crime rose slightly.

FBI: UCR data, as prepared by the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data

CRIMES REPORTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT5

Not all crimes are reported to law enforcement. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, in 2016,

violent crime was reported to law enforcement on average 42% of the time. This percentage varies slightly

depending on the type of crime committed, from 23% (rape or sexual assault) to 59% (aggravated assault).

Percent of Victimizations Reported to Law Enforcement, By Crime Type, 2016

Type of Crime Percent

Violent crime 42%

Rape or sexual assault 23%

Robbery 54%

Aggravated assault 59%

Simple assault 38%

Domestic violence 49%

Intimate partner violence 47%

Stranger violence 45%

BJS: Criminal Victimization, 2016

4 FBI: UCR data, as prepared by the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data 5 BJS: Criminal Victimization, 2016

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1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

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Violent Crime in the Ohio and the U.S.1960-2016 Data

U.S. Ohio

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Just over 60 percent of all serious violent crimes that involved a firearm were reported to police.

NCVS estimates that, nationwide, 416,350 firearm incidents occurred, resulting in 480,940 victimizations.

This includes violent incidents and victimizations in which the offender had, showed, or used a firearm.

The rate of firearm violence was 1.8 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older.

WEAPON USE IN VIOLENT CRIME6

Weapon use for murder, robbery, and aggravated assault patterns similarly in Ohio and the U.S. as shown in the

following two charts. In Ohio, 72 percent of murders, 30 percent of robberies, and 36 percent of aggravated

assaults were committed with a firearm.

FBI: Crime in the United States, 2016

6 FBI: Crime in the United States, 2016

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Firearms Knives/Cutting Other Weapon Personal Weapon

Weapon Use in Crimes2016 Ohio Data

Murder Robbery Agg Assault

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Firearms Knives/Cutting Other Weapon Personal Weapon

Weapon Use in Crimes2016 U.S. Data

Murder Robbery Agg Assault

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JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDES7

The FBI defines justifiable homicide as:

The killing of a felon by a peace officer in the line of duty, OR

The killing of a felon, during the commission of a felony, by a private citizen

In the U.S., 99% of justifiable homicides by a law enforcement officer and 83 percent of justifiable homicides

committed by a private citizen were committed with a firearm.

2016 Justifiable Homicides

Total Firearm Knives/Cutting Other Personal

U.S.

By LE 435 429 0 5 1

By Citizen 331 276 34 7 14

Ohio

By LE 18 18 0 0 0

By Citizen 0 0 0 0 0 FBI: Crime in the United States, 2016 (U.S. data) OCJS: Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System database (Ohio data)

TYPES OF FIREARMS USED IN CRIMES8

For those incidents in which a firearm was identified in Ohio crimes, 85 percent (N=8,395) involved a handgun. The

remaining 15 percent of firearms are identified in the following table.

OCJS: Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System database

7 FBI: Crime in the United States, 2016 8 Office of Criminal Justice Services: Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System (OIBRS) database

467

233

348

90

27

9

255

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Automatic handgun

Rifle

Shotgun

Semi-automatic sporting rifle or assault firearm

Fully automatic rifle or other fully automatic firearm

Machine pistol

Other identified firearm

Number of incidents

2016 Firearms used in Criminal Incidentsnot including handguns (N=8,395)

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There were 14,452 victims of firearm-related crime in Ohio in 2016. The most vulnerable age group across both sex

and race is ages 20-34.

OCJS: Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System database

SCHOOL DISCIPLINE DATA9

The Ohio Department of Education collects data on discipline occurrences and reasons for the discipline.

‘Use/possession of a gun’ is one such reason for discipline, and the most frequently used discipline type

for gun use/possession is out of school suspension.

Discipline Occurrences

School Year Expulsion Out of School Suspension

In-School Suspension

In School Alternative Discipline

Emergency Removal by District Personnel

2016-2017 53 357 78 17 13

2015-2016 54 239 13 16

2014-2015 54 192 11 12 16

2013-2014 68 153 15

2012-2013 58 191

2011-2012 41 191

2010-2011 34 153 12

2009-2010 63 145

2008-2009 63 149

2007-2008 172 302 26 75

2006-2007 132 264 17 38

2005-2006 107 246 42 64

ODE: Ohio School Report Cards, Discipline Occurrences (State)

9 Ohio Department of Education: Ohio School Report Cards

566 3311,245

588

1,583

919

2,315

1,491

663

532

914

790

364

347

560

587

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

Black Female White Female Black Male White Male

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Victims of Firearm-Related Crime2016

Under 20 20-34 35-49 >49

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FIREARM RECOVERIES10

There were 10,263 firearms recovered and traced in Ohio. These are traces with a recovery state of Ohio.

Duplicate traces, firearms not recovered, gun buyback and firearms turned in are not included.

ATF: Firearms Tracing System

The following were the top categories reported on firearm traces with an Ohio recovery:


10 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information: Firearms Tracing System

Pistol, N=7,162

Revolver, N=1,578

Rifle, N=763

Shotgun, N=638

Derringer, N=85

Other, N= 37

Firearms Recovered in Ohio, by Type2016 Data

12%28%

21%10%

7%7%

5%3%

2%2%2%

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500

OtherFirearm under investigation

Possession of weaponFound firearm

Carrying concealed weaponDangerous drugsWeapon offense

Family offenseAggravated assault

HomicideHealth-safety

Number of Traces

Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with an Ohio Recovery

2016 Data

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Outside of Ohio, Kentucky is the top source state for firearms with an Ohio recovery, followed by the remaining

adjacent states of West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.


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FIREARM INJURY DATA

Funded through a cooperative agreement between the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, the Ohio Violent Death Reporting System (OVDRS) collects data on all

violent deaths, including homicides, suicides, and unintentional violent deaths. Data on firearm usage is

included. 11

Firearms accounted for the majority of violent deaths in Ohio. Combining data from 2012, 2013, and

2014, there were a total of 6,901 violent deaths. Of these, 3,695 involved firearms. The following chart

shows the breakdown of firearm-related violent deaths.

ODH: Ohio Violent Death Reporting System: 2014 Annual Report

SUICIDES

There were a total of 4,469 suicides in Ohio between 2012-2014. Of these, 51% were firearm-related.

Males more often used firearms to commit suicide than females (56% vs 31%)

White victims used firearms slightly more often than other means to commit suicide (52% vs 48%),

whereas black victims used other means slightly more often to commit suicide (47% vs 53%). Hispanic

victims more often used other means (66% vs 34%) to commit suicide.

There was some variation across age groups regarding the suicide method used. For younger and middle-

aged individuals, other methods were used more often than firearms. Starting with the age group 55-64,

there were more suicides using firearms than other/unknown methods.

11 Ohio Department of Health: Ohio Violent Death Reporting System 2014 Annual Report

Suicide, N=2,271

Homicide, N=1,257

Legal intervention,

N= 78

Unintentional firearm, N=60

Undetermined intent, N=29

Firearm-Related Violent Deaths in Ohio2012-2014

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The rate per 100,000 of suicides using firearms was higher in rural Appalachian counties than in metropolitan,

suburban, or rural non-Appalachian counties. The rate per 100,000 of suicides using other/unknown methods was

similar across county types.

Firearm and Non-Firearm Suicides by County Type, 2012-2014

Firearm Other/Unknown Method

County Type Count Percent Age-Adjusted Rate

Count Percent Age-Adjusted Rate

Metropolitan 1,101 48.5% 5.5 1,277 58.1% 6.7

Suburban 376 16.6% 6.2 341 15.5% 5.9

Rural Appalachian 514 22.6% 9.0 315 14.3% 6.0

Rural non-Appalachian 280 12.3% 5.6 265 12.1% 6.0

Total 2,271 100% 6.2 2,198 100% 6.4

Ohio Department of Health: Ohio Violent Death Reporting System: 2014 Annual Report

HOMICIDES

There were a total of 1,787 homicides in Ohio between 2012-2014. Of these, 70% were firearm-related.

76% of male homicides involved a firearm, compared to 51% of female homicides

83% of black homicides involved a firearm, compared to 49% of white homicides and 65% of Hispanic

homicides

Firearm-related homicides occurred more frequently than other/unknown homicides starting with the 5-

14 age group. Older adult victims (55+) were more often killed by other/unknown means.

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Suicides Involving Firearms, by Age Group2012-2014

Firearm Other/Unknown

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The rate per 100,000 of homicides involving firearms was higher in metropolitan counties than in suburban, rural

Appalachian, and rural non-Appalachian counties. The rate per 100,000 of homicides using other/unknown means

was similar across counties.

Firearm and Non-Firearm Homicides by County Type, 2012-2014

Firearm Other/Unknown Method

County Type Count Percent Age-Adjusted Rate

Count Percent Age-Adjusted Rate

Metropolitan 1,052 83.7% 5.8 349 66.0% 1.9

Suburban 61 4.9% 1.1 52 9.8% 0.9

Rural Appalachian 116 9.2% 2.3 76 14.4% 1.5

Rural non Appalachian 28 2.2% 0.7 52 9.8% 1.2

Total 1,257 100% 3.8 529 100% 1.6


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Homicides Involving Firearms, by Age Group2012-2014

Firearm Other/Unknown

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UNINTENTIONAL FIREARM DEATHS

There were a total of 60 fatal unintentional firearm injuries—either self-inflicted or other-inflicted—between

2012-2014. 88% of these deaths were of males. Deaths due to unintentional firearm injury most often occurred

among 15-24 year olds.


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Unintentional Firearm Deaths, by Age Group2012-2014

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