Talk:Universal background check

Page contents not supported in other languages.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NC Gun law - updates[edit]

Please provide properly sourced citations regarding recent changes to NC gun laws in this section. - Darknipples (talk) 07:22, 1 November 2016 (UTC)[reply]

@Darknipples: Hello! About the recent edits, North Carolina does require a background check for private sales of handguns (but not rifles or shotguns). It said that in this earlier version of the article. On this page at the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence website, it says, "Among other things, North Carolina requires all handgun purchasers to first obtain a license, after undergoing a background check". Their full page about background checks in North Carolina is here. So, the article was right before, when it said, "Four states require the buyer to pass a background check in order to obtain a permit required for buying a handgun only: Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska and North Carolina." Mudwater (Talk) 23:38, 1 November 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Mudwater - Per your input I will see that the edit is reversed to it's original state, before the IP made changes. I have faith in your word, but I suggest we keep an eye on it in case the IP editor decides to revert without providing proper cites. Darknipples (talk) 03:53, 2 November 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Mudwater - I suggest adding the citations you referred to, on the talk page, to the article, with regard to the edit in question. Darknipples (talk) 03:57, 2 November 2016 (UTC)[reply]
@Darknipples: I've added a reference, here, for the eighteen states plus D.C. That page, on the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence website, has summary information for all the states, including North Carolina. Mudwater (Talk) 22:10, 2 November 2016 (UTC)[reply]


Mental Illness - I have never heard a discussion of what the mental illness rules would be. What diseases, protections, time limits, etc.. Anyone can and could be called mentally ill for what reasons and by who. He is mouthy and looks odd and scares people - might be reason enough even if a doctor can't diagnose anything - boy this could be complicated. I suspect everyone is mentally ill, except of course you and me. 2601:181:8301:4510:4C16:90E6:8E9F:7621 (talk) 00:21, 1 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Incorrect article name[edit]

The name "Universal background check" doesn't make it clear that this policy is limited to the United States (despite the adjective "Universal"). Wouldn't it be better if it was called "Universal Background Check in the United States"?

I'm not sure if this term is, in fact, limited to the United States. While this article is mainly focused on references to laws and legislation in the USA, I believe most other first world, or industrialized countries [1], have enacted processes and restrictions beyond what is required in the states. In answer to your question, we go by what the consensus of reliable sources call it. If there is a consistent issue, disambiguation may be a possible solution, but determining the community consensus first, would be prudent in that case. DN (talk) 01:58, 17 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Any new suggested improvements or updates?[edit]

Thoughts? DN (talk) 01:02, 31 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Inaccurate statistic[edit]

I don't think this is correct:

A 2012 study published in the journal Injury Prevention found that nearly 80% of all firearms used for criminal purposes are obtained through transfers from unlicensed dealers, which are not required to conduct background checks in a majority of states due to the private sale exemption.[22]

Looking at the source, it makes no such claim. Can anyone explain how anything in the article adds up to 80%? If not, it should be removed or replaced with an accurate number. Random username 0001 (talk) 01:04, 26 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Is this the source to which you are referring? I found another RS that seems to follow this narrative. Are you having trouble understanding the context? It is a bit academic in nature, but the math seems right. DN (talk) 04:26, 26 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The source you listed actually says the opposite:"More Than 80 Percent of Guns Used in Mass Shootings Obtained Legally", while the Wikipedia article says that 80% were obtained from unlicensed dealers. And yes, the first source you linked is the one I was referring to. But reading through the article, it doesn't mention 80% anywhere, and the data itself, I don't see anything that adds up to 80% unlicensed sales. I don't know why the Wikipedia entry claims it says that. If there's an analysis someone has done of the study that shows were the 80% claim is from, I can't find it. The source is there, but the source doesn't seem to say what the entry claims it does. Random username 0001 (talk) 01:51, 27 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

While it is referring to mass shootings, I don't see how it says the "opposite"? ...The study in question is also cited by this, a 2019 DOJ report..."Among prisoners who possessed a gun during their offense, 90% did not obtain it from a retail source"....The study cites this journal and this book...it's not explicit but it's also backed up by other RS...Maybe try Wikipedia:RSN and see what they say? DN (talk) 07:09, 27 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]