Do Firearm Buybacks Work? What 9 Studies Show
Many Americans say they would support a national firearm buyback program, presumably to help reduce the rate of gun violence in the country. Nevertheless, there’s conflicting research on the actual effectiveness of firearm buybacks.
What is a Firearm Buyback?
Voluntary buyback programs allow firearm owners to trade in their weapons for a gift card, bank voucher, or other valuable item. Typically, buybacks, which regularly occur in cities throughout the US, have a “no questions asked” policy and are run by local law enforcement.
The American Difference
Firearm buybacks differ from mandatory buyback programs that other countries have implemented in that there is no penalty if a weapon owner chooses not to relinquish their firearm. With that under our belt, the following nine studies reveal data about firearm buybacks.
1: Small Improvement
A 2021 Annals of Surgery analysis looked at 15 studies examining firearm buyback programs in the US and Australia. Researchers concluded there may be a small improvement in the number of people taking their life after implementing the buyback programs but observed no noticeable effect on homicides or other firearm-related violence.
2: Not Enough
Another 2021 analysis found firearm buyback programs had negligible effects on gun violence. Researchers theorized this could be because buyback programs don’t take enough weapons out of circulation. For example, a buyback program implemented in Somerville, Massachusetts, resulted in 15 weapons being turned in, but there were 1,500 firearm permits in the community.
3: No Effect
One of the first buyback programs researchers studied was the 1992 Seattle firearm buyback. Residents turned in over 1,100 weapons in exchange for $50 bank vouchers. The evaluation found no effect on firearm violence in the city.
4: Protecting Children
An evaluation of Sacramento’s 1993 firearm buyback program showed that many residents chose to turn their weapons in because they worried about children obtaining them. Though researchers can’t say the buyback prevented harm to children, they did conclude that exchange programs may reduce firearm violence overall.
5: Wrong Type
In Milwaukee, researchers evaluated whether the firearms turned in during an exchange program were the same as those used in violent crime. Most firearm crimes involve semi-automatic weapons, but most firearms turned in were revolver types, which could be why buyback programs seem to have negligible effects on violence rates.
6: No Change
A 2008 meta-analysis of firearm buyback programs across the country concluded that there was no research showing significant changes in firearm violence as the result of an exchange program. They concluded that community-based law-enforcement initiatives were better at reducing firearm violence.
7: Part of a Larger Strategy
More recent analyses suggest that firearm buyback programs need to be part of a larger violence reduction strategy to be effective. As a 2019 meta-analysis stated, “Buybacks in conjunction with other methods have been shown to be successful in reducing the number of firearms that could lead to injury and death.”
8: Better Tactics
Some local jurisdictions have developed more effective tactics for their firearm buyback programs. A 2014 evaluation pointed out that some cities offer gift cards or vouchers for working weapons only, and the value of the gift card increases for assault-style firearms. These programs may be more effective in reducing violence.
9: Success Is Dependent
A 2013 evaluation noted that while firearm buyback programs may not significantly reduce firearm violence, they may be successful in other ways. Researchers noted that “police agencies may use gun buyback programs not with the expectation of reducing violent crime, but to satisfy the public’s expectation.” Buybacks may also provide outlets for community education on firearms.
Buybacks Don’t Work
In terms of curbing firearm violence, most studies suggest that buyback programs aren’t very effective. Homicide rates don’t fall after cities initiate buyback programs, though there may be some improvement in the rate of people taking their lives.
What About Australia?
Advocates of buyback programs often point to Australia as a success story. Australia initiated a mandatory buyback program in 1996 and again in 2003. Initial investigations after the buyback program showed that mass shootings stopped entirely and overall firearm violence decreased.
Inconclusive
However, Australia had a mass shooting in 2019 involving a banned weapon. And, while firearm violence decreased after the buyback programs, the rates of homicides and people taking their lives that didn’t involve firearms also went down. Researchers have mixed opinions on whether the mandatory buyback program actually curbed violence.
The Real Effect of Buyback Programs
Many researchers say that while buyback programs may not reduce firearm violence, they do have other benefits. For example, they provide an opportunity for law enforcement to educate their communities on weapon safety and provide safe disposal of unwanted firearms.
National Buyback Garners Support
Recent polling suggests the majority of U.S. voters would support a nationwide voluntary firearm buyback. Though it’s impossible to calculate the exact cost of such a program, estimates range from $1 billion to $87 billion, depending on the number of weapons turned in.
How US Firearm Violence Compares With 14 High-Income Nations
The United States takes center stage in many of the wrong ways when it comes to global firearm violence. Data reveals stark differences in firearm trends in fellow high-income countries.
How US Firearm Violence Compares With 14 High-Income Nations
