Prior convictions for alcohol-related crime may be an important predictor of risk for future criminal activity among purchasers of firearms…

Author

Garen J Wintemute, Mona A Wright, Alvaro Castillo-Carniglia, Aaron Shev, Magdalena Cerdá

Citation

Wintemute GJ, Wright MA, Castillo-Carniglia A, et al Firearms, alcohol and crime: convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) and other alcohol-related crimes and risk for future criminal activity among authorised purchasers of handguns Injury Prevention Published Online First: 30 January 2017. doi: 10.1136/injuryprev-2016-042181


Source
BMJ Injury Prevention
Release date
30/01/2017

Brief report

Firearms, alcohol and crime: convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) and other alcohol-related crimes and risk for future criminal activity among authorised purchasers of handguns

Among individuals who legally purchased handguns in California, prior convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) and other alcohol-related crimes were associated with a substantial increase in risk for subsequent violent or firearm-related crime, according to a new study.

Abstract

Firearm violence frequently involves alcohol, but there are no studies of misuse of alcohol and risk for future violence among firearm owners.

The researchers examined the association between prior convictions for alcohol-related crimes, chiefly driving under the influence (DUI), and risk of subsequent arrest among 4066 individuals who purchased handguns in California in 1977.

During follow-up through 1991, 32.8% of those with prior alcohol-related convictions and 5.7% of those with no prior criminal history were arrested for a violent or firearm-related crime; 15.9% and 2.7%, respectively, were arrested for murder, rape, robbery or aggravated assault.

Prior alcohol-related convictions were associated with a fourfold to fivefold increase in risk of incident arrest for a violent or firearm-related crime, a relative increase greater than that seen for age, sex or prior violence.

Prior convictions for alcohol-related crime may be an important predictor of risk for future criminal activity among purchasers of firearms.


Source Website: BMJ Injury Prevention