Denise Marks of Dover is the leader of the Delaware chapter of BRADY United Against Gun Violence.
The gun violence epidemic is a uniquely American issue — no matter which statistics we look to. Americans are 26 times more likely to be shot and killed than others in high-income countries are. Every day, 327 people are shot in the United States, including 23 minors, and on average, 117 of those will die. The United States has more guns than citizens and more gun dealers than McDonald’s and Starbucks locations combined. As of 2022, the United States had 121 firearms per 100 residents — making it the only country with more guns than people.
So, yes, Mr. John Drennen is correct in a recent Opinion when he states that the statistics used by the gun violence prevention group BRADY United Against Gun Violence aren’t broken down by guns that were bought illegally (“Writer’s guns stats are ‘deceiving’”). But BRADY has been fighting tooth and nail to stop gun violence, with both legally purchased firearms and illegally obtained firearms. We are fighting to end straw purchases, reduce gun trafficking and hold rogue gun dealers accountable, through litigation, legislative and programmatic effort. Addressing all these facets of gun violence is essential to ending this deadly epidemic.
For decades, the gun industry has worked together to hurt law enforcement’s ability to keep illegal guns off our streets. Just recently, reporting indicated that the current administration has reassigned a majority of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents who have been tasked with investigating gun trafficking and other gun crimes to immigration enforcement, while also greatly scaling back federal oversight of the gun industry. This is a neon sign to rogue dealers who engage in activities like knowingly selling to straw purchasers or gun traffickers that it is open season for them. Because of the gun industry’s lobbying, there is no one who will be there to hold them accountable or revoke licenses for irresponsible, deadly business practices.
There is a solution: States like Delaware don’t have to rely solely on the ATF. Lawmakers here can take action to engage in the oversight of gun dealers and the enforcement of gun laws at the state level — ensuring that these dealers are prioritizing responsible business practices that will keep our communities safe. I agree with Mr. Drennen that we need to expand background checks, stop straw purchases and ban ghost guns from our streets. But we also need to fill in major gaps created by the gun lobby that allow the industry to continue to perpetuate harm.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
