Firearm purchases during 2000 declined by 11 percent over 1999 according to figures released July 1 by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).

The BJS statistics are based on the number of mandatory criminal history checks performed on applicants for firearms purchases required by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.

During 2000, combined U.S. law enforcement agencies conducted 7.7 million Brady background checks, a decline of 11 percent from the 8.6 million Brady checks conducted in 1999. While almost all states experienced declines last year, the largest were in California and Indiana, by about 25 percent.

About 153,000 of the approximately 7.7 million applications for firearms transfers or permits were rejected as a result of Brady background checks during 2000.

State and local agencies conducted 3.5 million checks last year and rejected 2.5 percent. The FBI processed 4.3 million applications and rejected 1.6 percent, according to the BJS.

Background checks at the time of a firearms purchase are handled by law enforcement agencies in 16 states. For the remaining states, firearms dealers contact the FBI directly to conduct the background check.

Of the 86,000 state and local rejections during 2000, felony convictions or indictments led to 58 percent, down from 73 percent in 1999. Among the other reasons state and local authorities turned down applications during 2000 were: 9 percent for domestic violence misdemeanor convictions; 3 percent for domestic violence restraining orders; state law prohibitions, 5 percent; fugitive status, 4 percent; and mental illness or mental disability, 1 percent.

Since the inception of the Act on March 1, 1994, through December 31, 2000, about 689,000 of almost 30 million applications were rejected by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or state and local agencies.

The Federal Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. § 922, prohibits the transfer of a firearm to a person who — is:

• under indictment for or has been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year 
• is a fugitive from justice 
• is an unlawful user or is addicted to any controlled substance 
• has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution 
• is an illegal alien or has been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa 
• was discharged from the U.S. military service under dishonorable conditions 
• has renounced U.S. citizenship 
• is subject to a court order restraining him or her from harassing, stalking or threatening an intimate partner or child 
• has been convicted in any court of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

In addition, the statute makes it unlawful for any licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer or collector to transfer a long gun to a person younger than 18 years old or any other type of firearm to a person less than 21 years old.

The full BJS report, Background Checks for Firearm Transfers, 2000 can be viewed or download from the BJS at Web address http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/bcft00.htm.

On June 28, Attorney General Ashcroft announced Justice Department efforts to further increase the nationwide rate of gun crime prosecution by improving the National Instant Criminal Background Check System established under the Brady Act. [See: Ashcroft: Improve Gun Buyer Checks]

Both the Attorney General and President Bush have expressed their intent to strengthen enforcement of existing gun control laws rather than enacting additional new legislation. [See: Bush Moves to Enforce Existing Gun Laws]