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Lisa C. Shoaf OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES | 1970 WEST BROAD STREET, COLUMBUS, OHIO 43223
Gun Violence OHIO DATA
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FIREARM BACKGROUND CHECKS
FEDERAL PROHIBITORS
Federal law prohibits any person from possessing or receiving a firearm who: 1
Has been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year
Is a fugitive from justice
Is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance
Has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution
Is illegally or unlawfully in the United States
Has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions
Having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced U.S. citizenship
Is subject to a court order that restrains the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate
partner or child of such intimate partner
Has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
Is under indictment/information for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year
The following states have extended the background check requirement beyond federal law to at least some private
sales.2
Twelve states require a background check at the point of transfer.
o California
o Colorado
o Connecticut
o Delaware
o District of Columbia
o Maryland (handguns and assault
weapons only)
o Nevada
o New York
o Oregon
o Pennsylvania (handguns only)
o Rhode Island
o Washington
Eight states require permits for private purchasers. A background check is required before issuing the
license or permit. While this ensures a background check has been conducted before receiving the permit,
a person may fall within a prohibited category after the permit is issued.
o Hawaii
o Illinois
o Iowa (handguns only)
o Massachusetts
o Michigan (handguns only)
o Nebraska (handguns only)
o New Jersey
o North Carolina (handguns only)
The remaining states do not extend the background check requirement beyond federal law.
1 FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) 2 Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
3
There have been over 278 million NICS firearm background checks conducted since the program was launched on
November 30, 1998. A steady increase in background checks is shown in the following graph. 2017 saw a decrease
in the total number of background checks, the first such decrease since 2003.
FBI: NICS Firearm Background Checks
*Note that these statistics represent the number of firearm background checks initiated through the NICS. There is not a 1-1
correspondence between background checks and gun sales.
In 2017, Ohio ranked 9th in total number of background checks initiated through the NICS, with 753,072 checks
initiated.
FBI: NICS Firearm Background Checks
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
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in m
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NICS Firearm Background Checks in the U.S.1998-2017
0.68
0.75
0.77
0.83
1.06
1.28
1.55
1.57
1.60
4.64
0 1 2 3 4 5
Minnesota
Ohio
Tennessee
Indiana
Pennsylvania
Florida
Texas
California
Illinois
Kentucky
Number of Background Checks Initiated (in Millions)
Top Ten States for NICS Firearm Background Checks 2017
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The following chart shows the total number of denials in the U.S. by federal prohibitor, from the
program’s inception through December 31, 2017. Felony conviction is by far the most frequent reason
for individuals to be denied, accounting for over 53% of all denials.
FBI: NICS Federal Denials, 1998-2017
In 2017, there were 4,336 denials in Ohio. Felony convictions made up the bulk of denials. This is
followed by ‘state prohibitor’ (ORC 2923.13 Having Weapons Under Disability), and misdemeanor crimes
of domestic violence.
2017 NICS Denials in Ohio and the U.S.
Ohio Percent U.S. Percent
Adjudicated mental health 249 6% 6,157 6%
Felony conviction 1,657 38% 47,179 45%
Dishonorable discharge 2 <1% 71 <1%
Federally denied persons file 9 <1% 116 <1%
Fugitive from justice 269 6% 6,819 7%
Illegal/unlawful alien 62 1% 3,337 3%
Misdemeanor crime of DV 563 13% 8,656 8%
Protection/restraining order for DV 242 6% 3,142 3%
Renounced U.S. citizenship 0 0% 9 <1%
State prohibitor 717 17% 8,468 8%
Under indictment/information 163 4% 7,321 7%
Unlawful user/addicted to drugs 403 9% 12,710 12%
Total 4,336 100% 103,985 100%
FBI: NICS Federal Denials, Ohio
796,278
179,234
138,239
133,863
80,643
57,318
48,493
33,155
23,085
6,181
1,134
91
0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000
Felony conviction
Fugitive from justice
Misdemeanor crime of DV
Unlawful user/addicted to controlled substance
State prohibitor
Protection/restraining order for DV
Under indictment/information
Adjudicated mental health
Illegal/unlawful alien
Federally denied persons file
Dishonorable discharge
Renounced U.S. citizenship
NICS Federal Denials in the U.S.11/30/98 to 12/31/17
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OHIO’S CONCEALED HANDGUN LAW
Under Ohio law, county sheriffs are responsible for issuing, renewing, denying, suspending, or revoking
concealed carry licenses. In 2016, 158,937 licenses were issued or renewed, 1,669 licenses were
suspended, 797 licenses were revoked, and 1,634 licenses were denied.3
License suspensions: Sheriffs must immediately suspend a concealed handgun license upon
notification that the licensee has been arrested or charged with certain offenses, or if the
licensee is the subject of a protection order issued by a court. The license may be returned to
the holder if he is found not guilty or the charges are dismissed.
License revocations: Sheriffs must permanently revoke the license of any person who no longer
meets the eligibility requirements to carry a concealed handgun (e.g., moved out of state, died,
was convicted of a disqualifying crime, became subject to the law’s restrictions on people who
are mentally ill or who are dependent on drugs/alcohol).
License denials: Sheriffs must deny an application to any person who fails to meet the eligibility
requirements for regular licenses or for temporary emergency licenses.
3 Ohio Attorney General’s Office, 2016 Ohio’s Concealed Handgun Law Annual Report
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Ohio Attorney General’s Office 2013-2016 Quarterly Concealed Carry Stats
1,144
882
1,117
1,634
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2013 2014 2015 2016
Number of CCW Licenses Denied2013-2016
96,972
58,066
71,589
117,951
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
2013 2014 2015 2016
Number of CCW Licenses Issued2013-2016
48,37052,146
44,55140,986
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
2013 2014 2015 2016
Number of CCW Licenses Renewed2013-2016
1,154
1,4121,319
1,669
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2013 2014 2015 2016
Number of CCW Licenses Suspended2013-2016
286373
530
797
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
2013 2014 2015 2016
Number of CCW Licenses Revoked2013-2016
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GUN-RELATED CRIME AND DELINQUENCY DATA
VIOLENT CRIME IN OHIO AND THE UNITED STATES4
U.S. and Ohio violent crime trends pattern similarly. Overall, violent crime has declined since its peak in the early
1990s. In both 2015 and 2016, violent crime rose slightly.
FBI: UCR data, as prepared by the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data
CRIMES REPORTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT5
Not all crimes are reported to law enforcement. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, in 2016,
violent crime was reported to law enforcement on average 42% of the time. This percentage varies slightly
depending on the type of crime committed, from 23% (rape or sexual assault) to 59% (aggravated assault).
Percent of Victimizations Reported to Law Enforcement, By Crime Type, 2016
Type of Crime Percent
Violent crime 42%
Rape or sexual assault 23%
Robbery 54%
Aggravated assault 59%
Simple assault 38%
Domestic violence 49%
Intimate partner violence 47%
Stranger violence 45%
BJS: Criminal Victimization, 2016
4 FBI: UCR data, as prepared by the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data 5 BJS: Criminal Victimization, 2016
0
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500
600
700
800
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
Rat
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00
,00
0
Violent Crime in the Ohio and the U.S.1960-2016 Data
U.S. Ohio
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Just over 60 percent of all serious violent crimes that involved a firearm were reported to police.
NCVS estimates that, nationwide, 416,350 firearm incidents occurred, resulting in 480,940 victimizations.
This includes violent incidents and victimizations in which the offender had, showed, or used a firearm.
The rate of firearm violence was 1.8 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older.
WEAPON USE IN VIOLENT CRIME6
Weapon use for murder, robbery, and aggravated assault patterns similarly in Ohio and the U.S. as shown in the
following two charts. In Ohio, 72 percent of murders, 30 percent of robberies, and 36 percent of aggravated
assaults were committed with a firearm.
FBI: Crime in the United States, 2016
6 FBI: Crime in the United States, 2016
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Firearms Knives/Cutting Other Weapon Personal Weapon
Weapon Use in Crimes2016 Ohio Data
Murder Robbery Agg Assault
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Firearms Knives/Cutting Other Weapon Personal Weapon
Weapon Use in Crimes2016 U.S. Data
Murder Robbery Agg Assault
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JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDES7
The FBI defines justifiable homicide as:
The killing of a felon by a peace officer in the line of duty, OR
The killing of a felon, during the commission of a felony, by a private citizen
In the U.S., 99% of justifiable homicides by a law enforcement officer and 83 percent of justifiable homicides
committed by a private citizen were committed with a firearm.
2016 Justifiable Homicides
Total Firearm Knives/Cutting Other Personal
U.S.
By LE 435 429 0 5 1
By Citizen 331 276 34 7 14
Ohio
By LE 18 18 0 0 0
By Citizen 0 0 0 0 0 FBI: Crime in the United States, 2016 (U.S. data) OCJS: Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System database (Ohio data)
TYPES OF FIREARMS USED IN CRIMES8
For those incidents in which a firearm was identified in Ohio crimes, 85 percent (N=8,395) involved a handgun. The
remaining 15 percent of firearms are identified in the following table.
OCJS: Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System database
7 FBI: Crime in the United States, 2016 8 Office of Criminal Justice Services: Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System (OIBRS) database
467
233
348
90
27
9
255
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Automatic handgun
Rifle
Shotgun
Semi-automatic sporting rifle or assault firearm
Fully automatic rifle or other fully automatic firearm
Machine pistol
Other identified firearm
Number of incidents
2016 Firearms used in Criminal Incidentsnot including handguns (N=8,395)
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There were 14,452 victims of firearm-related crime in Ohio in 2016. The most vulnerable age group across both sex
and race is ages 20-34.
OCJS: Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System database
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE DATA9
The Ohio Department of Education collects data on discipline occurrences and reasons for the discipline.
‘Use/possession of a gun’ is one such reason for discipline, and the most frequently used discipline type
for gun use/possession is out of school suspension.
Discipline Occurrences
School Year Expulsion Out of School Suspension
In-School Suspension
In School Alternative Discipline
Emergency Removal by District Personnel
2016-2017 53 357 78 17 13
2015-2016 54 239 13 16
2014-2015 54 192 11 12 16
2013-2014 68 153 15
2012-2013 58 191
2011-2012 41 191
2010-2011 34 153 12
2009-2010 63 145
2008-2009 63 149
2007-2008 172 302 26 75
2006-2007 132 264 17 38
2005-2006 107 246 42 64
ODE: Ohio School Report Cards, Discipline Occurrences (State)
9 Ohio Department of Education: Ohio School Report Cards
566 3311,245
588
1,583
919
2,315
1,491
663
532
914
790
364
347
560
587
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
Black Female White Female Black Male White Male
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Victims of Firearm-Related Crime2016
Under 20 20-34 35-49 >49
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FIREARM RECOVERIES10
There were 10,263 firearms recovered and traced in Ohio. These are traces with a recovery state of Ohio.
Duplicate traces, firearms not recovered, gun buyback and firearms turned in are not included.
ATF: Firearms Tracing System
The following were the top categories reported on firearm traces with an Ohio recovery:
ATF: Firearms Tracing System
10 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information: Firearms Tracing System
Pistol, N=7,162
Revolver, N=1,578
Rifle, N=763
Shotgun, N=638
Derringer, N=85
Other, N= 37
Firearms Recovered in Ohio, by Type2016 Data
12%28%
21%10%
7%7%
5%3%
2%2%2%
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500
OtherFirearm under investigation
Possession of weaponFound firearm
Carrying concealed weaponDangerous drugsWeapon offense
Family offenseAggravated assault
HomicideHealth-safety
Number of Traces
Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with an Ohio Recovery
2016 Data
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Outside of Ohio, Kentucky is the top source state for firearms with an Ohio recovery, followed by the remaining
adjacent states of West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
ATF: Firearms Tracing System
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FIREARM INJURY DATA
Funded through a cooperative agreement between the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, the Ohio Violent Death Reporting System (OVDRS) collects data on all
violent deaths, including homicides, suicides, and unintentional violent deaths. Data on firearm usage is
included. 11
Firearms accounted for the majority of violent deaths in Ohio. Combining data from 2012, 2013, and
2014, there were a total of 6,901 violent deaths. Of these, 3,695 involved firearms. The following chart
shows the breakdown of firearm-related violent deaths.
ODH: Ohio Violent Death Reporting System: 2014 Annual Report
SUICIDES
There were a total of 4,469 suicides in Ohio between 2012-2014. Of these, 51% were firearm-related.
Males more often used firearms to commit suicide than females (56% vs 31%)
White victims used firearms slightly more often than other means to commit suicide (52% vs 48%),
whereas black victims used other means slightly more often to commit suicide (47% vs 53%). Hispanic
victims more often used other means (66% vs 34%) to commit suicide.
There was some variation across age groups regarding the suicide method used. For younger and middle-
aged individuals, other methods were used more often than firearms. Starting with the age group 55-64,
there were more suicides using firearms than other/unknown methods.
11 Ohio Department of Health: Ohio Violent Death Reporting System 2014 Annual Report
Suicide, N=2,271
Homicide, N=1,257
Legal intervention,
N= 78
Unintentional firearm, N=60
Undetermined intent, N=29
Firearm-Related Violent Deaths in Ohio2012-2014
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ODH: Ohio Violent Death Reporting System: 2014 Annual Report
The rate per 100,000 of suicides using firearms was higher in rural Appalachian counties than in metropolitan,
suburban, or rural non-Appalachian counties. The rate per 100,000 of suicides using other/unknown methods was
similar across county types.
Firearm and Non-Firearm Suicides by County Type, 2012-2014
Firearm Other/Unknown Method
County Type Count Percent Age-Adjusted Rate
Count Percent Age-Adjusted Rate
Metropolitan 1,101 48.5% 5.5 1,277 58.1% 6.7
Suburban 376 16.6% 6.2 341 15.5% 5.9
Rural Appalachian 514 22.6% 9.0 315 14.3% 6.0
Rural non-Appalachian 280 12.3% 5.6 265 12.1% 6.0
Total 2,271 100% 6.2 2,198 100% 6.4
Ohio Department of Health: Ohio Violent Death Reporting System: 2014 Annual Report
HOMICIDES
There were a total of 1,787 homicides in Ohio between 2012-2014. Of these, 70% were firearm-related.
76% of male homicides involved a firearm, compared to 51% of female homicides
83% of black homicides involved a firearm, compared to 49% of white homicides and 65% of Hispanic
homicides
Firearm-related homicides occurred more frequently than other/unknown homicides starting with the 5-
14 age group. Older adult victims (55+) were more often killed by other/unknown means.
0
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<15 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+
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Suicides Involving Firearms, by Age Group2012-2014
Firearm Other/Unknown
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ODH: Ohio Violent Death Reporting System: 2014 Annual Report
The rate per 100,000 of homicides involving firearms was higher in metropolitan counties than in suburban, rural
Appalachian, and rural non-Appalachian counties. The rate per 100,000 of homicides using other/unknown means
was similar across counties.
Firearm and Non-Firearm Homicides by County Type, 2012-2014
Firearm Other/Unknown Method
County Type Count Percent Age-Adjusted Rate
Count Percent Age-Adjusted Rate
Metropolitan 1,052 83.7% 5.8 349 66.0% 1.9
Suburban 61 4.9% 1.1 52 9.8% 0.9
Rural Appalachian 116 9.2% 2.3 76 14.4% 1.5
Rural non Appalachian 28 2.2% 0.7 52 9.8% 1.2
Total 1,257 100% 3.8 529 100% 1.6
ODH: Ohio Violent Death Reporting System: 2014 Annual Report
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<1 1-4 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+
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Homicides Involving Firearms, by Age Group2012-2014
Firearm Other/Unknown
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UNINTENTIONAL FIREARM DEATHS
There were a total of 60 fatal unintentional firearm injuries—either self-inflicted or other-inflicted—between
2012-2014. 88% of these deaths were of males. Deaths due to unintentional firearm injury most often occurred
among 15-24 year olds.
ODH: Ohio Violent Death Reporting System: 2014 Annual Report
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<15 15-24 25-34 35-44 >44
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Unintentional Firearm Deaths, by Age Group2012-2014