Gun Control: Focus On Manufacturers, Not Just Buyers, Study Shows

Safeguards are reasonable and popular policies, such as background checks, for shipping dangerous things. Bradford says, shockingly, there are numerous gun manufacturers that do not require their collaborators to safeguard. His research found a negative relationship between implementing safeguards and guns being used in crimes.

“That’s pretty significant,” Bradford says. “The problem lies in where new guns are sent by manufacturers. We looked at the top manufacturers, which accounted for 97 percent of all gun sales in the United States. A lot of them are not safeguarding their distribution channels. They’re not making sure the dealers are doing the things necessary so that their guns stay out of criminals’ hands.

Bradford says more vigilance over gun distribution could help curb gun violence.

“When manufacturers implement safeguards in their distribution channels, their guns are not used as often in crime,” he says. “If those marketing principles were put in place, dealers would be more discouraged from selling guns to the wrong people. This isn’t about keeping law abiding citizens from having guns, simply insuring that the right process is being followed from the very beginning.

“If we can hold Hasbro accountable for choking hazards for children, it seems reasonable that we should be able to hold gun manufacturers accountable for their intermediaries who distribute to criminals,” Bradford says. “Nobody seems to want the government involved in gun control and the government doesn’t have enough feet on the ground for the job anyway, so why not get manufacturers involved? They should be held accountable.”

Bradford teaches and does research on significant issues within the marketing system and its relationship to society.