Mike Levin: “Two new studies just released show that states with a high concentration of gun industry activity and weak gun laws tend…”

“Two new studies just released show that states with a high concentration of gun industry activity and weak gun laws tend to be the major suppliers of crime guns in other states. On June 28, 2000, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) released Gunland USA, a study which ranks states by their level of gun industry activity. For each state VPC reported the number of gun shows, licensed firearms retailers (including pawnshops), manufacturers producing firearms, and licensed machine gun dealers as well as the number of registered machine guns. In each of these categories, Texas ranks number one. Other states that showed a very high level of gun industry presence were California, Florida, Illinois, Georgia and Ohio. People in my state of Michigan may wonder how activity in other states like Illinois or Georgia affects them at home. A study released by Senator Schumer entitled War Between the States explains that many of the crime guns used in Michigan come from out of state. Interstate gunrunners acquire guns in states with weak laws and flood the markets in specific states and regions that have stricter gun laws.”