Datasets

The primary purpose of this project was to develop and test a new large-scale approach to threat assessment that relies on objective data regarding firearm purchases. Specifically, to analyze firearm transaction records in California to better understand the firearm purchasing patterns of mass shooters and perpetrators of firearm-related crimes and to build risk prediction models to help identify individuals who might be at extreme risk for committing such crimes in the future.

The Background Check and Licensing Policies for Firearm Purchase Database includes state-level data from 1980-2019 on factors relevant to the design, implementation, and enforcement of background checks and licensing policies for firearm transfers. This includes policy details (e.g. fingerprinting required, license duration), information about related policies (e.g. state prohibiting criteria), and criminal history database details. Data are collated from multiple public sources.

The 2018 California Safety and Wellbeing Survey (CSaWS) is publicly available to facilitate additional scientific research and informed decision-making about strategies for preventing violence and improving safety and health equity outcomes. The dataset and supplemental materials are located in the University of Michigan's Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention (IFIP) Data Repository on openICPSR. Access the dataset here.