Talk:Universal background check

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Incorrect article name[edit]

The name "Universal background check" doesn't make it clear that this policy is limited to the United States (despite the adjective "Universal"). Wouldn't it be better if it was called "Universal Background Check in the United States"?

I'm not sure if this term is, in fact, limited to the United States. While this article is mainly focused on references to laws and legislation in the USA, I believe most other first world, or industrialized countries [1], have enacted processes and restrictions beyond what is required in the states. In answer to your question, we go by what the consensus of reliable sources call it. If there is a consistent issue, disambiguation may be a possible solution, but determining the community consensus first, would be prudent in that case. DN (talk) 01:58, 17 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Any new suggested improvements or updates?[edit]

Thoughts? DN (talk) 01:02, 31 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Inaccurate statistic[edit]

I don't think this is correct:

A 2012 study published in the journal Injury Prevention found that nearly 80% of all firearms used for criminal purposes are obtained through transfers from unlicensed dealers, which are not required to conduct background checks in a majority of states due to the private sale exemption.[22]

Looking at the source, it makes no such claim. Can anyone explain how anything in the article adds up to 80%? If not, it should be removed or replaced with an accurate number. Random username 0001 (talk) 01:04, 26 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Is this the source to which you are referring? I found another RS that seems to follow this narrative. Are you having trouble understanding the context? It is a bit academic in nature, but the math seems right. DN (talk) 04:26, 26 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The source you listed actually says the opposite:"More Than 80 Percent of Guns Used in Mass Shootings Obtained Legally", while the Wikipedia article says that 80% were obtained from unlicensed dealers. And yes, the first source you linked is the one I was referring to. But reading through the article, it doesn't mention 80% anywhere, and the data itself, I don't see anything that adds up to 80% unlicensed sales. I don't know why the Wikipedia entry claims it says that. If there's an analysis someone has done of the study that shows were the 80% claim is from, I can't find it. The source is there, but the source doesn't seem to say what the entry claims it does. Random username 0001 (talk) 01:51, 27 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

While it is referring to mass shootings, I don't see how it says the "opposite"? ...The study in question is also cited by this, a 2019 DOJ report..."Among prisoners who possessed a gun during their offense, 90% did not obtain it from a retail source"....The study cites this journal and this book...it's not explicit but it's also backed up by other RS...Maybe try Wikipedia:RSN and see what they say? DN (talk) 07:09, 27 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Contradiction[edit]

The article states that upwards of 80/90%+ of voters in the US support UBCs, but goes on to mention the initiatives in WA and ME (two blue states) that indicated support of about 60% and 48%, respectively. Shouldn't this discrepancy be mentioned? — THORNFIELD HALL^(Talk) 09:41, 30 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]