Bill Overview
Title: ATF DATA Act
Description: This bill directs the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to report to Congress and make publicly available certain data sets regarding firearms tracing data.
Sponsors: Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-28]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals worldwide affected by potential firearm-related crime or policies
Estimated Size: 331000000
- The ATF DATA Act primarily affects individuals related to or concerned with gun violence and firearm regulation.
- It will impact researchers who analyze firearms data to understand gun violence trends and policymakers who use this data for informed decision-making.
- Gun control advocacy groups and gun rights organizations will be interested in this data to support their respective agendas.
- Communities and individuals in areas with high incidents of gun violence may also be indirectly affected as policies informed by this data could lead to changes in local gun laws.
- All individuals in the United States have potential indirect benefits from more informed policies regarding gun control and public safety.
Reasoning
- The ATF DATA Act will primarily impact researchers, policymakers, and advocacy groups in the domain of firearms data analysis and gun violence prevention.
- Communities affected by gun violence may see indirect effects from policy changes informed by this data, which could lead to improved public safety.
- Individuals outside of the immediate scope, such as those not engaged in gun ownership or advocacy, will experience little to no direct impact from the policy.
- Efforts must balance the budget constraints while focusing on the areas where the policy can achieve most impact and improvement in public safety and knowledge.
Simulated Interviews
Community Organizer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe the data will show just how needed our community programs are.
- This could be useful in getting more resources to fight gun violence.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Gun Rights Advocate (Des Moines, IA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this data does not infringe on our rights.
- Transparency is good, but it must be handled with care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Research Scientist (Washington, DC)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a step forward in understanding and preventing gun violence.
- Research like mine needs this kind of data to drive policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
College Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not directly involved with gun policy, but it's crucial background for issues I care about.
- It has potential societal effects that I support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this leads to more effective crime prevention in our neighborhood.
- Strong data might finally bring change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Farmer (Rural Minnesota)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Data transparency is good, as long as it's fair and not biased.
- We need honest data that doesn’t disrupt rural lifestyles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Policy Maker (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This data is critical to creating laws that protect citizens while respecting rights.
- We can adapt policies to real needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Journalist (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accurate data is crucial for holding authorities accountable.
- Journalism benefits from open access to data.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Software Developer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am curious about how technology and data analysis can improve safety and policy.
- Though not directly impacted, greater transparency is always beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
College Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm more focused on environmental issues, but gun data seems important for broader societal trends.
- Given my group's work, I'm interested in how data might support various causes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $80000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $100000000)
Year 2: $82000000 (Low: $62000000, High: $105000000)
Year 3: $84000000 (Low: $64000000, High: $108000000)
Year 5: $88000000 (Low: $68000000, High: $115000000)
Year 10: $96000000 (Low: $74000000, High: $125000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $200000000)
Key Considerations
- The initial setup costs for the data reporting systems might be high but necessary to ensure data accuracy and security.
- Public transparency on firearms data could increase trust in law enforcement and governmental agencies.
- Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are essential to continuously improve the quality and utility of the reported data.