# Just how effective are background checks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 17, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-effective-are-background-checks/772260 "2016-11-17T15:33:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-effective-are-background-checks/772260/21 "2016-11-21T21:29:53Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I used regression analysis to develop a Java application where you can play around with various statistics and see how it affects the homicide rate. The ones that I found which had the most predictive quality were income disparity and ethnic diversity. In general, a high income disparity causes homicides. Ethnic diversity is a strange one in that, if it is very low, the homicide rate will be low and, if it is very high, the homicide rate will be low. There’s a weird intermediate zone where homicide increases. This is referred to as the uncanny valley of racial strife. Racism is low when there are very few members of a minority (gee that Mongolian family is fascinating, their culture and food, and the history, OMG the history). Racism is low when there is a LOT of diversity (half my friends and neighbors are Mongolian). Racism is high when there are enough for people to notice the minorities but not enough for them to go to church with them (goddam lazy Mongolians stole my job, they’re always committing crime and they’re all in gangs). ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-effective-are-background-checks/772260/22 "2016-11-21T21:36:49Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Just curious, which county do you live in? Did your sheriff take a position on the referendum? Cumberland County. Our sheriff was one of four in the state to not come out against it. I don’t believe he made his opinion about the issue public though. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-effective-are-background-checks/772260/23 "2016-11-21T21:39:00Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > I voted yes on the referendum. The opposition had a major push at the end claiming that background checks are ineffective at stopping crime. This led to it being turned down by a narrow margin. Then again, why are you asking now? You voted Yes on the referendum, without knowing what effect it would have, and only now you are doing your research, after the referendum failed. I can see asking six weeks ago, but now? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-effective-are-background-checks/772260/24 "2016-11-21T21:49:01Z")
boffking, I’d recommend reading this if you want to educate yourself on the issue (even though, as Shodan noted, this is a bit like closing the barn door after the horses have escaped): [https://www.nraila.org/issues/background-checks-nics/](https://www.nraila.org/issues/background-checks-nics/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-effective-are-background-checks/772260.md?page=1)