Twenty percent of all robberies and approximately 60 percent of all homicides are committed with firearms. The risk of accidental or homicidal death from a gun in the home, although greater than the chance the gun will protect the family from a burglar, is nevertheless small. Laws that regulate the place and manner in which firearms may be used are difficult to enforce and will deter a limited amount of gun violence. Stiffer penalties for firearm violence are not likely to have a major effect on gun attacks. Laws prohibiting high-risk gorups from owning guns are not effective because they generally involve reactive rather than preventive police actions. Licensing laws designed to prevent high-risk groups from legally obtaining guns do not radically curtail the number of guns in circulation, which are likely to be secured by high-risk persons. Registration should be required in any system that prohibits gun ownership for high-risk groups, but its effectiveness in reducing firearms violence is still questionable. Severe restrictions upon or the banning of handguns for most citizens should reduce gun violence. Under any gun control strategy, local initiatives must have State and Federal support. 3 references.