What is it about?

This article proposes using blockchain technology to improve background checks, track guns, and stabilize the economy to reduce gun violence in the United States. It argues blockchain ledgers are more secure, transparent, and efficient than current centralized databases for background checks and gun registrations. It also suggests integrating blockchain into central banking to minimize economic fluctuations that can increase suicidal ideation and interpersonal violence.

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Why is it important?

This article is important because gun violence is a major public health issue in the US, causing over 30,000 deaths annually. However, gun control legislation has had limited success in reducing these deaths. The article offers a novel technological solution by applying blockchain in innovative ways to enhance background checks, track guns, and stabilize the economy. The blockchain's security, transparency, and efficiency could overcome the limitations of current gun control systems. Integrating this groundbreaking technology could make meaningful progress on this persistent societal challenge.

Perspectives

Gun violence affects all of us. Developing solutions is a priority. This article represents my attempt to address the potential of emerging technologies to address this longstanding societal challenge. Blockchain intrigues me as a novel way to improve our current gun control system without violating Second Amendment rights. An encrypted, distributed ledger could track firearms securely and efficiently, overcoming the limitations of today's error-prone databases. Smart contracts could also automate more rigorous but still securely private background checks on buyers. Blockchain has transformed finance and supply chains - why not bring its power to curbing gun violence? This will require extensive research and policy development. Blockchain is not a magic solution but is a promising platform on which we can innovate to save lives. Gun violence is far too critical an issue to cling to the status quo if better solutions may emerge.

Thomas F Heston MD
University of Washington

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This page is a summary of: A blockchain solution to gun control, November 2017, PeerJ,
DOI: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.3407v1.
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