Assessing the risk of violent behavior before issuing a license to carry a handgun.

Handguns are intended to be used for protection, but they can also be used as weapons of assault that may endanger others or inflict self-harm and facilitate suicide. Research has revealed a direct correlation between firearm availability and suicide risk. Gun control is intended to reduce violence through legislation that restricts ownership and use of firearms. How can we ensure that firearms will not reach the hands of individuals who may pose a danger to themselves or to others, without infringing on the rights of other citizens to carry guns for protection, which is in the public interest? The potential to commit a crime will materialize, depending on dynamic interactions among personality factors, environmental factors, and the individual's history of offending. We present illustrative cases involving various aspects of gun control and a description of instruments for the assessment of dangerousness that can facilitate the licensing process for carrying and using firearms.