Deregulation of public civilian gun carrying and violent crimes: A longitudinal analysis 1981–2019

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Research Summary: We utilized the synthetic difference-in-difference method to estimate the impact of adopting a permitless concealed carry weapons (CCW) law on rates of assaults, robberies, and homicides committed with a firearm and by other means, as well as weapons arrests, from 1981 to 2019. We stratified permitless CCW laws by whether they previously prohibited violent misdemeanants from obtaining a CCW permit or previously required live firearm training to obtain a permit prior to law adoption. Findings robust to sensitivity analyses suggest that states that lost a training requirement to obtain a CCW permit had 21 additional gun assaults per 100,000 population (SE = 5.2) (32% increase). Policy Implications: In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, states should implement CCW permitting law provisions that may reduce the risk of firearm violence. Requiring live firearm training prior to carry a concealed weapon may attenuate negative health impacts of deregulation associated with permitless CCW laws.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)833-861
Number of pages29
JournalCriminology and Public Policy
Volume23
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2024

Keywords

  • firearms
  • policy evaluation
  • weapons-related arrests

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Administration
  • Law

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