The Impact of Liberalized Concealed Carry Laws on State Homicide Rates
The Impact of Liberalized Concealed Carry Laws on State Homicide Rates
Author(s): K. Alexander AdamsSubject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Civil Law, International Law, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Political Theory, Political Sciences, Civil Society, Governance, Public Administration, Public Law, Government/Political systems, Security and defense, Military policy, Welfare systems, Politics and law, Politics and society, History and theory of political science, Methodology and research technology, Comparative politics, Penal Policy, Philosophy of Law, Peace and Conflict Studies, Court case, Comparative Law, Administrative Law
Published by: Institute for Research and European Studies - Bitola
Keywords: Gun Control; Constitutional Carry; Homicide; Permitless Carry; Concealed Carry; Right-to-Carry; Liberty
Summary/Abstract: Liberalized concealed carry laws test how firearm legislation affects crime in the US. This study analyzes the relationship between these laws, total homicide, and firearm homicide using panel data from 1980 to 2018 across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The analysis uses multivariate regression with state and time-fixed effects and applies a general-to-specific procedure to select control variables. Robustness checks, including a generalized synthetic control model, confirm the findings. The results show no statistically significant relationship between shall-issue or permitless carry laws and homicide rates, even at the 10% level. The findings remain consistent across alternative model specifications. If these effects are truly null, liberalized concealed carry laws may have positive social implications, offering valuable insights for policymakers.
Journal: Journal of Liberty and International Affairs
- Issue Year: 10/2024
- Issue No: 3
- Page Range: 44-65
- Page Count: 22
- Language: English
