NCJ Number
197649
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2002 Pages: 271-296
Date Published
November 2002
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This article examines 25 right-to-carry laws in order to determine whether these laws increase or reduce the number of mass public shootings.
Abstract
In order to determine factors that may contribute to increases and decreases in mass public shootings, this article examines 25 right-to-carry (RTC) concealed weapons laws. Arguing that mass public shootings have prompted tremendous debate over gun control, the authors discuss how RTC laws mandate that individuals who satisfy the necessary criteria may be granted permits to carry concealed handguns. Following a brief literature review of studies that have examined the impact of RTC laws on homicide, this article presents the data and methods used in this study. RTC laws implemented between 1976 and 1999 by 25 States and State panel data presenting the numbers of victims of mass shootings were analyzed and discussed in this work in order to test negative binomial and Poisson models to ascertain RTC laws' impact in mass shootings. Negative binomial regression estimates of the impact of RTC laws on mass shootings are presented in a series of tables. Results indicate that although there was an increase in the number of people killed and wounded in mass public shootings, this number may be the result of incorrect standard errors and inflated t-statistics. The authors conclude that RTC laws appeared to have no effect on overall mass public shootings with reduced shootings in one State possibly being off-set with an increase in shootings in another State. Tables, notes, references