Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2024
Advisor
Jeannette Manger
Abstract
Background: Previous research has shown that there is not an association between the legislation of constitutional carry and firearm deaths, but rather it is predominantly associated with socioeconomic status and location. On the national scale, the factors that most significantly affected firearm related deaths, firearm homicides, and firearm suicides were partisan lean, urbanization, and poverty rate over these three categories. Concealed carry legislation was not significantly associated with deaths. Objective: We are looking at whether the passage of constitutional carry laws have impacts on the rates of firearm-related deaths or violent crime across states. Important variables we are considering include the aforementioned rates of death and crime as well as potential confounding variables such as socioeconomic status, high school completion and unemployment rate. Methods: Data was collected from County Health Rankings published for 2016 and 2022. Results: When looking at correlations of factors such as median household income, completion of high school, and unemployment rate, all correlations were found to be significant. Discussion: While these factors were found to be significant, they were not able to fully explain firearm fatalities in states that have enacted constitutional carry laws. Conclusion: Our findings support the hypothesis that states that enacted constitutional carry (CC) laws experienced higher rates of firearm-related mortality compared to those without such laws.
Repository Citation
Liu, A., & Willette, K. (2024). Concealed Carry Legislation and Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States: Possible Causes and Ramifications. Wright State University. Dayton, Ohio.
