Do open carry laws increase violence?
Searched over 200M research papers
Summary
10 papers analyzed
Some studies suggest that open carry laws increase violence, while other studies indicate no significant impact on violent crime rates.
Consensus Meter
13 papers analyzed
Yes - 38%
Possibly - 8%
No - 54%
Research summarized with Copilot
Beta20 papers analyzed
Introduction
The impact of open carry laws, specifically right-to-carry (RTC) and concealed carry weapon (CCW) laws, on violence has been a contentious topic in public policy. Researchers have examined whether these laws deter crime by allowing more citizens to carry firearms or whether they increase violence by making firearms more accessible.
Key Insights
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Increase in Violent Crime:
- Adoption of Shall-Issue CCW laws is associated with a 9.5% increase in assaults with firearms and an 8.8% increase in homicides by other means .
- RTC laws are linked to a 29% higher rate of firearm workplace homicides.
- Some studies suggest that Shall-Issue laws may increase adult homicide rates.
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No Significant Impact:
- Some research finds little evidence that RTC laws significantly affect violent crime rates, neither increasing nor decreasing them .
- A systematic review found insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of firearms laws, including RTC laws, on violent outcomes.
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Deterrence of Violent Crime:
- Certain studies argue that RTC laws deter violent crimes, predicting reductions in murders, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults if more states adopted these laws.
- However, these findings are contested, with critiques highlighting methodological issues and sensitivity to model changes .
Conclusion
The research on the impact of open carry laws on violence presents mixed findings. Some studies indicate that these laws may increase certain types of violent crime, particularly assaults and homicides involving firearms. Other studies find no significant impact or suggest that these laws could deter violent crime. The evidence is not conclusive, and the effectiveness of RTC and CCW laws remains a debated issue in public policy.
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