Is It Wild Out West? Permitless Carry and State Level Violent Crime Rates
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: : Half of U.S. states no longer require a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public. Proponents of permitless carry argue they may serve to deter violence; opponents claim that, by making it easier to carry firearms, violence will increase. This paper tests this hypothesis using a Generalised Synthetic Control model and state-level data between 1980-2021. The results suggest these laws do not measurably increase or decrease murder rates. The key takeaway from this analysis is that permitless carry may not increase murder rates. Keywords: Permitless Carry, Concealed Carry, Constitutional Carry, Firearms JEL Classification Number: K14
Author: K. Alexander Adams
Institution: University of Wyoming
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6893260471
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