Can Easing Concealed Carry Deter Crime?

26 Pages Posted: 27 May 2014

See all articles by David Fortunato

David Fortunato

University of California, Merced - School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts

Date Written: May 26, 2014

Abstract

Laws reducing hurdles to legally carrying concealed firearms are argued to have a deterrent effect on crime by increasing its perceived costs. This argument rests on the assumption that these policies will either directly or indirectly increase the perceived distribution of firearm carriers, an assumption that is as yet untested. This short manuscript tests this assumption and, in so doing, argues for a necessary-conditions approach to policy testing when assessing outcomes is difficult. I find no evidence that easing concealed carry increases the number of perceived firearm carriers and thus no evidence that these laws can effectively deter crime.

Suggested Citation

Fortunato, David, Can Easing Concealed Carry Deter Crime? (May 26, 2014). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2442069 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2442069

David Fortunato (Contact Author)

University of California, Merced - School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts ( email )

P.O. Box 2039
Merced, CA 95344
United States

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