Policy Spillover and Gun Migration

The Interstate Dynamics of State Gun Control Policies

Bibliographic Data

ID10763548
AuthorsMichael Coates (University of Maryland), Michael J Coates (University of Maryland, College Park), Shanna Pearson‐Merkowitzz (University of Rhode Island, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume98
Issue2
Pages500-512
Publication date2017-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Science Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0038-4941 • E-ISSN: 1540-6237
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/ssqu.12422
OpenAlexW2626678757
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited24

Objective In this article, we examine state policy spillover by examining how differences between state gun control policies affect the migration of guns between states with lax regulatory environments for gun purchasing and licensing to states with relatively strict regulatory environments. Method We test our hypothesis using data from 2007 to 2013 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms on the presence of criminal guns and from the Brady Campaign on state gun control laws. Results Our results suggest that a large proportion of criminal guns in states with strict gun control laws were originally purchased in states with fewer regulations. There is a direct correlation between where criminal guns were originally purchased, where criminal guns are uncovered, and the strength of state gun laws. Conclusion State gun control laws appear to make purchasing a gun through legal frameworks more difficult and shift the “market” for criminal guns to purchasing locations across state borders where purchasing is easier. Gun control laws appear, therefore, to be affected by policy spillover

Business · Control (management) · Economics · Gun control · Microeconomics · Political science · Purchasing · Spillover effect · State (computer science) · Computer Science · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Healthcare Policy and Management · Law · Marketing