When Concealed Handgun Licensees Break Bad

Criminal Convictions of Concealed Handgun Licensees in Texas, 2001–2009

Bibliographic Data

ID11025604
AuthorsCharles D Phillips (0000-0001-8706-408X, The authors are with the Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station.), Obioma Nwaiwu (The authors are with the Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station.), Darcy K McMaughan Moudouni (The authors are with the Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station.), Rachel Edwards (0009-0006-9639-0796, The authors are with the Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station.), Szu-hsuan Lin (The authors are with the Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station.)
Year2013
Volume103
Issue1
Pages86-91
Publication date2013-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2012.300807
PMID23153139
PMCIDPMC3518334
OpenAlexW2055488845
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited8

Objectives. We explored differences in criminal convictions between holders and nonholders of a concealed handgun license (CHL) in Texas. Methods. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides annual data on criminal convictions of holders and nonholders of CHLs. We used 2001 to 2009 DPS data to investigate the differences in the distribution of convictions for these 2 groups across 9 types of criminal offenses. We calculated z scores for the differences in the types of crimes for which CHL holders and nonholders were convicted. Results. CHL holders were much less likely than nonlicensees to be convicted of crimes. Most nonholder convictions involved higher-prevalence crimes (burglary, robbery, or simple assault). CHL holders’ convictions were more likely to involve lower-prevalence crimes, such as sexual offenses, gun offenses, or offenses involving a death. Conclusions. Our results imply that expanding the settings in which concealed carry is permitted may increase the risk of specific types of crimes, some quite serious in those settings. These increased risks may be relatively small. Nonetheless, policymakers should consider these risks when contemplating reducing the scope of gun-free zones

Criminology · Injury prevention · License · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Political science · Sexual assault · Suicide prevention · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Law · Medicine · Psychology · Traumatic Ocular and Foreign Body Injuries

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