The Effect of Concealed-Carry and Handgun Restrictions on Gun-Related Deaths

Evidence from the Sullivan Act of 1911

Bibliographic Data

ID9707142
AuthorsBriggs Depew (Utah State University, corresponding author), Isaac Swensen (Montana State University), Isaac D Swensen (0000-0003-2107-8328, Montana State University)
Year2022
Volume132
Issue646
Pages2118-2140
Publication date2022-07-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Economic Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0013-0133 • E-ISSN: 1468-0297
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/ej/ueac004
OpenAlexW4206711413
LanguageEN
References cited35

The 1911 New York State Sullivan Act outlawed carrying concealable firearms without a licence, established strict licencing rules and regulated the sale and possession of handguns. We analyse the effects of the Sullivan Act using historical data on mortality rates, pistol permits and citations for illegal carrying. Our analysis of pistol permits and citations reveal clear initial effects of the Sullivan Act on gun-related behaviours. Using synthetic control and difference-in-differences methodologies, our main analyses show no effects on overall homicide rates, evidence of a reduction in overall suicide rates and strong evidence of a large and sustained decrease in gun-related suicide rates

Criminology · Forensic engineering · Gun control · Homicide · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Poison control · Political science · Possession (linguistics · Suicide prevention · Suicide rates · Engineering · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Healthcare Policy and Management · Law · Medicine · Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

Tools

Open DOI