Smoking Gun? Linking Gun Ownership to Crime Victimization

Introduction

Gun violence is a recurring tragedy in the United States, and with each high-profile shooting, debates about the role of guns in society are reignited. Despite these events, national gun legislation has seen limited changes, and there has been a surge in gun purchases following shootings and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the dynamics of gun ownership and its connection to crime is crucial for informing policy decisions. A recent study by Stephen B. Billings explores the relationship between gun ownership, specifically concealed handgun permits (CHPs), and criminal victimization.

The study utilizes linked individual data on CHPs, reported crimes, and arrests to analyze the dynamics of gun ownership and criminal victimization. The study provides valuable insights into the relationship between legal gun ownership and crime by examining detailed information on the timing, location, and details of victimization and arrests.

Data and Methodology

The analysis focuses on a unique individual panel dataset from Charlotte, NC, which combines registered voter information, CHP data, and reported crime victimization data from 2007 to 2011. The dataset allows for a comprehensive examination of the impact of obtaining a CHP on crime victimization, controlling for various individual and neighborhood factors.

A stacked difference-in-difference model was employed to estimate the effect of obtaining a CHP on individual crime victimization. The model compares CHP holders with a matched control group of non-CHP holders based on voter attributes, victimization history, and neighborhood of residence. By leveraging temporal variation at the individual level, the study uncovers the impact of CHPs on crime victimization.

Key Findings

The study reveals several important findings regarding the relationship between gun ownership and crime victimization:

1.                  Characteristics of CHP holders: The analysis shows that CHP holders are more likely to be male, Republican, older, born in-state, and have a recent history of being a crime victim.

2.                  Property crime victimization: Obtaining a CHP increases property crime victimization by 46%. The most significant impact is observed in firearm theft, suggesting that legal guns owned by CHP holders are often targeted by criminals.

3.                  Violent crime victimization: CHP holders do not experience a change in violent crime victimization, dispelling the notion that legal gun ownership provides protection against violent crimes.

4.                  Neighborhood spillover effects: CHP ownership has a small (2%) increase in total neighborhood crime and a larger increase (8%) in violent crimes involving a gun within the CHP holders' neighborhoods. This suggests that stolen guns obtained from CHP holders may contribute to increased crime in the surrounding area.

Implications and Policy Considerations

The study highlights the social costs associated with gun ownership, particularly the spillover effects on neighborhood crime. The findings suggest that stolen guns obtained from legal gun owners can contribute to criminal activities, including violent crimes committed with firearms. This emphasizes the importance of implementing policies that address gun theft and secure gun storage to prevent illegal access to firearms.

The study also raises implications for policies such as Child Access Prevention and gun storage laws, which may help reduce the theft of guns and subsequently prevent neighborhood crimes. Additionally, the use of biometric recognition devices that restrict gun use to registered owners could be a promising measure to prevent stolen guns from being used in criminal acts.

Conclusion

Stephen B. Billings' study provides valuable insights into the relationship between gun ownership and crime victimization. Analyzing individual-level data and examining neighborhood spillover effects contribute to a better understanding of the social costs of gun ownership. The findings suggest that legal gun ownership does not offer protection against violent crimes but increase the risk of property crime victimization, particularly firearm theft. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing gun theft and implementing measures to secure firearms to prevent them from entering the illegal market.

Furthermore, the study highlights the potential impact of stolen guns on neighborhood crime rates. The analysis shows that neighborhoods with a higher prevalence of CHP holders experience an increase in both total crimes and violent crimes involving guns. This indicates that stolen guns obtained from legal gun owners may contribute to a broader range of criminal activities in the surrounding area. Understanding these spillover effects is crucial for assessing the overall social costs associated with gun ownership.

The findings of this study contribute to the larger body of research on the social costs of gun ownership. Previous studies have shown that increased gun availability is associated with higher rates of accidental shootings and suicides. Additionally, research on the impact of less restrictive gun laws has demonstrated increased violent crime rates. The current study further proves the relationship between gun ownership and crime victimization, emphasizing the need for comprehensive gun control policies.

It is important to note that the study specifically focuses on concealed handgun permits (CHPs) and may not capture the full scope of the impact of other forms of legal handgun purchases, such as pistol purchase permits or gun shows. Further research is needed to examine the specific effects of these different types of gun ownership on crime.

In conclusion, the study by Stephen B. Billings sheds light on the connection between gun ownership, crime victimization, and neighborhood spillover effects. The analysis demonstrates that legal gun ownership, as indicated by CHPs, increases the risk of property crime victimization without providing significant protection against violent crimes. The findings also suggest that stolen guns obtained from legal gun owners may contribute to increased crime rates in surrounding neighborhoods. These findings have important implications for gun control policies and underscore the need for measures to prevent gun theft and secure firearms to reduce their potential for misuse in criminal activities.

References:

Billings, S. B. (2023). Smoking gun? Linking gun ownership to crime victimization. Journal of Public Economics, 222, 104874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2023.104874

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