NCJ Number
159889
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 86 Issue: 1 Dated: (Fall 1995) Pages: 193-206
Date Published
1995
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examines the impact of the liberalized licensing laws for the carrying of concealed weapons on homicides in Florida, Mississippi, and Oregon.
Abstract
One type of law that applies to licensing for the carrying of a concealed weapon is "may issue" licensing. Under this policy, legal authorities grant licenses only to those citizens who can establish a compelling need for carrying a gun. Another approach is the nondiscretionary or "shall issue" system. Under this policy the authorities must provide a license to any applicant who meets specified criteria. Adoption of a "shall issue" policy usually increases the number of persons with permits to carry concealed guns. This study examines the "shall issue" laws in Florida, Mississippi, and Oregon and their impact on homicides. Similar to existing evaluations of "shall issue" licensing, this study used an interrupted time-series design to estimate average homicide levels before and after "shall issue" policies began. In addition, the study analyzed monthly homicide counts and examined only large urban areas within the three States. To determine whether the laws influenced gun deaths differently, firearm homicides were separated from homicides by other means. For all areas except Miami, the study examined the period between January 1973 and December 1992. The Miami analysis was confined to January 1983 through December 1992. The study results led the authors to two conclusions, one stronger than the other. The stronger conclusion is that "shall issue" laws do not reduce homicides, at least in large urban areas. The weaker conclusion is that "shall issue" laws raise levels of firearms murders. Reasons for these conclusions are discussed, along with implications for policy. 4 tables and 51 footnotes