Right To Carry Research Articles

Corrections to the FBI’s Reports on Active Shooting Incidents

The claim in the original FBI report that active shooting cases have increased over time was a result of data errors, both in terms of how the cases were collected and the missing of many attacks. Some of the cases that the original reports missed involved as many as four to nine people being murdered. For the period from 2014 to 2019, the FBI had missed additional cases. Once those cases are included there were 25 cases out of 162 (15.4%) where people with permitted concealed handguns stopped the attacks. The FBI reports keep excluding cases where shootings attacks have been stopped by concealed handgun permit holders. To put it differently, while 36% of active shooting attacks have occurred in places where guns are allowed, almost half (42.3%) of those were stopped by people legally carry concealed handguns. In light of these errors, media, courts, law enforcement, and policymakers, are advised to rely on the updated, corrected data provided in this report.

Keep calm and conceal carry: opinions about campus carry on a nontraditional university campus in Texas

ABSTRACT Campus carry, which permits concealed firearms on college campuses, is an intense topic of discussion. While research has found that a majority of students and faculty oppose such a law, much of this previous research was conducted at traditional universities, with a sizable percentage of students under the minimum age for a conceal carry permit. It is unclear how such a law is viewed at campuses with nontraditional student populations, especially concerning age, where there may be higher percentages of potential permitted carriers. Student, staff, and faculty opinions collected at a university with a majority nontraditional student population in Texas demonstrate a more complex picture of the potential impact of campus carry and how personal characteristics affect campus carry opinions. Results show more diverse campus carry opinions than in other published samples, as well as differing opinion patterns between students, staff, and faculty. When coupled with effects related to personal characteristics, results suggest a more complex interpretation of campus carry acceptance.

Campus Carry Attitudes Revisited: Variations within the University Campus Community

ABSTRACT This study examined attitudes toward campus carry – a policy that would permit individuals to carry concealed firearms on a university’s grounds if they possess a permit. Survey data were collected from a sample of 1,380 members of a campus community – undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff – at a medium-sized public university in Pennsylvania whose legislation leaves the decision of campus carry up to the institutions. The majority of the sample reported non-supportive attitudes toward the implementation of campus carry. However, the degree of support and general attitudes toward the policy varied with undergraduate students having the most supportive attitudes of campus carry, followed by graduate students, staff, and then faculty. Certain demographic variables along with other campus-related variables, such as a fear of victimization, predicted campus carry attitudes. The research findings are discussed in terms of both research and policy implications.

The Effect of Right-to-Carry Laws on Crime Rates: A Critique of the Research of Donohue et al.

John Donohue and his colleagues assessed the impact of right-to-carry (RTC) laws on crime rates. These laws make it easier to get a carry permit. Donohue et al. claim that their analysis indicates that, contrary to what nearly all other researchers have found, these laws increase violent crime. This paper presents a critical analysis of the research by Donohue et al., and shows that their conclusions are unwarranted.

Concealed Carry Permit Holders Across the United States: 2021

During the Coronavirus pandemic, the number of concealed handgun permits has soared to over 21.52 million – a 48% increase since 2016. It’s also a 10.5% increase over the number of permits we counted a year ago in 2020. Unlike gun ownership surveys that may be affected by people’s unwillingness to answer personal questions, concealed handgun permit data is the only really “hard data” that we have. This increase occurred despite 21 Constitutional Carry states that no longer provide data on all those legally carrying a concealed handgun because people in those states no longer need a permit to carry.These numbers are particularly topical given that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the concealed carry case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association V. Corlett in November. That case will determine whether those requesting permits need to provide a “proper cause,” which means a good reason for obtaining a permit.

ПОЛОЖЕННЯ ФІЗИЧНОЇ ЕКОНОМІЇ В КОНТЕКСТІ ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ ГОМЕОСТАЗУ СТАЛОГО ГОСПОДАРЮВАННЯ

На сучасному етапі розвитку виробництва та забезпечення сталого господарювання виникає необхідність подолання неузгодженостей між рівнем технологічного процесу та засобами, що підтримують екологічну безпеку життєдіяльності людини. Таким чином, постає необхідність у пошуку інноваційних шляхи для забезпечення економічного зростання та синхронного покращення екологічних показників виробничих процесів. Перші систематизовані погляди, що вказують на енергетичний характер суспільного багатства, описані в минулому столітті українським мислителем Сергієм Подолинським. Він виклав основні положення теорії розвитку суспільства, що базується на використанні людиною природної енергії, а сама людина розглядалася С. Подолинським як теплова машина.
 Нинішні норми навантаження господарської діяльності на наземні ландшафтні системи є за своєю суттю санітарно-гігієнічними, оскільки вони спрямовані передусім на інтереси людини і не пов'язані з біофізичними критеріями збереження довкілля. Дотримання принципів побудови екологічно сталої економіки, зорієнтованих на запобігання негативним природним змінам потребує формування відповідної статистики біофізичних параметрів. Найкращим розв'язанням даної проблеми є вироблення комплексної державної програми екологічного нормування, яка повинна спрямовувати екологічну безпеку України на досягнення конкретних природоохоронних результатів. Поточним заходом, що має упередити екологізацію управління природокористуванням, повинно стати законодавче закріплення вимог обов'язкового проведення державної і громадської екологічної експертизи планів і проектів. При цьому підприємства і відомства самостійно проводити таку експертизу не мають права. Проблема рівноваги у природі безпосередньо входила до кола досліджуваних В.І. Вернадським. Учений глибоко осягав її теорію. Виходячи зі своїх дослідницьких потреб, він створив власну наукову типологію різновидів гомеостазу – стану рівноваги динамічного середовища, у якому відбуваються біологічні процеси. Учений довів, що усі явища всюди підпорядковані законам рівноваги і повинні бути виражені числами.

Not a “Nonissue”: Perceptions and Realities of Campus Carry at The University of Texas at Austin

As a publicly funded institution,The University of Texas at Austin had to implement the state's legislation to allow concealed handguns on campus. Yet its own Campus Carry policy has sought to erase the matter from everyday campus life. The administration deems it a “nonissue,” presuming that students have become accustomed to the idea, do not think about it actively, and have a low interest in acquiring a handgun license. This paper, based on a survey of the university's undergraduates, questions these ideas. It shows that a majority of students think that the issue is important and examines in what sense the students are troubled by its effects. While opinions differ between supporters and opponents of Campus Carry, divergences also exist within their ranks, such as among supporters of the law regarding where guns should specifically be allowed at the university. On the basis of the survey, the essay also examines how many licensed carriers are actually on campus, compared to the university's estimates.

Not in My Office: Rights in an Armed Campus Space

When the Texas legislature in August 2016 allowed concealed handguns on campuses, the implementation of the legislation assumed a spatial meaning. At issue was not so much what the impact of firearms in educational establishments would be but where concealed guns could be carried and which specific locations were to be determined as exclusion zones. The decision-making process boiled down to a negotiation of rights by the federal government, state legislature, university, and members of the campus community. In particular, the question of gun rights was interpreted through notions of space, freedom, and privacy, as understood through amendments to the US Constitution.

Beyond Argumentum in Terrorem: The Contested Rhetoric of Campus Carry

This essay reflects on the use of competing rhetorical frames of fear strategically used by the academic community of The University of Texas at Austin in the debate on Campus Carry policy. With the legalization of concealed handguns on campus, fear emerged as a prominent trope in public discussions, albeit used in very different ways by supporters or opponents of the law. Against the more standard interpretation of fear-based rhetoric as an exploitation of others’ insecurities, this essay draws on mixed-methods research to examine expressions of fear by activist opponents of Campus Carry and the way in which supporters of the law sought to deconstruct it.

Acculturation and Campus Carry: Examining the Effect of Mexico Versus United States Cultural Orientations on College Students' Support for Campus Carry.

Several U.S. states have authorized carrying concealed firearms on campuses. These measures are controversial, with support falling along ideological lines. This study examines whether cultural proximity to the U.S., relative to Mexico, influences support for campus carry. Using a random sample of 1,447 college students from two Texas public universities, structural equation modeling results revealed that individuals more oriented toward U.S. culture were more likely to support campus carry than individuals oriented more toward Mexican culture. Besides this direct effect, acculturation also indirectly influenced support for campus carry through public attitudes toward the police. Specifically, individuals more oriented toward the U.S. held more favorable views of the police, which in turn predicted greater support for campus carry. Collectively, these findings suggest that cultural values influence support for public policies such as campus carry.

Status Politics and the Political Influences of Concealed Handgun License Demand in Texas

ABSTRACT Do political dynamics inform concealed handguns demand better than crime levels? In this study we argue and find support for the idea that handgun demand is a product of status politics, displays of political symbolism in response to real or perceived threats to those supporting gun rights and conservative values. We also compare this argument with previous explanations of handgun demand such as crime rates and racial demographics. We find locations supporting conservative political views do have greater rates of CHL applications during moments when status politics were most likely while less support is found for criminal justice predictors.

It’s the walk, not the talk: Behavioral indicators of concealed and unholstered firearms carrying

This article identifies a set of behavioral indicators associated with the carrying of concealed and unholstered handguns. Using qualitative data collected from interviews and focus groups with veteran law enforcement, we outline a variety of cues that, when used appropriately, can help authorities identify people who may be concealing handguns. This work provides a systematic means of assisting the police in identifying and safely interdicting persons who might pose a threat to police or the public. The cues described here contribute to a lexicon that may also serve law enforcement communication, training, and research.

Changes in firearm mortality following the implementation of state laws regulating firearm access and use

Although 39,000 individuals die annually from gunshots in the US, research examining the effects of laws designed to reduce these deaths has sometimes produced inconclusive or contradictory findings. We evaluated the effects on total firearm-related deaths of three classes of gun laws: child access prevention (CAP), right-to-carry (RTC), and stand your ground (SYG) laws. The analyses exploit changes in these state-level policies from 1970 to 2016, using Bayesian methods and a modeling approach that addresses several methodological limitations of prior gun policy evaluations. CAP laws showed the strongest evidence of an association with firearm-related death rate, with a probability of 0.97 that the death rate declined at 6 y after implementation. In contrast, the probability of being associated with an increase in firearm-related deaths was 0.87 for RTC laws and 0.77 for SYG laws. The joint effects of these laws indicate that the restrictive gun policy regime (having a CAP law without an RTC or SYG law) has a 0.98 probability of being associated with a reduction in firearm-related deaths relative to the permissive policy regime. This estimated effect corresponds to an 11% reduction in firearm-related deaths relative to the permissive legal regime. Our findings suggest that a small but meaningful decrease in firearm-related deaths may be associated with the implementation of more restrictive gun policies.

A Qualitative Analysis of the Vulnerability Narratives of Student Gun Rights Advocates

In recent years, colleges and universities in the United States have considered allowing concealed firearms on their campuses. Yet, substantive research on why a minority of students’ desire to arm themselves is scarce. Addressing this gap in the literature, this study examines 30 interviews with chapter presidents of a national student gun rights organization. Using racialized narratives, participants express intense feelings of vulnerability on campus and in the larger society. Extending Feagin’s theory of systemic racism to gun politics, I argue respondents’ belief that they must be armed to co-exist with people of color reproduces racial inequality and poses a potential threat to students, faculty, and staff of color.

The Constitutional Incongruity of 'May-Issue' Concealed Carry Permit Laws

In 2019, 15,668 Americans were killed by guns. Given this epidemic of gun violence, it is no surprise when legislatures enact gun control measures; in fact, they should be applauded for doing so. However, the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental constitutional right protected by the Second Amendment. While the precise scope of this right is unclear, it appears to include at least some right to carry guns outside of the home. States have three categories of licensing schemes for those who wish to carry guns in public. In unrestricted or “constitutional carry” jurisdictions, citizens of the state do not need any license to carry. In shall-issue jurisdictions, citizens are required to have a permit, but the permitting entity has no discretion; provided that the applicant meets certain requirements, the government must issue the permit. In may-issue jurisdictions, the permitting entity has discretion as to whether to issue the permit, even if the applicant meets all the conditions. Most may-issue jurisdictions require applicants to prove that they have a good reason for wanting to carry a gun, such as a compelling need for self-defense. Even when they do not have this requirement, they give the permitting authority discretion as to whether to issue the license. I argue in this Article that may-issue laws are unconstitutional. I examine four other fundamental constitutional rights: the rights to free speech, free exercise of religion, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, and obtain access to an abortion. While the government may constitutionally limit each of these rights, it may not do so based on the subjective decisions of government officials, and certainly not based on the otherwise-lawful exercise of that right. Therefore, I argue, if the right to carry a gun outside the home is protected by the Second Amendment, then laws that require citizens to prove a good reason for needing to exercise that right are unconstitutional.

Concealed Carry Permit Holders Across the United States: 2020

Concealed Carry Permit Holders Across the United States: 2020

Students plans to obtain a license to carry on campus after the passage of Texas Senate Bill 11

This study examines factors predicting possession of a license to carry and plans to obtain a license to carry for the purpose of carrying a concealed handgun on campus after the passage of Texas Senate Bill 11 (SB11). Utilizing plans to obtain a license to carry we examine four models each with a more refined dependent variable to determine the factors specifically related to campus carry. The study uses a sample of university students at a midsize university in Texas to examine these relationships. Campus security concerns both before and after implementation of SB11 are discussed.

Right-to-Carry Laws and Firearm Workplace Homicides: A Longitudinal Analysis (1992-2017).

Objectives. To examine the impact of right-to-carry (RTC) firearm laws on firearm workplace homicides (WPHs) in the United States from 1992 to 2017.Methods. We employed 2 longitudinal methods to examine the average effect (pooled, cross-sectional, time-series analysis) and the state-specific effect (random effects meta-analysis) of RTC laws on WPHs committed by firearms from 1992 to 2017 in a 50-state panel. Both methods utilized a generalized linear mixed model with a negative binomial distribution.Results. From 1992 to 2017, the average effect of having an RTC law was significantly associated with 29% higher rates of firearm WPHs (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14, 1.45). No other state-level policies were associated with firearm WPHs. Sensitivity analyses suggest robust findings. State-specific estimates suggest that passing an RTC law during our study period was significantly associated with 24% increase in firearm WPH rates (95% CI = 1.09, 1.40).Conclusions. This is the first study to our knowledge to examine the link between RTC firearm laws and firearm WPHs. Findings indicate that RTC laws likely pose a threat to worker safety and contribute to the recent body of literature that finds RTC laws are associated with increased incidence of violence.

Linking Public Safety And Public Health Data For Firearm Suicide Prevention In Utah.

In Utah, a state with a high rate of gun ownership, the shared concerns of diverse stakeholders generated bipartisan support for a state-funded study that tracked patterns of firearm suicide. The study linked sensitive public health and public safety data and identified opportunities for firearm suicide prevention. Findings reported to the state legislature included the proportion of suicide decedents who could have passed a background check for legal firearm possession at their time of death, had a permit to carry a concealed firearm, or had been seen in the hospital for a previous suicide attempt or self-harm. Within six months of the report's release, the legislature, health care and religious groups, and state agencies had launched diverse, major initiatives to reduce firearm suicide that were informed by the report's findings. We present the Utah experience as a case study in bringing diverse stakeholders-particularly gun owners-together to find common ground on firearm suicide prevention and in using linked data to support and guide their efforts.

Reciprocal Concealed Carry: The Constitutional Issues

Legislation introduced in recent congressional sessions would enact some version of “concealed carry reciprocity” for firearms. This legislation would create a regime in which a holder of a concealed firearms carry permit issued by one state can carry a concealed weapon in any state that allows some form of concealed carry. This Article, written for a conference co-sponsored by Hastings College of the Law and the Giffords Center to Prevent Gun Violence, considers the constitutional issues posed by concealed carry reciprocity legislation. Concealed carry reciprocity legislation raises a complex web of constitutional issues. After Part I of this Article introduces the concept of concealed carry reciprocity, as exemplified by a bill that the House passed in December, 2017, Parts II and III consider those constitutional issues. Part II considers the three potential bases of congressional authority to enact such legislation: its Article I power to regulate interstate commerce, its power under Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment to enforce that amendment’s other provisions, and its Article IV power “to prescribe the Manner” in which “the public Acts, Records and judicial Proceedings of every other state” “shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.” It concludes that Congress likely lacks such power under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Enforcement Clause, and that serious questions cloud its power under the other two sources of power it identifies. Part III assumes the existence of some constitutional foundation for concealed carry reciprocity legislation, and considers whether such legislation would nevertheless transgress any affirmative limit on congressional power. It suggests that such legislation may unconstitutionally commandeer state governments, and may unconstitutionally delegate federal legislative power to states. The Article’s analysis suggests that concealed carry reciprocity legislation raises serious constitutional issues, with regard to both Congress’s underlying authority and these affirmative limits.