Citation

Moody CE, Marvell TB. South Econ. J. 2005; 71(4): 720-736.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Southern Economic Association, Publisher Allen Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

We estimate several models of handguns and crime based on state-level panel data for 1977-1998 using both General Social Survey data on gun availability and a new measure of handgun prevalence. We find that handguns have a negligible effect on crime. Apparently, there is either no causation between guns and crime, or a rough equilibrium between criminals who use guns in the commission of crime and ordinary citizens who use guns to defend themselves and deter crime.