Citation

Webster DW, McCourt AD, Crifasi CK, Booty MD, Stuart EA. Criminol. Public Policy 2020; 19(1): 171-212.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, American Society of Criminology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1745-9133.12487

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

We used data from the FBI's Supplemental Homicide Reports and other publicly available databases to calculate state-level annual incidence of fatal mass shootings for 1984-2017. Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate the associations between changes in key gun laws and fatal mass shootings. Handgun purchaser licensing laws and bans of large-capacity magazines (LCMs) were associated with significant reductions in the incidence of fatal mass shootings. Other laws commonly advocated as solutions to mass shootings--comprehensive background checks, assault weapons bans, and de-regulation of civilian concealed carry of firearms--were unrelated to fatal mass shootings.

Policy Implications
Our findings suggest that laws requiring firearm purchasers to be licensed through a background check process supported by fingerprints and laws banning LCMs are the most effective gun policies for reducing fatal mass shootings.

Language: en

Keywords

EVALUATION; gun regulation; mass shooting