Citation

Depew B, Swensen I. Econ. J. 2022; 132(646): 2118-2140.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Royal Economic Society, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/ej/ueac004

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The 1911 New York State Sullivan Act outlawed carrying concealable firearms without a licence, established strict licencing rules and regulated the sale and possession of handguns. We analyse the effects of the Sullivan Act using historical data on mortality rates, pistol permits and citations for illegal carrying. Our analysis of pistol permits and citations reveal clear initial effects of the Sullivan Act on gun-related behaviours. Using synthetic control and difference-in-differences methodologies, our main analyses show no effects on overall homicide rates, evidence of a reduction in overall suicide rates and strong evidence of a large and sustained decrease in gun-related suicide rates. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press.

Language: en

Keywords

suicide; mortality