Title: Carrying Concealed Weapons (CCW) Laws: From “May Issue” to “Shall Issue”

Publication Date: September 2008

What does it say?

This report provides an overview of the literature from academic journals on the effects of Carrying Concealed Weapons (CCW) laws.

A 1997 study by Lott and Mustard found that “allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons deters violent crime.” This finding has since been discredited.  Many subsequent studies found that CCW laws either had no effect on violent crime or even increased rates of violent crime.

The National Research Council carried out its own review and analysis of peer-reviewed literature and concluded that there is “no credible evidence that the passage of right-to-carry laws decreases or increases violent crime.”

How can I use it?

Use this report to challenge the myth that carrying guns makes us safer. To date, no reliable evidence has been produced to prove the efficacy of CCW laws.

Citation

Hemenway, David and Mary Vriniotis, “Carrying Concealed Weapons (CCW) Laws: From “May Issue” to “Shall Issue,” Bulletins, (Issue 2) Fall 2008