Citation

Gius M. Soc. Sci. J. 2019; 56(1): 3-9.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.soscij.2018.04.004

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

As of 2018, ten states allowed students, faculty, and staff to carry concealed firearms on campus. Although there has been much discussion regarding campus carry laws, there has been very little empirical research conducted on the link between campus carry laws and crime on campus. The present study attempts to determine if campus carry laws are statistically related to campus level crime. Using state-level data for the period 2005-2014 and a fixed effects model, results of the present study suggest that campus carry laws have no statistically significant relationship with campus level crime. However, campuses located in states that allow unpermitted concealed carry have lower property crime rates. These results corroborate the findings of prior studies on this topic. Given these results, states should reconsider enacting campus carry laws, and colleges and universities should be given more latitude in deciding whether or not firearms are appropriate on their campuses.

Language: en

Keywords

Campus crime; Concealed carry laws