When concealed handgun licensees break bad: Criminal convictions of concealed handgun licensees in Texas, 2001-2009

C.D. Phillips, O. Nwaiwu, D.K. McMaughan Moudouni, R. Edwards and S.-H. Lin

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 1, 86-91

Abstract: Objectives. We explored differences in criminal convictions between holders and nonholders of a concealed handgun license (CHL) in Texas. Methods. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides annual data on criminal convictions of holders and nonholders of CHLs. We used 2001 to 2009 DPS data to investigate the differences in the distribution of convictions for these 2 groups across 9 types of criminal offenses. We calculated z scores for the differences in the types of crimes for which CHL holders and nonholders were convicted. Results. CHL holders were much less likely than nonlicensees to be convicted of crimes. Most nonholder convictions involved higher-prevalence crimes (burglary, robbery, or simple assault). CHL holders' convictions were more likely to involve lower-prevalence crimes, such as sexual offenses, gun offenses, or offenses involving a death. Conclusions. Our results imply that expanding the settings in which concealed carry is permitted may increase the risk of specific types of crimes, some quite serious in those settings. These increased risks may be relatively small. Nonetheless, policymakers should consider these risks when contemplating reducing the scope of gun-free zones. Copyright © 2012 by the American Public Health Association®.

Keywords: article; comparative study; crime; firearm; homicide; human; legal aspect; licensing; policy; risk assessment; statistics; United States; violence, Crime; Firearms; Homicide; Humans; Licensure; Public Policy; Risk Assessment; Texas; Violence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.300807_4

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300807

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