Is It Wild Out West? Permitless Carry and State Level Violent Crime Rates

Abstract: Half of U.S. states no longer require a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public. Proponents of permitless carry argue they may serve to deter violence; opponents claim that, by making it easier to carry firearms, violence will increase. This paper tests this hypothesis using a Generalised Synthetic Control model and state-level data between 1980-2021. The results suggest these laws do not measurably increase or decrease murder rates. The key takeaway from this analysis is that permitless carry may not increase murder rates. Keywords: Permitless Carry, Concealed Carry, Constitutional Carry, Firearms JEL Classification Number: K14