Date of Award
4-26-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Political Science, MA
First Advisor
Rollin Tusalem
Committee Members
David Harding; Hans Hacker; Rollin Tusalem
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2016 C23
Abstract
Recent statistical studies suggest that the presence of right to carry (RTC) laws increase crime on all fronts. Like many before it, this debate hinges on model specification and our ability to conceptualize real world mechanisms into social science models. I evaluate and modify previous economic models concerning the “More Guns, Less Crime” hypothesis in order to test those findings. I also expanded previous panel data that originally ended in 2006 with the most up to date uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data and created a new open-carry dummy variable. Each model uses data from 1970 to 2013 for all fifty states. I used only the most theoretically relevant variables to support my hypothesis. My models account for measures of population, economic conditions, demographics, geographic areas and measures of the state’s ability to control the rate of crime. The results confirmed my first hypothesis where RTC laws have a lessening effect over time on the level of crime for all categories. Indeed, other statistical models using the open-carry variable support my second hypothesis which purports that states with open-carry will also see a lessening effect on crime.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Carothers, Justin Shane, "Formulating New Models in the More Guns, Less Crime Debate" (2016). Student Theses and Dissertations. 633.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/633
