Circling the Welcome Wagons: Area, Income, Race, and Legal Handgun Concealment

Abstract

Using data from Louisiana State Police records on concealed weapon permits, this article analyzes factors related to regional differences in rates of handgun permit holding. Although protection from victimization may be considered a common motive for carrying a concealed weapon, the authors found no relationship between crime rates and rates of handgpn permit holding. Instead, factors such as median household income and race-related factors were found to be more salient predictors of an area's rate of permit holding.

Firearm Violence and Effects on Concealed Gun Carrying: Large Debate and Small Effects

“…Using data from 1998, they found that rates of concealed carry permits issued in Louisiana were positively associated with median home income, political conservatism, white population, and less populated areas. When coupled with no observed effect from crime on the rate of permits issued, these findings led the authors to conclude the decision to seek a concealed carry permit was likely more symbolic of being a wealthy, politically conservative white person as opposed to someone in fear of crime (Costanza & Kilburn, 2004). Third, Thompson and Stidham (2010) built upon the Louisiana study by disaggregating race and including hunting permit rates under the belief that a sporting subculture would be predictive of concealed carry permit rates.…”

“…Employing data from North Carolina counties in 2005, and controlling for similar socioeconomic and political variables as Costanza and Kilburn (2004), Thompson and Stidham (2010) concluded that income and crime had no significant effect on permits issued. However, the authors found evidence that a sporting subculture and political conservatism were positively associated with concealed carry permit rates.…”

“…Concealed carry permit holders predominantly reside in areas with higher per-capita incomes (Costanza & Kilburn, 2004;Hood & Neeley, 2000). Thus, if counties with lower per-capita incomes generally have higher levels of violent crime (Morenoff & Sampson, 1997), but lower permit rates, then failing to control for the economic well-being of counties might lead to a spurious negative relationship between permit rate and crime (Kovandzic & Marvell, 2003 Population density has been linked to protective gun ownership (Giblin et al, 2011) and concealed carry permits in rural areas (Costanza, Kilburn, & Miles, 2013;Thompson & Stidham, 2010).…”

“…Second, Costanza and Kilburn (2004) examined rates of concealed carry permits in Louisiana. Using data from 1998, they found that rates of concealed carry permits issued in Louisiana were positively associated with median home income, political conservatism, white population, and less populated areas.…”

“…A more limited body of work has pursued explanations of legal gun carrying; specifically concealed firearm carry permits. To date, four studies have explored indicators of aggregate-level concealed carry permits (Costanza & Kilburn, 2004;Costanza, Kilburn, & Miles, 2013;Gau, 2008;Thompson & Stidham, 2010); none of which have found a systematic relationship between crime and the issuance of permits to carry a concealed firearm.…”