Date of Award
2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Economics
First Advisor
Monica Das
Abstract
This study examines the effectiveness of the ban on the open carry of firearms in California (implemented in January, 2012). Data was taken from the U.S. Vital Statistics website on a monthly basis from January, 2006 to December, 2017, and it incorporated gun-related murder totals as well as totals for African Americans and Caucasians. RDD and DID regressions were run (using Texas as a control state) in order to determine the impact of the law. The RDD turned out insignificant results. The DID showed that the law had a significant negative impact on total homicides (decreasing them by about 1 murder every 4 months). It also produced significant negative impacts for both African Americans and Caucasians, although it was a more drastic decrease for Black citizens. This study concludes the effectiveness of the open carry ban and the need for further research on the impact of gun control laws.
Recommended Citation
Geiger, Patrick, "The Effect of California's Open Carry Ban on Gun-Related Homicides" (2019). Economics Student Theses and Capstone Projects. 123.
https://creativematter.skidmore.edu/econ_studt_schol/123