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Since we launched our Gun Policy in America initiative in 2018, there’s been a surge in gun policy research.
Today, we’ve published major updates to our resources that incorporate the latest evidence.
There’s a lot to explore. Here’s a summary. [thread] https://bit.ly/3br2t04
Today, we’ve published major updates to our resources that incorporate the latest evidence.
There’s a lot to explore. Here’s a summary. [thread] https://bit.ly/3br2t04
The goal of our initiative is to establish a shared set of facts about gun policies.
The literature synthesis team, led by @RosannaSmart and @AndrewMorral, reviewed thousands of studies to examine the effects of gun laws on different outcomes.
Here are three takeaways.
The literature synthesis team, led by @RosannaSmart and @AndrewMorral, reviewed thousands of studies to examine the effects of gun laws on different outcomes.
Here are three takeaways.
New research provides stronger evidence for the effects of stand-your-ground laws and waiting periods.We found supportive evidence—our strongest evidence rating—that stand-your-ground laws are associated with an increase in firearm homicides.
More than two-thirds of states have implemented stand-your-ground laws.
These laws were intended to improve public safety, but the authors conclude that, on the existing evidence, they actually make people less safe and more likely to be victims of a firearm homicide.
These laws were intended to improve public safety, but the authors conclude that, on the existing evidence, they actually make people less safe and more likely to be victims of a firearm homicide.
Recent work also provided stronger evidence for the effects of waiting periods, which enforce a delay before someone can take possession of a gun after purchase.
Researchers found moderate evidence that waiting periods reduce rates of firearm suicide and total homicide.
Researchers found moderate evidence that waiting periods reduce rates of firearm suicide and total homicide.
Evidence gaps persist for many types of gun laws.Despite the increase in gun policy research—this latest review includes almost double the number of studies from our 2018 release—we still lack robust evidence for the effects of several types of commonly proposed gun laws.
The limited evidence base means that we also lack strong research about the effects of gun policies on several important outcomes, including officer-involved shootings, defensive gun use, hunting and recreation, mass shootings, and the gun industry.
Our in-depth analysis of current gun policy research covers what the evidence shows about the effects of 18 policies on eight outcomes.
You can explore what we know—and what we don’t—here: https://bit.ly/2zlhGS8
You can explore what we know—and what we don’t—here: https://bit.ly/2zlhGS8
U.S. gun ownership rates have been declining over the last three decades.Understanding how common gun ownership is in each state and how ownership rates have changed over time is often important for testing theories about the effects of gun laws.
To support research in this area, RAND experts developed a longitudinal database of state-level estimates of household firearm ownership from 1980 to 2016.
This chart shows the change in household gun ownership over time.
This chart shows the change in household gun ownership over time.
Here are the 10 states with the highest estimated household gun ownership rates as of 2016...
...and here are the 10 states with the lowest rates of gun ownership.
Want to see where your state stacks up and how household gun ownership there has changed over time? Check out this interactive tool: https://bit.ly/3cGiZJR
Like we said, there’s a lot to explore. Visit our Gun Policy in America homepage to access supporting research reports, download our historical database of state gun laws, learn how experts think policies would affect outcomes, and much more. /end https://bit.ly/2wXkOmi
