Weapon Choice and Body Count: Is There a Relationship?

• In Event: Various Issues in Criminal Justice Policy

Abstract

Policy debates concerning weapon restrictions following the highly publicized mass shootings at Aurora, Colorado, and Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012 focused on assault rifles but paid little attention to other types of firearms or alternative weapons. Although it is well-established that firearms are more lethal than other weapons, e.g., knives, it is unclear if rifles are more lethal than handguns or shotguns or lead to an increased number of deaths in mass shooting incidents. In this paper, we analyze both the links between type of firearm and the number of deaths and the frequency with which each type is used for mass murder cases from 2000 to 2012 using NIBRS and SHR data. The results have direct policy implications related to the potential efficacy of placing more controls on rifles versus other types of firearms.

Authors

• Sarah Ann Sacra, University of Central Florida

• Aaron Poole, University of Central Florida

• James McCutcheon, University of Memphis

• Jay Corzine, University of Central Florida