Shots Fired: Residential Space During Pandemic Lockdowns Influencing Homicide, Suicide, and Injury Shootings.

• In Event: Quantitative Advances in Firearms Research

Abstract

Purpose: To test a new measure of population density.
Methods: Using state-level data from the Gun Violence Archive, we examine the influence of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns by comparing shootings resulting in injuries and deaths in the United States before, during, and after mandated lockdowns. Changes in people's routine activities mandated by lockdown requirements and the resulting social disorganization this causes for people's day-to-day lived experiences guide this research. To analyze the influence of the lockdown experience and advance the potential theoretical explanation, we developed a new measure of individuals' average space within their residences called household population density.
Findings: More space per person within the residence and an increased number of days people were on lockdown resulted in significantly fewer deaths and injuries when comparing the times during and before lockdowns. When comparing the period after lockdown with the period during lockdown, more space per person in the household, fewer homeless people, and a greater number of days on lockdown resulted in significantly fewer deaths and injuries.
Conclusion: Changing to a household population density measure positively impacted the analyses.

Authors

• Jay Corzine, University of Central Florida

• Lin K. Huff-Corzine, University of Central Florida

• Kayla Toohy, University of Tampa