The Impact of Concealed and Open Carry Legislation on Urban Violence, Arrests, and Police-Citizen Encounters

• In Event: NIJ Day: New Scientific Evidence for What Works in Combating Firearm Violence

Abstract

By employing a multi-method approach, this study examined the impact of laws allowing citizens to carry firearms without a permit on firearms violence (fatal and non-fatal) and overall reported violent crime in the highest risk urban areas within states that have recently passed constitutional carry legislation, and how do constitutional carry laws affect reports of unintentional injuries and illegal gun recoveries. The presentation will focus on findings on how the situational context and outcomes of police-citizen encounters change when urban law enforcement officials come into contact with unlicensed and armed citizens. Specifically, what is the impact of constitutional carry laws on (a) officer use of force and (b) arrest in police-citizen encounters, and what effect will any changes in police behavior related to constitutional carry legislation have on citizen complaints against officers? Finally, implications for law enforcement will be discussed as they relate to changes in urban police officers’ perceptions regarding citizen and officer risks/safety, and to police training and protocols that become necessary after passing constitutional carry legislation.

Author

• Robin Engel, University of Cincinnati