USF-LVHN SELECT
Transition to Permitless Open Carry and Association with Firearm-Related Suicide.
Publication/Presentation Date
4-1-2024
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Firearm-related death rates continue to rise in the US. As some states enact more permissive firearm laws, we sought to assess the relationship between a change to permitless open carry (PLOC) and subsequent firearm-related death rates, a currently understudied topic.
STUDY DESIGN: Using state-level data from 2013 to 2021, we performed a linear panel analysis using a state fixed-effects model. We examined total firearm-related death, suicide, and homicide rates separately. If a significant association between OC law and death rate was found, we then performed a difference-in-difference (DID) analysis to assess for a causal relationship between changing to PLOC and increased death rate. For significant DID results, we performed confirmatory DID separating firearm and nonfirearm death rates.
RESULTS: Nineteen states maintained a no OC or permit-required law, whereas 5 changed to permitless and 26 had a PLOC before 2013. The fixed-effects model indicated more permissive OC law that was associated with increased total firearm-related deaths and suicides. In DID, changing law to PLOC had a significant average treatment effect on the treated of 1.57 (95% CI 1.05 to 2.09) for total suicide rate but no significant average treatment effect for the total firearm-related death rate. Confirmatory DID results found a significant average treatment effect on the treated of 1.18 (95% CI 0.90 to 1.46) for firearm suicide rate.
CONCLUSIONS: OC law is associated with total firearm-related death and suicide rates. Based on our DID results, changing to PLOC is indeed strongly associated with increased suicides by firearm.
Volume
238
Issue
4
First Page
681
Last Page
688
ISSN
1879-1190
Published In/Presented At
Grimsley, E. A., Torikashvili, J. V., Janjua, H. M., Read, M. D., Kuo, P. C., & Diaz, J. J. (2024). Transition to Permitless Open Carry and Association with Firearm-Related Suicide. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 238(4), 681–688. https://doi.org/10.1097/XCS.0000000000000959
Disciplines
Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
38465793
Department(s)
USF-LVHN SELECT Program, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Students
Document Type
Article