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The effect of mass shootings on the demand for guns

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  • Jensen Brock
  • P. Wesley Routon

Abstract

Unfortunately, mass shootings are common occurrences in the United States. When one occurs, it makes national news, becomes fodder for the ongoing national gun debate among politicians and activists, and may impact the demand for guns through fears of violence and future gun regulation. We attempt to estimate the overall effect of mass shootings on gun demand in the United States and how this effect varies across the nation, time, and other factors. Mass shootings are found to increase the national demand for firearms, with the effect lasting up to 2 months. Stronger effects are found in gun‐heavy and/or Republican states but not necessarily near where the shooting occurred. Demand spikes are also larger if the shooter was White, female, or if the event took place in a rural setting, but seemingly less related to the specific venue, the shooter's age or known mental health, the number of fatalities, or weapon characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Jensen Brock & P. Wesley Routon, 2020. "The effect of mass shootings on the demand for guns," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 87(1), pages 50-69, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:87:y:2020:i:1:p:50-69
    DOI: 10.1002/soej.12454
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christoph Koenig & David Schindler, 2023. "Impulse Purchases, Gun Ownership, and Homicides: Evidence from a Firearm Demand Shock," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 105(5), pages 1271-1286, September.
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    4. Brodeur, Abel & Yousaf, Hasin, 2019. "The Economics of Mass Shootings," IZA Discussion Papers 12728, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Meindl, J.N. & Ivy, J.W., 2017. "Mass shootings: The role of the media in promoting generalized imitation," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(3), pages 368-370.
    6. repec:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303611_2 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Roger Koenker & Kevin F. Hallock, 2001. "Quantile Regression," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 15(4), pages 143-156, Fall.
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    Cited by:

    1. Pak, Tae-Young, 2022. "The effects of mass shootings on gun sales: Motivations, mechanisms, policies and regulations," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 44(6), pages 1148-1164.
    2. Gerdes, Madison B, 2023. "Assessing the relationship between gun ownership and fear of mass shootings," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).

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