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Impulse Purchases, Gun Ownership, and Homicides: Evidence from a Firearm Demand Shock

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  • Christoph Koenig
  • David Schindler

Abstract

Do firearm purchase delay laws reduce aggregate homicide levels? Using variation from a 6-month countrywide gun demand shock in 2012/2013, we show that U.S. states with legislation preventing immediate handgun purchases experienced smaller increases in handgun sales. Our findings indicate that this is likely driven by comparatively lower purchases among impulsive consumers. We then demonstrate that states with purchase delays also witnessed comparatively 2% lower homicide rates during the same period. Further evidence shows that lower handgun sales coincided primarily with fewer impulsive assaults and points towards reduced acts of domestic violence.

Suggested Citation

  • Christoph Koenig & David Schindler, 2019. "Impulse Purchases, Gun Ownership, and Homicides: Evidence from a Firearm Demand Shock," CESifo Working Paper Series 7833, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_7833
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Petros G. Sekeris & Tanguy van Ypersele, 2020. "An Economic Analysis of Violent Crime," Revue d'économie politique, Dalloz, vol. 130(6), pages 975-999.
    3. Metzl, Jonathan M. & McKay, Tara & Piemonte, Jennifer L., 2021. "Structural competency and the future of firearm research," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    guns; homicides; gun control;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • H76 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Other Expenditure Categories
    • H10 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - General
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law

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