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State-Level Firearm Laws and Firearm Homicide in US Cities: Heterogenous Associations by City Characteristics
Byoungjun Kim1,2, Lorna E Thorpe3, Ben R Spoer3
1Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Byoungjun.Kim@nyulangone.org.
Summary
State firearm laws for gun type/trafficking, possession, and dealers are linked to fewer firearm homicides in major US cities. These laws show varying effectiveness based on city characteristics like unemployment and income inequality.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Criminology
- Sociology
Background:
- State firearm laws are associated with reduced firearm homicide rates.
- Limited research exists on how specific firearm law categories affect cities within the same state.
- Investigating city-level variations in law impact is crucial for targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between five categories of state firearm laws and city-level firearm homicide rates.
- To test for differential associations of these laws based on city characteristics.
- To provide evidence for tailored firearm violence prevention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized city-level panel data from 78 major US cities (2010-2020) from the National Vital Statistics System.
- Modeled firearm homicide rates using state firearm law scores, controlling for city, state, and year fixed effects, and time-varying confounders.
- Assessed effect modification by city characteristics including poverty, unemployment, vacant housing, and income inequality.
Main Results:
- Increased state gun type/trafficking, possession, and dealer law scores were associated with lower firearm homicide rates (25%, 19%, and 17% reductions, respectively).
- Buyer and domestic violence law categories showed no significant association with firearm homicide rates.
- Protective effects were diminished in cities with high unemployment/housing vacancy but enhanced in high income inequality areas.
Conclusions:
- State laws regulating gun type/trafficking, possession, and dealers are associated with reduced firearm homicides in large US cities.
- The impact of firearm laws can vary significantly based on a city's socioeconomic characteristics.
- Complementary city-level socioeconomic policies may enhance the effectiveness of state firearm laws.
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