Abstract

This paper seeks to determine why firearms related deaths vary across states. Three theories are presented stating that gun culture, stringency of state firearm legislation, and structural characteristics of states have an effect on the number of firearm related deaths per 100,000 individuals which occur in a state’s boundaries. Hypothesize 1A predicts that states which have a strong gun culture will experience more firearm related deaths, as the likelihood of dying by a firearm increases when firearms are more prevalent. Hypothesize 1C predicts that states with greater differences in structural characteristics, such as high rates of income inequality, high rates of uninsured individuals, and high rates of diagnosed mental illnesses will experience higher rates of firearm related deaths. In contrast, hypothesis 1B predicts that states with more stringent state firearm laws will experience lower rates of firearm related deaths as stringent firearm laws restrict the availability and accessibility of firearms. These hypotheses were tested using multivariate regression analyses, where evidence wasfound supporting all three hypothesis, and at least one measure of gun culture, stringency of state firearm legislation, and structural characteristics of states exerted a statistically significant effect on state firearm related deaths per 100,000 individuals.

How to Cite