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Concealed Carry in the Show‐Me State: Do Voters in Favor of Right‐to‐Carry Legislation End Up Packing Heat? *
Author(s) -
Ghent Linda S.,
Grant Alan P.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
social science quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1540-6237
pISSN - 0038-4941
DOI - 10.1111/ssqu.12131
Subject(s) - carry (investment) , voting , referendum , state (computer science) , population , economics , law , political science , sociology , demography , computer science , finance , politics , algorithm
Objectives The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between a public vote on the right to carry (RTC) concealed weapons in the state of Missouri and the subsequent demand for concealed‐carry permits. Methods Weighted logit analysis of the referendum vote and the proportion of the population holding concealed‐carry permits was performed to investigate the factors that influence them. Results We find vast differences in the factors that significantly influenced the vote and the decision to hold a concealed‐carry permit. Crime rates are positively related to the vote, but have no influence on the decision to carry. Conclusions Our analysis shows that most voters do not appear to vote for the RTC based on a latent desire to carry concealed weapons. Instead, our evidence suggests that voters in favor of concealed carry may be voting for moral or philosophical reasons, and that they may be hoping to free ride on the concealed carry of others.