Stand Your Ground Laws, Homicides, and Injuries

2016/08/17 by Chandler McClellan, Erdal Tekin · 81 citations
Social Sciences · #Crime Patterns and Interventions #Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis #Gun Ownership and Violence Research #Law #Political science #Sociology

paper · doi:10.3368/jhr.52.3.0613-5723r2

published in The Journal of Human Resources 52(3), 621-653 (University of Wisconsin Press)

openalex publication_date 2016/08/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of Stand Your Ground laws on firearm homicides and injuries. Using state-level monthly data and a difference-in-difference identification strategy, we find that these laws result in an increase in homicides. According to our estimates, at least 30 individuals are killed each month as a result of Stand Your Ground laws. Furthermore, we document evidence to suggest that these laws also are associated with an increase in hospitalizations related to firearm-inflicted injuries. Taken together, the findings in this paper raise serious doubts against the argument that Stand Your Ground laws make the public safer.

Citations

• WEAPON EFFECTS AND INDIVIDUAL INTENT TO DO HARM: INFLUENCES ON THE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE*
• A Practitioner’s Guide to Cluster-Robust Inference

Cited by

• Smoking gun? Linking gun ownership to crime victimization
• The effects of school shootings on risky behavior, health, and human capital
• Analysis of "Stand Your Ground" Self-defense Laws and Statewide Rates of Homicides and Firearm Homicides. [europepmc]
• Synthetic Control Methodology for Examining Firearm Policy. [europepmc]
• Racial and ethnic differences in the effects of state firearm laws: a systematic review subgroup analysis. [europepmc]
• The effect of stand-your-ground laws on student achievement. [europepmc]

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