Right-to-carry Laws, Stand-your-ground Laws, and Justifiable Homicides

Abstract: Studies analyzing the relationship between gun ownership and crime in the United States have predominantly focused on teasing out any effects that allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons have on violent crime, particularly on murders. A much less developed strand of research has explored the expansion of stand-your-ground laws and their effect on defensive gun use. Our present research draws upon both areas to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the confluence between right-to-carry laws and the expansion of stand-your-ground laws and their effect on justifiable homicides.