Do gun buybacks save lives? Evidence from panel data

Arbeitspapier

In 1997, Australia implemented a gun buyback program that reduced the stock of firearms by around one-fifth. Using differences across states in the number of firearms withdrawn, we test whether the reduction in firearms availability affected firearm homicide and suicide rates. We find that the buyback led to a drop in the firearm suicide rates of almost 80 per cent, with no statistically significant effect on non-firearm death rates. The estimated effect on firearm homicides is of similar magnitude, but is less precise. The results are robust to a variety of specification checks, and to instrumenting the state-level buyback rate.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 4995

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Health Behavior ; Criminal Law
• Subject: Firearms ownership ; homicide ; suicide ; panel data ; Waffe ; Öffentliche Beschaffung ; Waffenrecht ; Wirkungsanalyse ; Selbstmord ; Kriminalität ; Australien

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Leigh, Andrew ; Neill, Christine
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2010

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/36943
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET