Channel 19 in Cleveland, Ohio, posted an article on January 3rd about the impact of the state’s new “constitutional carry” law.
The article reports:
Contrary to concerns from some local leaders, a new study shows a decrease in gun crimes across six of Ohio’s eight largest cities following the implementation of the state’s “constitutional carry” law.
The research, conducted by the Center for Justice Research (CJR) in partnership with Bowling Green State University, analyzed data from June 2021 to June 2023, covering a year before and after the law went into effect in June 2022.
It focused on crimes involving firearms, verified gunshot-detection alerts, and the number of officers struck by gunfire.
The article notes:
The findings revealed:
- Overall Decline: Across all eight cities, the rate of gun crimes decreased.
- Significant Drops: Parma experienced the most significant decline (22%), followed by Akron and Toledo (both 18%).
- Mixed Trends: Dayton and Cincinnati saw increases in gun crime rates (6% and 5%, respectively).
“This is not to downplay the very real problem of gun violence in our cities,” noted Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who commissioned the study. “But the key takeaway here is that we need to focus on criminals, not responsible gun owners.”
He acknowledged concerns expressed by several mayors before the study, stating, “I genuinely did not know what the study would find. I thought it would be useful either way.”
CJR Director Melissa Burek, a Doctor of Criminal Justice, led the research.
She emphasized the importance of examining the impact of policy changes: “This study helps us understand the complex picture of crime rates and policy implementation. It’s valuable data for informing future decisions.”
The findings add to the ongoing debate surrounding permitless carry laws, challenging concerns that such laws would lead to a surge in gun violence.
While proponents highlight responsible gun ownership and increased self-defense, critics argue it removes valuable safety measures like background checks and training.
Responsible gun-ownership discourages crime. Criminals are less likely to attack a person if he/she might be armed. Citizens have the right to defend themselves from criminals. Our Founding Fathers passed the Second Amendment to make sure that citizens had the power to defend themselves from a tyrannical government.