Have Gun Control Laws Changed Since Newtown?

Abstract

Using data issued by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the authors examine the strength of statewide firearm laws across the United States one year before and after the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.  Regressions fitted to the cross-section of all states in 2011 and 2013 show how Brady Scores differ across census divisions after allowing for statewide differences in firearm death rates and political party control of the state legislature.  In the aftermath of Newtown, gun laws have either not changed or in census divisions where they have significantly changed, they have become less restrictive.