Friday, October 28, 2011

Gun Flow Between States

(click to make bigger)


Miller-McCune.com reports on the findings of Brown University economist Brian Knight.

You may recognize this phenomenon if you’ve ever driven across the border from a state that doesn’t allow the sale of fireworks into one that does. Knight has also done research into state lotteries, where eye-popping jackpots in one state have been shown to cut into ticket sales in neighboring areas.

Of course, the stakes for gun sales are higher than they are for Roman candles or lotto tickets, but so too is the demand for states to be able to locally determine their own gun laws. Knight says his research suggests there would be significant benefits from establishing more uniform federal gun policy.
We didn't really need Ivy League Economists or smart journalists like Emily Badger who writes for Miller-McCune to tell us the obvious. But, Their affirmation is appreciated.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

13 comments:

  1. "Knight says his research suggests there would be significant benefits from establishing more uniform federal gun policy."

    HR822 is a good start then.

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  2. Actually, the amusing "contradiction" to this chart is gun flow between California and Mexico. It's not really a contradiction since Mexico has stricter gun laws than California.

    I'm not sure HR822 is a good idea though, FWM. We can get into another problem with federalising gun laws, which states have more power in Congress.

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  3. "We can get into another problem with federalising gun laws, which states have more power in Congress."

    I agree and if HR822 went any farther than just license reciprocity, I would be against it.

    There are some that claim that it isn't enough and that we have to do something about the patchwork of differences from one state to the next such as those that make a felony out of possessing boxes with springs in them.

    While I feel that such laws are retarded, I would not support a federal law that attempts to control concealed carry beyond forcing the recognition of licenses.

    I don't think HR822 will pass the Senate but if it does, and if I travel to New York, I will leave my 12 round magazines at home and carry 10 rounds. As stupid as that law is, in New York it is still the law and I will obey it even if I do not respect it.

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  4. Why on earth would you want to go to NYC anyway? The place is expensive, crowded, and overrated.

    OK, there are a couple of good museums, but the place is insane.

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  5. "Why on earth would you want to go to NYC anyway? The place is expensive, crowded, and overrated."

    Why to join my brothers and sisters in our ensuing battle of class struggle on Wall Street of course. ;)

    I actually avoid NYC like the plague. I used to travel to Long Island some on business but that won't be happening anymore.

    Any New York excursions would probably be because I was going to Vermont or New Hampshire.

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  6. http://www.atf.gov/statistics/trace-data/2010-trace-data.html

    NJ (with it's strict gun laws) 2010
    # of traced guns total: 1980
    # of guns from out of state: 1575
    79.6% crossed state lines

    CA (with it's "strict" gun laws) 2010
    # of traced guns total: 16047
    # of guns from out of state: 4437
    27.0% crossed state lines

    AZ (with it's "non-existent" gun laws) 2010
    # of traced guns total: 5477
    # of guns from out of state: 1051
    19.2% crossed state lines


    amusing....

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  7. unintentionally amusing:

    Right, AZ doesn't need to import gunz as they allow people to own as many as they want, regardless the reason. AZ probably has about as many criminals per capita as the national average but a somewhat higher shooting death rate. Go figure.

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  8. FatWhiteMan:

    "While I feel that such laws are retarded, I would not support a federal law that attempts to control concealed carry beyond forcing the recognition of licenses."

    But, but, but, that's gun regulation!!!! Oh, wait, I get it. As long as it does something you guys want it to do, it's a GOOD law. Okey-dokey.

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  9. Who's side is that Amusing guy on anyway?

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  10. Who's side is that Amusing guy on anyway?

    79.6% crossed state lines:Originating FFL NJ

    27.0% crossed state lines:Originating FFL CA

    19.2% crossed state lines:Originating FFL AZ

    I thought that everyone jumped across the border to get their guns....in lax AZ

    Turns out that they are getting them from Gun Control states.....

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  11. "Oh, wait, I get it. As long as it does something you guys want it to do, it's a GOOD law. Okey-dokey."

    Well, I don't think I've made any secret of that but with this law it is not gun regulation. It is license regulation.

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  12. Amusing, maybe I'm missing your point, but it seems like you're saying that the stricter the gun control laws the more guns are imported from more lenient states.

    Isn't that what we often point out as a reason for more uniform laws?

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  13. I think amusing's stats are claiming that the stricter gun law states have more guns being shipped out of them than the low restriction states.

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