Commons Sense: People don’t like risk. Criminals don’t like risk. Make crime riskier, and it’ll trend down. That’s what a new study in the wake of another state passing constitutional carry is showing.
Seven months after Ohio passed its constitutional carry law, a surprising trend has emerged: gun crime has decreased in six of the state’s eight largest cities. This development challenges the narrative often pushed by left-leaning media and politicians that more guns lead to more crime.
The report, sourced from the Ohio Attorney General’s office, indicates that the enactment of the constitutional carry law has not led to the surge in crime that many critics predicted. Attorney General Yost emphasized the importance of distinguishing between criminal misuse of firearms and the responsible exercise of Second Amendment rights by law-abiding citizens.
In contrast to the two cities that experienced a modest increase in crime (about 5%), the other major cities in Ohio saw reductions in gun crime, with some witnessing as much as an 18% decrease. This suggests that the presence of more legally carried firearms may have a deterrent effect on potential criminals, who must now consider that any potential victim could be armed.
The study effectively counters the claims made by several mayors from large cities who attributed a rise in crime to the change in state law. Attorney General Yost’s statement highlighted the aim of the study to provide factual insights, irrespective of the expected outcome.
The results from Ohio add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that constitutional carry laws, which allow law-abiding citizens to carry firearms without a permit, may contribute to reducing gun crime rather than exacerbating it. This reinforces the argument that responsible gun ownership and constitutional rights play a crucial role in ensuring public safety.
