Gun Policy in America
A RAND Research Initiative
Gun Policy in America
Facts to support fair and effective gun policies.
The strongest evidence today shows that:
- Child-access prevention laws may decrease injuries and deaths among youths
- Permissive concealed-carry laws may increase homicides and violent crime
- Stand-your-ground laws may increase homicides
- Minimum age requirements may decrease firearm suicides among young people
Latest update
New Releases from the Gun Policy in America Initiative
Firearm violence disproportionately occurs in Black communities and is linked to negative mental, physical, educational, and economic outcomes. A new review of articles from the past 10 years aims to guide policymakers and researchers in developing effective public safety strategies.
Studying the combined effects of multiple gun policies can be difficult because of data and measurement challenges. This essay examines the assumptions and challenges of contemporary approaches.
The fifth edition of the Science of Gun Policy report updates RAND’s synthesis of evidence for the effects of gun policies. The report synthesizes available scientific evidence for the effects of various firearm policies on eight outcomes.
Rates of homicide, death by suicide, and firearm violence vary dramatically among U.S. states. A new interactive tool allows users to investigate how these differences correspond with state characteristics.
As the Gun Policy in America initiative comes to an end, we look back at its accomplishments over the past decade.
Establishing a Shared Set of Facts for America
RAND's Gun Policy in America initiative aims to establish a shared set of facts about the effects of gun laws to improve public discussions and support the development of fair and effective gun policies.
We have created dozens of resources to help build a foundation of shared facts about gun laws in the United States. Get started with a few highlights:
How Gun Policies Affect Outcomes: What the Evidence Shows
We reviewed thousands of studies to find all available evidence for how 18 different gun policies affect outcomes such as violent crime and mass shootings. Below we show which policies may make a difference, according to methodologically robust research. For example, evidence shows that waiting periods may decrease (blue lines) suicide rates and that concealed-carry laws may increase (orange lines) violent crime. The thicker the line, the stronger the evidence.
Click on a policy, outcome, or connecting line to learn more.
Gun Policies That May Increase Outcomes
Gun Policies That May Decrease Outcomes
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Child-access prevention laws:
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Waiting periods:
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Background checks:
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Minimum age requirements:
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Prohibitions associated with domestic violence:
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Surrender of firearms by prohibited possessors:
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Extreme-risk protection orders:
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Bans on the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines:
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Licensing and permitting requirements:
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Prohibitions associated with mental illness:
