Very few studies have explored the relationship between the availability of certain types of firearms and gun density on both gun aggravated assaults and gun homicides. Nonetheless, research by Koper (2001) discovered that the availability of more lethal types of firearms, not gun density, was directly related to an increase in gun homicide rates for Dallas. However, this study did not take into account certain social and economic variables that may strengthen or weaken the determined relationship. The current study uses data previously analyzed by Koper (2001) and includes social and economic variables that have been linked to lethal violence while using gun aggravated assaults and gun homicides as the dependent variables. The results will help ascertain to what extent the impact of firearm availability on gun crimes is contingent on contextual factors.

Mass shootings are one of the most discussed issues in American society. While it is evident who the main victims are, the impact of such an event reaches far beyond the lives that were directly impacted. One of the main effects mass shootings have been found to have is a spike in gun sales (Wallace, 2015; Studert et. al., 2017 ; Turchan et. al., 2017). This finding has been found time and time again by academic and non-academic researchers, and it is one of the most commonly believed ideas regarding the effects of mass shootings (Aish & Keller, 2016). The current study builds on previous research to determine whether a Democratic Government has a moderating effect on the mass shootings - gun sales relationship. There are two main hypotheses. Hypothesis one is that mass shootings increase gun sales. Hypothesis two predicts that when Democrats are in power, the increase in gun sales following a mass shooting is higher than when Republicans are in power. This hypothesis comes from the idea that gun enthusiasts will not only fear attacks, but they will also fear changes in gun regulation when Democrats are in power (Adams & Daniel, 2017). To test this hypothesis, a Democratic Government variable was created, and it measured which party controls the Presidency, and holds majority at the House of Representatives, and the Senate. Using FBI background check information as a proxy for gun sales, OLS regressions determined hypothesis one did not have support, while hypothesis two was partially supported, meaning the interaction between a Democratic Government and mass shootings is relevant to gun sales. It is worth noting that this relationship went in the opposite direction than what was expected, since it was found that Democrats holding office actually lead to a decrease in gun sales following a mass shooting. An explanation for why this might be the case, and why the first hypothesis was not supported is presented. Study limitations and future research directions are also discussed.

The current study examines firearms’ impact on the relationship between illegal drug markets and homicide. At the county-level, Iowa and Virginia are analyzed using crime data from the National Incident Based Reporting System. More specifically, gun availability is tested as a mediator for county drug crime rates and homicide counts. Variable selection and prediction is based on routine activity and social disorganization theories. I argue that social disorganization allows the context for which criminal opportunity presents itself through routine activities. I posit gun availability mediates a positive relationship between illegal drug markets and homicide, with differences between urban and rural communities

L’effet de la disponibilité des AAF sur le taux d’homicide est un sujet qui n’a jamais su faire consensus au sein du corpus scientifique. En tenant compte des réalités canadiennes relatives à l’utilisation d’une arme à feu dans les homicides, la présente étude évaluera la relation entre la disponibilité des armes à feu et le taux d’homicide au Canada, par le biais de séries chronologiques simples et multiples. Les données utilisées dans le cadre de la recherche proviennent de l’Enquête sur l’homicide effectuée par Statistiques Canada, du programme de la déclaration uniforme de la criminalité (DUC), des catalogues Juristats et des catalogues produits par Statistiques Canada sur les causes de décès au pays. Globalement, des relations positives et significatives sont observées entre les deux phénomènes au temps t. Au temps t-1 et t-2, des relations négatives sont observées entre la disponibilité des armes à feu et le taux d’homicide, tandis que des relations positives sont constatées entre le taux d’homicides et la disponibilité des armes à feu. Les résultats confirment que le taux d’homicide et la disponibilité des armes à feu sont des phénomènes qui s’influencent mutuellement dans le temps. En raison du niveau d’agrégation des données, il n’est pas possible de départager l’influence respective des deux phénomènes. Les résultats soutiennent toutefois davantage les thèses de l’autoprotection et de l’autodéfense. Enfin, les résultats montrent l’importance de développer des indices de disponibilité propres aux deux types d’armes à feu impliqués dans les homicides au Canada. / The debate surrounding the effects of gun availability on homicide rates have continuously been going on between scholars for the last decades. Relying on the Canadian context regarding the use of a firearm in homicides, this study evaluates the relationship between gun availability and homicide rates in Canada using pooled-time series analyses. Data used in this study comes from Statistics Canada’s Homicide Survey, the Uniform Crime Report Survey (UCR), Juristat’s catalogues and from catalogues produced by Statistics Canada on the causes of death in the country. Globally, results show positive and significant relationships between the two phenomena over time. Analyses at time t-1 and t-2 allow us to, on one hand notice negative and significant relationships between homicide rates and gun availability. One the other hand,positive and significant relationships were found between gun availability and homicide rates. Analyses suggest that there is a reciprocal relationship between homicide ratesand gun availability in Canada for the period under study. Additional studies using different aggregation levels are needed to pinpoint the specific effects of gun availability and homicide rates on each other. However, the present results tend to give greater support the selfprotection and defensive gun use hypotheses. Results also underline the importance of developing distinct proxies to capture the relationships between the availability of specific firearms and particular homicide rates in Canada

L’effet de la disponibilité des AAF sur le taux d’homicide est un sujet qui n’a jamais su faire consensus au sein du corpus scientifique. En tenant compte des réalités canadiennes relatives à l’utilisation d’une arme à feu dans les homicides, la présente étude évaluera la relation entre la disponibilité des armes à feu et le taux d’homicide au Canada, par le biais de séries chronologiques simples et multiples. Les données utilisées dans le cadre de la recherche proviennent de l’Enquête sur l’homicide effectuée par Statistiques Canada, du programme de la déclaration uniforme de la criminalité (DUC), des catalogues Juristats et des catalogues produits par Statistiques Canada sur les causes de décès au pays. Globalement, des relations positives et significatives sont observées entre les deux phénomènes au temps t. Au temps t-1 et t-2, des relations négatives sont observées entre la disponibilité des armes à feu et le taux d’homicide, tandis que des relations positives sont constatées entre le taux d’homicides et la disponibilité des armes à feu. Les résultats confirment que le taux d’homicide et la disponibilité des armes à feu sont des phénomènes qui s’influencent mutuellement dans le temps. En raison du niveau d’agrégation des données, il n’est pas possible de départager l’influence respective des deux phénomènes. Les résultats soutiennent toutefois davantage les thèses de l’autoprotection et de l’autodéfense. Enfin, les résultats montrent l’importance de développer des indices de disponibilité propres aux deux types d’armes à feu impliqués dans les homicides au Canada. / The debate surrounding the effects of gun availability on homicide rates have continuously been going on between scholars for the last decades. Relying on the Canadian context regarding the use of a firearm in homicides, this study evaluates the relationship between gun availability and homicide rates in Canada using pooled-time series analyses. Data used in this study comes from Statistics Canada’s Homicide Survey, the Uniform Crime Report Survey (UCR), Juristat’s catalogues and from catalogues produced by Statistics Canada on the causes of death in the country. Globally, results show positive and significant relationships between the two phenomena over time. Analyses at time t-1 and t-2 allow us to, on one hand notice negative and significant relationships between homicide rates and gun availability. One the other hand,positive and significant relationships were found between gun availability and homicide rates. Analyses suggest that there is a reciprocal relationship between homicide ratesand gun availability in Canada for the period under study. Additional studies using different aggregation levels are needed to pinpoint the specific effects of gun availability and homicide rates on each other. However, the present results tend to give greater support the selfprotection and defensive gun use hypotheses. Results also underline the importance of developing distinct proxies to capture the relationships between the availability of specific firearms and particular homicide rates in Canada