title: Firearm Ownership and Violent Crime in the U.S.: An Ecologic Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although some view the ownership of firearms as a deterrent to crime, the relationship between population-level firearm ownership rates and violent criminal perpetration is unclear. The purpose of this study is to test the association between state-level firearm ownership and violent crime.
  
  
  METHODS
  State-level rates of household firearm ownership and annual rates of criminal acts from 2001, 2002, and 2004 were analyzed in 2014. Firearm ownership rates were taken from a national survey and crime data were taken from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reports. Rates of criminal behavior were estimated as a function of household gun ownership using negative binomial regression models, controlling for several demographic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher levels of firearm ownership were associated with higher levels of firearm assault and firearm robbery. There was also a significant association between firearm ownership and firearm homicide, as well as overall homicide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings do not support the hypothesis that higher population firearm ownership rates reduce firearm-associated criminal perpetration. On the contrary, evidence shows that states with higher levels of firearm ownership have an increased risk for violent crimes perpetrated with a firearm. Public health stakeholders should consider the outcomes associated with private firearm ownership.
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: michael.monuteaux@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Monuteaux
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Lois K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hemenway
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Rebekah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mannix
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Eric W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Fleegler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010067:Ownership; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult