Gun-rights activists like to believe that firearm ownership deters crime. State Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, added his voice to the chorus Saturday at a “concealed carry seminar” he hosted at Pittsburgh Technical College with state Sen. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Jefferson Hills. While such comments are politically popular, the reality is far more complex. Sadly, emotions, not facts, shape the nation’s debate over gun policy.
Mr. Mustio’s website said the free seminar would provide “valuable information for both prospective and experienced firearm owners to expand your knowledge of existing gun laws and get a better understanding about freely and responsibly exercising your right to keep and bear arms.” The speakers included Allegheny County sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Foster, who said his office is on pace to issue 40 percent more concealed-carry permits this year than in 2015. Mr. Mustio got cheers when he told the crowd that annual gun sales in the state have been increasing while the rate of violent crime has fallen. Asked later whether he saw a direct link between increasing gun sales and falling crime rates, Mr. Mustio said he did. But he provided no data to support the assertion.
The state police annually provide crime statistics online, but those reports do not analyze the factors influencing crime trends. Many academic studies have rejected a link between gun ownership and lower crime rates. Even if a link could be definitively established, it would be no more than one in a series of factors driving the change.
Earlier this month, Pittsburgh police issued a report stating that violent crime in the city fell 7 percent from 2014 to 2015. While the bureau did not link the decrease to any particular factors, it outlined numerous ways in which officers are trying to do their jobs more effectively. In 2015, for example, the bureau abandoned the 10 park-and-walk beats that had existed for years, replacing them with 10 park-and-walk assignments that change each week based on crime patterns. That kind of smart policing is likely to have a larger impact on crime reduction than higher rates of gun ownership. It’s certainly worth talking about.
First Published: August 23, 2016, 4:00 a.m.
