Do Castle Doctrine Laws Impact Violent Crime?

35 Pages Posted: 15 Dec 2012

Date Written: December 14, 2012

Abstract

Cheng Cheng and Mark Hoekstra, both of the Texas A&M University Economics Department, recently published a paper entitled “Does Strengthening Self-Defense Law Deter Crime or Escalate Violence? Evidence from Castle Doctrine.” They concluded that Castle Doctrine enhancements to self-defense law had no deterrent effect on burglary, robbery and aggravated assault, and increased murder. However, there are a number of errors, assumptions, and miscalculations in their research that justify revisiting the question of whether or not Castle Doctrine laws have any impact on crime.

Keywords: gun control, Castle Doctrine, Stand Your Ground, self-defense, violent crime

Suggested Citation

Nemerov, Howard Ross and Nemerov, Howard Ross, Do Castle Doctrine Laws Impact Violent Crime? (December 14, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2189392 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2189392

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