Lawyers, Guns & Burglars

32 Pages Posted: 16 Apr 2015

See all articles by David B. Kopel

David B. Kopel

University of Wyoming College of Law - Firearms Research Center; Independence Institute; Cato Institute; Denver University - Sturm College of Law

Date Written: April 14, 2001

Abstract

This Article looks in detail at a very large positive externality which is overlooked in by firearms prohibitionists: the major role that widespread gun ownership plays in reducing the rate of home invasion burglaries (a.k.a. "hot burglaries"). Because potential burglars cannot tell which homes possess guns, most burglars choose to avoid entry into any occupied home, for fear of getting shot. The entry pattern of American burglars contrasts sharply with that of burglars in other nations; in Canada and Great Britain, burglars prefer to find the residents at home, since alarms will be turned off, and wallets and purses will be available for the taking.

Consequently, American homes which do not have guns enjoy significant "free rider" benefits. Gun owners bear financial and other burdens of gun ownership; but gun-free and gun-owning homes enjoy exactly the same general burglary deterrence effects from widespread American gun ownership.

Part II of this Article looks at the differences between the behavior of American burglars and their cousins in other nations. Part III specifies the risks that American burglars face from various deterrents, including armed victims. Part IV details how burglars choose targets, while empirical data about burglary deterrence are analyzed in Part V. Part VI looks at what happens during confrontations between burglars and victims. Part VII compares and contrasts defensive firearms ownership with other anti-burglary strategies, such as guard dogs. Policy implications and network effects of firearms ownership are explored in Part VIII.

Keywords: burglary, home invasion, gun ownership

JEL Classification: K13, K14, K42

Suggested Citation

Kopel, David B., Lawyers, Guns & Burglars (April 14, 2001). Arizona Law Review, Vol. 43, p. 345, 2001, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2594535

David B. Kopel (Contact Author)

University of Wyoming College of Law - Firearms Research Center ( email )

United States

HOME PAGE: http://firearmsresearchcenter.org/

Independence Institute ( email )

727 East 16th Ave
Denver, CO 80203
United States
303-279-6536 (Phone)
303-279-4176 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.davekopel.org

Cato Institute ( email )

1000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001-5403
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.cato.org/people/david-kopel

Denver University - Sturm College of Law ( email )

2255 E. Evans Avenue
Denver, CO 80208
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.davekopel.org

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
163
Abstract Views
1,593
Rank
329,348
PlumX Metrics