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As the U.S. grapples with escalating gun violence, research is challenging the narrative that more guns in public spaces equate to greater safety.��

Stephen Billings, associate professor of finance in the��Leeds School of Business, was recently honored with the inaugural Greenwald Family Award for Firearm Violence and Injury Prevention Research Excellence for his work on how concealed carry permits might be linked to higher rates of firearm-related crimes.

Stephen Billings

�����������Բ���’��, published in June 2023 in the Journal of Public Economics, analyzed the impact of concealed carry on neighborhood crime and individual victimization in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The study found that the presence of more legally carried firearms correlates with a 5.3% rise in local crime.��

"When people get a concealed carry permit, they don't suddenly become less likely to be victims of violent crime. In fact, they are just as likely to be victimized, but when it happens, the situation is often more serious,” he said.

This revelation is a pivotal part of Billings’ study, which dives deep into the complexities of gun ownership, including its effect on local crime. He noted that while concealed carry permit holders are typically law-abiding citizens, a surprising trend emerges: They are significantly more likely to have their firearms stolen.��

"If you buy a gun and carry it legally, you're not necessarily a higher target for crime, but once it’s stolen, it can end up in the hands of someone who is not authorized to possess it. And that gun could then be used to commit crimes," he said. Stolen firearms often fuel neighborhood crime, he added, leading to an increase in gun violence.

"I wanted to look at what happens when people legally acquire guns," Billings said. "Do they become safer, or does it inadvertently contribute to more crime when their firearms are stolen or misused?"��

His data, which included detailed records on gun ownership, theft and victimization, revealed people with concealed carry permits often had firearms stolen from their vehicles. "If you look at the data, it’s clear that more guns in a neighborhood mean more opportunities for theft, and more stolen guns mean more chances for them to be used in violent crimes," he said.

Billings, whose work often examines the connections among housing, schools, neighborhoods and crime, was partly inspired to study gun violence due to personal experience. After residing near the location of the March 22, 2021, mass shooting at King Soopers in 91������, Billings felt compelled to explore the implications of rising gun ownership.��

"I felt helpless after the shooting, and I wanted to contribute something meaningful to the conversation. I realized I had access to important data, and that it could shed light on how legal gun ownership affects safety," he said.

His study adds complexity to the ongoing debate surrounding gun rights and regulation. "My paper isn’t arguing for or against gun ownership. It’s about understanding the real-world consequences of legal gun ownership, and how those guns end up in the hands of people who shouldn't have them," Billings said.

He emphasized the importance of secure firearm storage laws to prevent thefts. "We need policies that ensure responsible storage of firearms. Whether you're on the left or the right, no one wants to see their gun used in a crime or have it stolen,” he said.

Looking forward, Billings aims to continue researching the broader social and psychological implications of gun ownership.

The Greenwald Award honors a research paper published within the past two years that enhances knowledge of firearm violence and prevention while offering clear policy recommendations. Billings was chosen by an independent panel of judges in December 2024 and received a $5,000 prize.