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Gun Taxes and Homicide Rates

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  • Joseph G. Eisenhauer

    (University of Detroit Mercy)

Abstract

Rising gun violence throughout the United States has led to calls for increased taxes on firearms, but no research has yet quantified the potential effects of taxation on firearm-related deaths. The present paper exploits a recent simulation of gun purchasing and homicide rates in a large metropolitan area, along with recent empirical estimates of the price elasticities of supply and demand for firearms, to estimate the impact that gun taxes could have on homicide rates. Additionally, we consider how the resulting tax revenue could be used as a complementary policy instrument to further reduce gun-related homicides.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph G. Eisenhauer, 2025. "Gun Taxes and Homicide Rates," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 51(2), pages 225-245, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:easeco:v:51:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1057_s41302-025-00297-6
    DOI: 10.1057/s41302-025-00297-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christoph Koenig & David Schindler, 2023. "Impulse Purchases, Gun Ownership, and Homicides: Evidence from a Firearm Demand Shock," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 105(5), pages 1271-1286, September.
    2. Mark Duggan, 2001. "More Guns, More Crime," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 109(5), pages 1086-1114, October.
    3. Siegel, M. & Ross, C.S. & King III, C., 2013. "The relationship between gun ownership and firearm homicide rates in the United States, 1981-2010," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(11), pages 2098-2105.
    4. Mohler, George, 2014. "Marked point process hotspot maps for homicide and gun crime prediction in Chicago," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 491-497.
    5. Christine Neill, 2010. "Do Gun Buybacks Save Lives? Evidence from Panel Data," American Law and Economics Review, American Law and Economics Association, vol. 12(2), pages 462-508.
    6. Brian Knight, 2013. "State Gun Policy and Cross-State Externalities: Evidence from Crime Gun Tracing," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 5(4), pages 200-229, November.
    7. Joseph G. Eisenhauer, 2025. "An economic approach to gun control: analysis of the Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(1), pages 23-27, January.
    8. Bice, Douglas C & Hemley, David D, 2002. "The Market for New Handguns: An Empirical Investigation," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 45(1), pages 251-265, April.
    9. Eisenhauer Joseph G., 2024. "Taxing Firearms Like Alcohol or Tobacco," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 24(3), pages 835-845.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Taxation; Firearms; Homicides; Price floor; Gun buyback;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D04 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Policy: Formulation; Implementation; Evaluation
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • L64 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Other Machinery; Business Equipment; Armaments

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