Guns and Property Preference: Testing the Impact of Gilles and Cynicism Conjectures Using Survey Data

Abstract

In most states, a guest may carry a firearm onto a landowner's property unless the landowner expressly objects.' We have argued that it would be better to flip this "right-to-carry default" to require any gun carrier to seek the explicit permission of the landowner before bringing a firearm onto their property ("no-carry default").2 In response, Stephen Gilles suggested that there might be a stronger case to be made for flipping the defaults in shall issue or constitutional carry jurisdictions than in may issue jurisdictions, where it is more difficult to obtain a concealed carry permit. In constitutional carry jurisdictions, any gun owner of age who does not fall into federal or state prohibited classes may openly or concealed carry a weapon. There are currently fifteen constitutional carry jurisdictions. Shall issue jurisdictions require that licensing officials accept any application for a concealed carry permit so long as the individual does not meet any of the disqualifying criteria. This means that anyone who wishes to concealed carry will be able to attain a permit so long as they are not precluded by federal and state regulation. There are currently thirteen no discretion shall issue jurisdictions. In may issue jurisdictions, the licensing agent may choose to reject a permit application for failure to show good cause to require a concealed carry permit.