Ohio sees drop in gun crimes across major cities after permitless carry law, study shows
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Contrary to concerns from some local leaders, a new study shows a decrease in gun crimes across six of Ohio’s eight largest cities following the implementation of the state’s “constitutional carry” law.
The research, conducted by the Center for Justice Research (CJR) in partnership with Bowling Green State University, analyzed data from June 2021 to June 2023, covering a year before and after the law went into effect in June 2022.
The findings revealed:“This is not to downplay the very real problem of gun violence in our cities,” noted Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who commissioned the study. “But the key takeaway here is that we need to focus on criminals, not responsible gun owners.”
- Overall Decline: Across all eight cities, the rate of gun crimes decreased.
- Significant Drops: Parma experienced the most significant decline (22%), followed by Akron and Toledo (both 18%).
- Mixed Trends: Dayton and Cincinnati saw increases in gun crime rates (6% and 5%, respectively).
