USING QUASI-EXPERIMENTS TO EVALUATE FIREARM LAWS - COMMENT ON BRITT-ET-AL REASSESSMENT OF THE DC GUN LAW

The strength of research designs is relative. Compared with true exper iments, quasi-experimental designs are weak. Compared with cross-secti onal designs, they are strong. One can further strengthen inferences f rom quasi-experiments by examining a broader pattern of data. We agree with Britt, Kleck, and Bordua when they recommend that researchers ex pand the range of inquiry. We disagree with them when they recommend t hat researchers restrict it. The District of Columbia study is largely consistent with the available evidence, but it does not prove that re strictive handgun licensing will always reduce firearm deaths.