Permitless Carry Laws and FIREARM-RELATED Injuries at a Level I Trauma Center.

This article examines the impact of Alabama's permitless carry law (PCL), which allows eligible individuals to carry concealed firearms without a permit, on firearm-related injury (FRI) rates at a Level I trauma center from 2019 to 2023. The study found a statistically significant decrease in FRI rates in 2023, the first year after PCL implementation, compared to the four preceding years. While these findings suggest that PCL did not increase firearm injuries at this institution, the authors note limitations including the single-center design, short post-law observation period, and potential confounding factors such as broader national trends and local socioeconomic influences. The article emphasizes the need for further research with larger, multisite datasets and longer follow-up to better understand the long-term effects of permitless carry laws on public health.