No, it’s not that simple. When policy changes overlap with changes in gun violence, we merely have evidence of correlation, not causation. It may be the case that some other changes (e.g., increased funding, innovative programming, changes in policing strategies, and population changes) simultaneously occurred, and these could also play a role in driving increases or decreases in gun violence. Without scientific testing and statistical control for other variables, it is not accurate to claim that policy change alone was responsible for the changes in gun deaths. To compare the strength of states’ gun laws, track trends over time, and identify gaps in the gun laws in your state, check out Everytown’s Gun Law Navigator and Gun Law Rankings websites.