Family, Friends, and Firearms: The Effects of Socialization on Felons' Weapons Behavior (From Armed and Considered Dangerous: A Survey of Felons and Their Firearms, P 111-123, 1986, James D Wright and Peter H Rossi, -- See NCJ-118888)

• NCJ Number: 118892
• Author(s): J D Wright; P H Rossi
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Aldine de Gruyter Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

A self-administered questionnaire completed by a sample of 1,982 inmates imprisoned in 10 States was used to determine firearms ownership and carrying practices among four groups of potential inmate "socialization agents:" fathers, siblings, "the people you hung around with before you came to this prison," and "the men in your family."

Abstract

Approximately 70 percent of the fathers of the inmates are reported to have owned a rifle or shotgun; more than one-half owned a handgun; a cross-tabulation of the two items shows that 75 percent had fathers who owned some sort of firearm. Among handgun-owning fathers, about three-fifths carried handguns outside the home. About one-half of the fathers showed their sons how to shoot guns, and about the same proportion gave their sons firearms as gifts. Judging from all the data, however, the critical variable affecting criminal uses and abuses of firearms is the prevalence of guns among the felon's peer group, i.e., the number of his friends and associates who owned or carried firearms. The "friends" variable correlated strongly and consistently with the criminal use of guns. 6 tables.