NCJ Number
6946
Journal
Law and Society Review Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (MAY 1972) Pages: 595-613
Date Published
1972
Length
19 pages
Annotation
GUN USE RESEARCH IS REVIEWED, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GUN CONTROL AND CRIMINAL HOMICIDE IS EXAMINED. TWO MODELS DETAILING THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES WITHIN WHICH HOMICIDE OCCURS ARE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE RESEARCH, PARTICULARLY THAT OF THE TASK FORCE ON FIREARMS, UNDERSCORES THREE LIKELY EXPLANATIONS OF THE SYSTEMATIC RELATION OBSERVED BETWEEN FIREARMS AND VIOLENCE: (1) THAT FIREARMS ARE MORE DEADLY THAN OTHER WEAPONS IN AN ATTACK SITUATION, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE ATTACKER HAD A SINGLE-MINDED INTENTION TO KILL; (2) THAT FIREARMS VIOLENCE SEEMS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FIREARMS; AND (3) THAT IN CERTAIN SOCIAL CONTEXTS, PARTICULARLY AMONG BLACK MALES, THE GUN AND KNIFE ARE INSTRUMENTAL AND SYMBOLICALLY INTEGRAL ASPECTS OF A SYNDROME OF VIOLENCE. FURTHER THEORETICAL EVIDENCE EMPHASIZES THREE FACTORS IN THE LINKAGE BETWEEN GUN CONTROL LAWS AND VIOLENT CRIME AND CRIMINAL HOMICIDE. THE MOST PROBABLE LINKAGE BETWEEN GUN CONTROL AND CRIMINAL HOMICIDE LIES IN REDUCING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF FIREARMS. EQUALLY IMPORTANT ARE THE EFFECTS OF GUN CONTROL LAWS IN REDUCING GUN OWNERSHIP OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME. ANOTHER DIRECT LINKAGE LIES IN THE FUNCTIONAL NATURE OF LAW -- GUN CONTROL LAWS GREATLY INCREASE THE COST OF VIOLATING THE SOCIAL NORMS PROSCRIBING INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE. ALTHOUGH THE TWO ANALYTICAL MODELS DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION OVER TIME, THEY DO AFFIRM THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN THE RELATIONSHIP OF FIREARMS ACCESSIBILITY AND GUN CONTROL LAWS AND THE NONWHITE AND WHITE CRIMINAL HOMICIDE RATES. AS EXPECTED, THERE IS NO DIRECT LINKAGE BETWEEN GUN CONTROL LAWS AND THE INCIDENCE OF NONWHITE CRIMINAL HOMICIDE, ALTHOUGH IN BOTH MODELS THERE IS AN INDIRECT LINKAGE BETWEEN GUN CONTROL LAWS AND THE INCIDENCE OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE BY REDUCING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF FIREARMS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION DOES APPEAR TO BE AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE, PARTICULARLY IN THE LARGER WHITE CULTURE. FOOTNOTES, REFERENCES, AND TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)