NCJ Number
72316
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 71 Issue: 3 Dated: (Fall 1980) Pages: 300-316
Date Published
1980
Length
17 pages
Annotation
In order to explore the pattern of stability and gain insight into the factors that help to form opinions on gun control, this study analyzed the structure of attitudes on gun control between 1959 and 1977.
Abstract
Factors analyzed were the sociodemographic associates of gun control, the relationship between attitudes toward crime and punishment and gun control, and the interrelationship between various gun control attitudes. Sixteen surveys conducted between 1959 and 1977 were examined. Results showed that individuals who own guns tend to be male, white, Protestant, old stock, rural, and non-northeastern. People in groups having high gun ownership levels and socially sanctioning the use of guns are influenced by this culture and are more opposed to gun control. There was no relation between age and gun control. Opposition to gun control is higher in rural communities within rural regions. Women are 16.8 percent less opposed to gun control than men. Gun control attitudes were not found to relate to cohort or education. Those variables which do relate to gun control attitudes have done so constantly and have had little or no marginal shifts over the last 2 decades. As a result, they have not promoted changes in gun control attitudes. The potentially strong impact on gun control attitudes resulting from major changes in the crime and punishment area have not materialized because gun control is not viewed as a punitive response to crime. If, however, attitudes toward gun control do become associated with developments in crime and punishment or with some emerging trend, then it is unlikely that these attitudes will remain stable. Until evidence of such change is found, however, support for the police permit is expected to remain near the 75 percent level. Tables, figures, and footnotes are included. An appendix presents the survey questions.