NCJ Number
158724
Date Published
1993
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This national survey of 1,250 adults examined the extent to which the American public perceives guns to pose a significant health hazard to children.
Abstract
Majorities of respondents believe that there has been an increase in recent years in seven major problems facing children, including teenage homicide committed with guns, teenage suicide, child sexual assault, fatalities or injuries caused by drunk driving, and physical child abuse. The respondents noted that many supports previously available for children in American society no longer exist. A major factor pinpointed in the deterioration of the situation facing children is the availability of guns. Significant minorities of these adult respondents had been personally affected or had known someone who had been affected by the impact of guns on children. Eight of nine proposals included in the survey to limit the availability, ownership, and use of handguns were supported by this sample. 2 tables