NCJ Number
144016
Date Published
1993
Length
49 pages
Annotation
Students in the 6th through 12th grades in a random sample of public, private, and parochial schools in the United States were surveyed during April and May 1993 to determine their experiences, perceptions, and fears about gun ownership.
Abstract
The 2,508 students filled out anonymous questionnaires in their own classrooms, supervised by their teachers. Results revealed that 15 percent reported carrying a handgun on their person in the past 30 days. Four percent said that they had taken a handgun to school during the past year. Nine percent reported shooting at someone else, and 11 percent reported being shot at during the past year. Twenty- two percent said that they would feel safer with a handgun on their person if they were going to be in a physical fight. Thirty-nine percent knew someone personally who has been either killed or injured with a handgun. Males are more involved in guns by margins ranging from four to one to seven to one, while twice as many females as males feel threatened by guns. Seven percent report having metal detectors in their schools, but 55 percent would like their schools to have metal detectors. Findings indicated that guns have a pervasive impact among youth today and that the gun culture has helped create deep pessimism and a sense of insecurity among young people. Tables and study instrument