Under the Gun - Weapons, Crime, and Violence in America

• NCJ Number: 89686
• Author(s): J D Wright; P H Rossi; K Daly
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 348 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-NI-AX-0120
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: University of Massachusetts
• Sale Source: Aldine Publishing Co
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Previously published as a research report entitled 'Weapons, Crime and Violence in America - A Literature Review and Research Agenda.'

Annotation

This book analyzes both published and unpublished data on weapons, crime, and violence to determine whether criminal violence, especially homicide, occurs because firearms are readily at hand.

Abstract

The text looks at the number of guns in private hands and their use (household demand, sport and recreation demand), as well as police weapons use and policy. Fear of crime and popular sentiment against gun ownership are also surveyed. The book explores the characteristics of private weapons owners by region and city size, social status (class, religion, race, and sex), personality, and other factors. The text also looks at violent crime trends, the number of firearms used in crime, criminal motivations, gun control policies (Federal, State, and local regulations), and the effects of gun control legislation on violent crime. The study finds that high crime rates could be caused by widespread gun ownership but that widespread gun ownership may help keep crime rates well below what they might be otherwise. There is no good evidence anywhere that would allow a researcher to choose decisively between these possibilities. Data tables, footnotes, over 200 references, and an index are supplied.