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NIJ (National Institute of Justice) Research in Progress: Monitoring the Illegal Firearms Market

NCJ Number
153850
Author(s)
S H Decker; S Pennell
Date Published
1995
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video presents a lecture presentation followed by questions and answers regarding a study of the illegal firearms market through interviews with arrestees in 11 sites.
Abstract
Using lecture and slides of data charts, this video presents findings from the study. The study was conducted in conjunction with the procedures of the Drug Use Forecasting system, which conducts drug tests on arrestees. Arrestees were interviewed regarding gun ownership and possession, ease of access to guns, motivation for gun use, and how they used guns. The 11 sites used in the study were relatively high-crime urban areas. Findings show that 15 percent of the sample reported carrying a gun all of the time or most of the time. This did not correlate with drug use, but did correlate with gang membership and involvement in illegal drug sales. Twenty-eight percent of the total sample reported having a gun for illegal reasons, and 98 percent of gang members reported having a gun for illegal reasons. Forty-five percent of the sample had obtained their guns through illegal means, typically from theft or an illegal purchase. A total of 55 percent stated it was easy to obtain a firearm illegally. Other data show a strong relationship between offending with guns and being victimized with a gun. Nearly 80 percent of gang members reported being shot at. Gang members were more likely to use guns in retaliation for perceived physical or psychological harm than other members of the sample. Although the data presented are preliminary, the lecturer suggests that gun ownership and use are normative in urban gang and drug-dealing subcultures. He suggests some interventions.

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