| NCJ Number: |
165476  |
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| Title: |
Guns in America: National Survey on Private Ownership and Use of Firearms, Research in Brief |
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| Document: |
PDF|Text |
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| Dataset: |
DATASET 1 |
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| Author(s): |
P J Cook; J Ludwig |
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| Date Published: |
1997 |
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| Annotation: |
To learn more about private ownership and use of firearms by American adults, the National Institute of Justice sponsored a nationally representative telephone survey in 1994 to obtain information on the size, composition, and ownership of the private gun inventory; methods of and reasons for firearms acquisition; storage and carrying of guns; and defensive use of firearms against criminal attackers. |
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| Abstract: |
In 1994, 44 million Americans owned 192 million firearms, 65 million of which were handguns. Although there were enough guns to provide every U.S. adult with one, only 25 percent of adults actually owned firearms; 74 percent of gun owners possessed two or more. Of handgun owners, 68 percent also possessed at least one rifle or shotgun. Gun ownership was highest among middle- aged, college-educated people in rural areas. Whites were substantially more likely to own guns than blacks, and blacks were more likely to own guns than Hispanics. The most common reason for owning firearms was recreation, followed by protection against crime. About 60 percent of gun acquisitions involved federally licensed dealers. About 211,000 handguns and 382,000 long guns were stolen in noncommercial thefts in 1994. Slightly more than half of all privately owned firearms were stored unlocked; 16 percent of firearms were stored unlocked and loaded. In 1994, about 14 million adults carried a firearm in their vehicles or on their person for protection. 17 notes and 8 exhibits |
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| Main Term(s): |
Criminology |
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| Index Term(s): |
Black/African Americans; Caucasian/White Americans; Citizen gun ownership; Citizen gun use; Handguns; Hispanic Americans; NIJ grant-related documents; Personal Security/Self Protection; Residential security; Shotguns; Statistics; Theft offenses; Weapon carrying; Weapons violations |
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| Grant Number: |
93-IJ-CX-0017 |
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| Sponsoring Agency: |
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Washington, DC 20531
National Institute of Justice/NCJRS
Rockville, MD 20849
NCJRS Photocopy Services
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
Washington, DC 20531 |
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| Sale Source: |
National Institute of Justice/NCJRS
Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849
United States of America
NCJRS Photocopy Services
Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
United States of America |
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| Page Count: |
12 |
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| Series: |
NIJ Research in Brief |
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| Type: |
Survey |
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| Language: |
English |
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| Country: |
United States of America |
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| Note: |
National Institute of Justice Research in Brief (May 1997) |
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To cite this abstract, use the following link:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=165476 |
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