The Impact of Poverty, Fear of Crime, and Crime Victimization on Keeping Firearms for Protection and Unsafe Gun-storage Practices - A Review and Analysis with Policy Recommendations

Author: Vacha, E. F. / McLaughlin, T.F.
Publication: Urban Education
Topics: Crime Legislation and Policy Ownership Storage Self-defense Gun Use/ Deterrence
Keywords: CRIME POVERTY crime victimization gun storage policy
Bibliographic information +

The authors review the literature on firearm accidents among low income, urban children younger than 13, noting that the tendency of low-income families to keep unsecured protection guns may contribute to the higher rates firearms accidents among low-income children. The available evidence, according to the authors, suggests that the decision to keep a gun for protection is a response to the conditions faced by a person in his or her neighborhood and that the consequences of unsafe gun behavior among low-income families may be decreased by policies that eliminate the experiences associated with such behavior and programs that train children to recognize and avoid risky gun situations.