NCJ Number
79100
Journal
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Volume: 455 Dated: (May 1981) Pages: 63-79
Date Published
1981
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This discussion of the effect of gun availability on the distribution, seriousness, and number of violent crimes concludes that a reduction in gun availability would cause some weapon substitution and probably little change in overall robbery and assault rates, but it would reduce the homicide rate.
Abstract
Three dimensions of the violent crime problem are important: (1) the distribution of robberies, aggravated assaults, rapes, and homicides across different types of victims; (2) the seriousness of robberies, rapes, and aggravated assaults; and (3) the overall rates of each of these crimes. Evidence demonstrates the existence of an important vulnerability pattern in weapons choice in homicide and robbery. Guns give assailants the power to succeed in killing or robbing relatively invulnerable victims who would have a good chance of fending off attack with a less lethal weapon. Thus, if potential killers were deprived of guns, the criminal homicide rate would be reduced, particularly for the least vulnerable types of victims (law enforcement officers, people with bodyguards, youthful men, etc.) If robbers were deprived of guns, there would be a reduction in robberies against commercial places and other well-defended places. In general, a reduction in gun availability would change the distribution of violent crimes, with greater concentration on vulnerable victims. Evidence also suggests that the seriousness of robbery and assault incidents is influenced by weapon type, as indicated by the objective dangerousness and instrumental violence pattern. The article concludes that a moderate, vigorously enforced program for regulating the sale and use of guns would save a substantial number of lives. Three tables and 40 footnotes are provided. (Author summary modified)